Job Vacancies International Finance Corporation (IFC), April 2011

Job Vacancies International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Position: Senior Agribusiness Specialist
Location: United States of America (The), Washington
Closing Date: Wednesday, 27 April 2011

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group, pursues its mission of reducing poverty and improving people s lives by promoting private sector development through investment and advisory services. IFC’s Sustainable Business Advisory (SBA) Business Line works with firms in manufacturing, agribusiness, services, and infrastructure to contribute to the creation of inclusive, environmentally sustainable, and efficient markets in three strategic areas of focus:
(i) engaging the private sector in climate change mitigation and resilience,
(ii) scaling business models to extend access to basic infrastructure services, and (iii) increasing market access for firms in emerging markets. The Business Line s delivery of services is anchored by the Sustainable Business Advisory Department (CSB), which functions as a global service hub supporting regionally-based staff in the design and delivery of advisory projects as well as managing some global partnerships and initiatives. Specialists in the Department s Global Products Division are accountable for strategic guidance, quality assurance, knowledge management, resource mobilization and relationship management support for advisory projects in one of seven products in the SBA Business Line:
(i) Clean Energy,
(ii) Corporate Governance,
(iii) Environmental, Social and Trade Standards,
(iv) Farmer and SME Training,
(v) Resource Efficiency,
(vi) Strategic Community Investment, and
(vii) Sustainable and Inclusive Investing Investing.

Duties and Accountabilities:
The (senior] Agriculture Specialist will provide knowledge and technical expertise to SBA s advisory offering in agriculture/agribusiness across the Global Product Division. The Specialist will further support the coordination and alignment of the SBA advisory offering with other advisory and investment products that respond to strategic needs in agriculture/agribusiness sectors. The Specialist will administratively map to the Farmer and SME Training product, and liaise with other SBA Product teams, Regional Business Line Leaders and the Global Manufacturing, Agriculture and Services Department.

Specific duties and accountabilities include:
1. Strategy
* Coordinate SBA response to and implementation of the IFC Agriculture strategy, ensuring that SBA offering responds to global and regional strategic priorities in the sector, and is well aligned with investment products and offering of other AS business lines.
* Supports SBA product teams to further develop or refine product strategies specific to agriculture
* Support the ongoing development/refinement of the IDG metrics on farmers/SMEs reached, and others as relevant
* Coordinate with CES on IFC Performance Standards as they relate to the agriculture sector, developing appropriate engagements with IFC Investment clients/potential clients, as well as their supply chains

2. Quality Assurance
* In coordination with Product teams, support IFC regional/country advisory teams in designing and quality assurance of projects and programs in the agriculture sector
* Support quality assurance throughout the project cycle: concept clearance, project design, early review, approval, supervision and project closure
* Coordinate with CES to ensure consistency with Performance Standards principles in projects and programs
* Ensure projects adhere to a rigorous Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework and respond to IDGs

3. Knowledge Management
* Lead the knowledge management agenda for SBA related to agribusiness, taking accountability for gathering, managing and disseminating global best practice and institutional knowledge across IFC and the World Bank Group
* Engage in active monitoring the state of the art in the field of agriculture best practices worldwide, and make links to related professional fields (extension services, supply chains, bio-diversity)
* Identify key partners/consultants for knowledge sharing and/or project delivery

4. Resource Management
* Contribute to coaching and mentoring the network of staff working on Agriculture in regional offices, including global on-boarding for country-based project staff
* With the CSB Department Leadership Team, fundraise for SBA work in agriculture as needed

5. Relationship Management
* Act as CSB s global focal point for strategic and operational matters related to the agriculture, advising the Head of the Department as well as the CSB global products division and regional teams
* Liaise with other business lines and global investment departments to coordinate IFC s advisory offering in the sector.
* In coordination with the BASVP, MAS and CES, represent IFC externally to global players, international organizations and donors and the World Bank on agriculture issues as needed

Selection Criteria:
A minimum of eight to ten years of relevant work experience in Agribusiness or a related discipline
* Demonstrated technical knowledge of best practices related to agriculture development with a private sector focus
* A track record of managing successful agriculture development projects, preferably in a developing country context is a strong advantage
* Master s Degree or equivalent Agriculture, Business Administration, Finance or a related field
* Demonstrated interest in transferring knowledge and ability to listen and influence others without formal authority and to work across organizational boundaries
* Demonstrated leadership and the interpersonal skills necessary to building effective partnerships within IFC and World Bank Group, as well as in the global market
* Ability to develop innovative solutions and challenge the status quo in order to build the business
* Recognized as a team player, can effectively build consensus, and can collaborate across a multicultural, multinational organization
* Ability to operate effectively in public sector environment
* Project management with proven success in execution is a plus
* Prior experience based in a country office for a private sector company or international organization is preferred , Excellent English written and spoken communication skills are essential, and multiple language skills are highly preferred
* Willingness to travel as and where necessary

World Bank
1818 H St NW
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 473-1000




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