Upstream & Advisory Manager, Infrastructure, Middle East and Central Asia

Overview

Upstream & Advisory Manager, Infrastructure, Middle East and Central Asia

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. IFC strategy aims to stimulate more investment activity across emerging markets, especially in Low Income Countries (LICs) and Fragile and Conflict affected States (FCS). This role is based in Riyadh and may involve travel to other offices where the team and clients are based. The Manager will report to the Regional Industry Head for INR in MCA and will be a member of the INR MCA Management Team.

Job details: Organization: IFC; Sector: Upstream; Grade: GH; Term Duration: 4 years 0 months; Recruitment Type: International Recruitment; Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia / Amman, Jordan; Required Language(s): English; Preferred Language(s): Arabic or Russian would be a plus; Closing Date: 10/8/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC.

Duties and Accountabilities

The roles and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

• People and Resource Responsibility
• Lead and manage the Upstream & Advisory unit and ensure the team is high-performing and aligned with IFC's strategic goals
• Mentor and develop staff and promote opportunities for rotation and continued learning
• Be part of, and actively contribute to Regional and Industry's Management Team
• Support integration and cross-support between upstream, advisory and investment teams; coordinate with regional leadership to align staff objectives across the department
• Staff upstream and advisory projects with appropriate resources and provide exceptional client service while considering staff development needs
• Manage, oversee, and optimize IFC's internal and external funding mix and budget for upstream and advisory operations in the region

• Strategic Responsibility
• Formulate the unit's strategy for Industry sectors across the region in coordination with the Regional Industry Director and relevant colleagues
• Lead the unit to deliver key strategic priorities through upstream and advisory projects and engagement with the World Bank

• Business Responsibility
• Enable investment opportunities by incubating high-impact projects requiring upstream development and by preparing potential clients for IFC investment
• Enhance investment outcomes by increasing development impact and improving portfolio client performance through value-added services
• Improve investment conditions by collaborating with IFC and WBG teams to drive sector-wide change and open new markets for private participation
• Support business development with investment, regional/country, and global Industry teams; ensure high client satisfaction
• Collaborate with Regional Industry Managers to optimize staffing, resources, products, and solutions for client needs
• Coordinate with global sector units to design/pilot global products and maintain pipeline/portfolio quality
• Ensure high-quality operations with a focus on project design and lessons learned across the project cycle

• Client and Stakeholder Responsibility
• Engage with thought leaders and decision makers across IFC and externally to foster market creation and identify sector/regulatory reforms
• Collaborate with the Partnerships department on donor engagement, relationship management, and reporting
• Coordinate with stakeholders to enable delivery of upstream and advisory operations

• Knowledge Capture and Management
• Identify trends and business models that increase development impact and opportunities for proprietary engagements
• Disseminate knowledge across regional and global teams to support best practices
• Build external brand recognition for IFC's upstream capabilities in the market

Selection Criteria

• Master's degree or equivalent professional qualification in Business, Finance, Economics, International Relations, or related discipline, and a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience.

• Commitment to the World Bank Group and IFC values and mission.

• Understanding of IFC's strategic priorities and ability to link policy reforms, advisory interventions, investment, and mobilization to country-level solutions.

• Strong analytical skills, sound business judgment, and deal sense with bankability criteria.

• Demonstrated ability to engage with private sector clients, governments, and stakeholders to develop markets.

• Capacity for innovation, collaboration across boundaries, and driving results in Upstream, Advisory, and/or Investment operations.

• Excellent people management, communications, and mentoring skills; ability to work in multicultural environments and build relationships across regions and functions.

• Meets World Bank Group managerial competencies: Courage of your Conviction, Leading the Team for Impact, Influencing Across Boundaries, Fostering Openness to New Ideas, Building Talent for the Future.

• World Bank Group Core Competencies and benefits information are provided as part of the offer process.

• We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity; we do not discriminate on gender, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Next steps

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