Associate Investment Officer - Infrastructure - Karachi, Pakistan

Associate Investment Officer - Infrastructure - Karachi, Pakistan

Description

Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions, and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

IFC has embarked on an ambitious new growth strategy (IFC 3.0) to stimulate more investment activity. This strategy calls for generating unique opportunities by proactively working “Upstream” to create, deepen, and expand markets and to imagine, design and implement investment projects. It requires taking a systematic approach to understanding the regulatory and sector bottlenecks that prevent the flow of private capital into productive investment in our member countries and addressing these bottlenecks through World Bank Group engagement on policy reforms and programmatic interventions at the country and sector level. This strategy also calls for working with Governments and World Bank colleagues to first seek private sector solutions to address development challenges - where such solutions are advisable and can be effective - and reserve public financing for projects only when other options are suboptimal. This approach is called the “Cascade”.

IFC’s Infrastructure Department is looking to hire an Associate Investment Officer to join IFC’s infrastructure investment team covering primarily the MCT Region (Middle East, Central Asia, Türkiye, Afghanistan and Pakistan). The selected candidate will be based in Karachi, Pakistan and will be an integral part of the investment team working across the business cycle (business development, “upstream”, new investments and portfolio), but with a focus on leading and/or supporting business development, processing and managing IFC’s investments throughout the life of IFC’s investments. Gas flaring reduction, methane abatement experience and/ or Equity background will be a PLUS.

Duties and Accountabilities

The role and responsibilities of the position will include but not be limited to:

• Perform credit and risk assessments, financial projections, covenant compliance reviews (debt), and monitor changes to risk flags for determining performance assigned to a portfolio, with limited supervision. Supervise and ensure quality of portfolio reporting information prepared by junior staff, providing broader industry, subsector, and country perspective into project risks and issues.
• Lead and/or coordinate mapping and screening business opportunities in infrastructure sectors; undertaking market research and performing corresponding integrity checks.
• Collaborate in developing client strategies and engagement plans and pitchbooks for various sectors and countries, and conduct sector analysis to be used as input to sector strategies.
• Support the development of a strong pipeline of good quality investment opportunities by anticipating market trends and employing sector/country knowledge.
• Draft and present Concept Review Notes for discussion with management of relevant business opportunities.
• Support transaction teams during investment due diligence. Evaluate, structure, negotiate, and close new transactions from the mandate stage.
• Coordinate closely with Social, Environmental, Legal and Technical specialists in order to add value to our clients' businesses, find pragmatic solutions to the specific sector challenges, and achieve sustainable development impact.
• Support negotiation/documentation stages of transactions; use strong negotiation skills to develop solutions and overcome impasses in straightforward and complex transactions.
• Actively manage and/or support portfolio investments, including potentially restructurings, rescheduling, processing waivers, disbursements, capital increases, equity sales etc.
• Support teams managing relationships with clients, global and regional private businesses, banking and multilateral partners and government officials to further develop the sector and to develop specific investment opportunities.
• Gather market intelligence, analyze strategically important portfolio trends, and emerging risks and opportunities.

Selection Criteria

• Master's degree or equivalent professional qualification in Business, Finance, Economics, or other relevant field.
• At least 4 years of relevant experience in infrastructure project investment and financing activities with a proven track-record in areas of sourcing, structuring and closing investments and/or supervising loan and equity exposures including working on restructurings, modifications and negotiated exits.
• Strong financial and credit skills; demonstrated ability to structure a variety of financial instruments including project finance, corporate debt. Equity background is a plus.
• Demonstrated knowledge of infrastructure sectors, such as power, transportation, utilities, natural resources, telecoms, technology; industry trends and opportunities in the sub-region countries, and understanding of local issues; Gas flaring reduction and/or methane abatement experience is a plus.
• Ability to interact directly with potential clients, and financial and technical partners.
• Genuine commitment to development and to the World Bank Group and IFC's mission, strategy and values.
• Excellent people skills, openness to feedback, new ideas, and ability to guide, and motivate others.
• Strong inter-personal skills, ability to interact effectively with clients and colleagues from various cultural backgrounds.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are required.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability – Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.