Operations Officer - Sustainable Infrastructure Advisory

Operations Officer - Sustainable Infrastructure Advisory

Job #: req37743 Organization: IFC Sector: Infrastructure Grade: GF Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Dakar,Senegal Required Language(s): English, French Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 8/2/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

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 WBG Infrastructure Vice Presidency is responsible for getting the right public and private sector solutions to our operational teams and to our clients, and to produce scalable impact. Its mandate is to deliver knowledge for impact to enable and support the WBG to achieve its goals in support of our mission and specifically: providing guidance on creating more and better jobs; supporting foundational infrastructure and human capital, policy environment, and private sector mobilization; focusing on agribusiness, healthcare, infrastructure, manufacturing, and tourism; and support and accelerate specific targets such as M300, Health 1.5bn, and SP 500. The VPU’s objectives in driving outcomes include replicating and scaling effective solutions, enhancing thought leadership and innovation, and delivering timely knowledge to client teams.

As part of the Infrastructure VPU, Sustainable Infrastructure Advisory (SIA) provides sustainability-related advisory services on climate, digital solutions, and social inclusion to IFC investment clients and partners. SIA helps clients broaden stakeholder benefits, strengthen community buy-in, and develop resilient infrastructure. A global team of experts based in Washington, DC, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia delivers tailored advice grounded in each client’s context, risks, and sustainability objectives.

SIA is now seeking a motivated professional with strong experience in the energy sector and expertise in climate adaptation and resilience, decarbonization, and broader sustainability issues, including social inclusion and jobs. The position will be based in Dakar, Senegal.

Duties and Accountabilities

The Operations Officer will support the delivery of SIA’s advisory services, with a focus on contributing to the growth of IFC’s infrastructure investment business, particularly in energy and mining, as well as other infrastructure sectors such as transport and waste.

The responsibilities of the position will include but are not limited to the following:

1. Client engagement and business development.

The incumbent
will support regional client engagement across Africa to identify new business
opportunities and design innovative solutions that address clients’ risks and
challenges. Specifically, the Operations Officer will:

• Lead or contribute to risk and opportunity assessments to identify sustainability issues faced by IFC clients.

• Design innovative solutions and develop proposals and project pitches, using PowerPoint and research databases, to support clients across the full range of SIA services.

• Work closely with the investment, ESG, legal and other relevant teams to develop tailored solutions that are aligned with World Bank Group mandates and the clients’ operations.

• Prepare project legal agreements based on agreed client proposal terms and support their execution.

• Provide contributions to strategy development for specific sectors, countries, or regions for client engagement as may be required by the team.

• Provide input, as needed, to gender flagging for investment and advisory projects.

• Contribute to fundraising efforts for the regional work program.

2. Portfolio management and delivery of client-facing projects.

The incumbent
will:

• Support the delivery of current and new projects in the regional portfolio.

• Lead the preparation of project concept notes, implementation work plans, budgets, and project reports, including semi-annual supervision reports, donor briefs, and other reports as required.

• Develop project management strategies to support effective engagement with host communities, IFC clients, and other relevant stakeholders during project delivery.

• Provide direct technical advisory services to IFC investment clients through robust project design, implementation, drafting of legal agreements, monitoring, and evaluation.

• Provide quality assurance and ensure compliance with project delivery timelines, budgets, and contractual agreements with IFC.

• Engage with World Bank Group staff across the board as necessary to develop and implement solutions to address clients’ challenges and deliver impact.

• Build and maintain relationships and strengthen networks with key stakeholders, including IFC clients, government officials, local government, industry associations, civil society groups, donors, and other relevant programs in the sector of operations.

3. Knowledge creation and dissemination.

The incumbent
will support the regional team in developing and disseminating lessons learned and knowledge materials on
SIA’s services and broader sustainability topics. This may include:

• Lead the development of knowledge materials by consolidating and systematizing good practices on SIA services and other sustainability topics.

• Share expertise as a subject matter expert, provide advice and peer review, and contribute to knowledge products across the World Bank Group to strengthen internal and external client solutions.

• Participate in relevant development fora and industry events to enhance networking, collaboration, learning and knowledge sharing on sustainability topics and SIA’s mandate.

• Facilitate relationship development across different stakeholder groups on sustainability-related challenges, recommendations, and learnings.

• Draft and coordinate events, including preparing meeting notes, senior management briefs, project updates, and materials supporting broader communication efforts.

Selection Criteria

• A master’s degree in a relevant discipline, such as business, finance, business administration, social sciences, economics, sustainable development, engineering, or a related field.

• A minimum of eight years of relevant experience in private infrastructure sustainability advisory, resilient infrastructure development, climate-smart investments and advisory services, sustainable finance, preferably with a focus on energy.

• Solid understanding of the SDGs, ESG, and sustainability reporting landscape, as well as monitoring and evaluation techniques.

• A proven track record in designing, implementing, and managing complex operations using innovative approaches, including demonstrated ability to uphold operational procedures.

• Ability to develop and manage relations with diverse stakeholders, including private and public sector partners.

• General understanding of IFC operations, investment, and advisory services, IFC Environmental and Social Performance Standards, and their relevance to client engagement.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and French, with the ability to engage effectively with clients and stakeholders.

• Strong analytical/critical thinking skills, with sustainability expertise in private sector development in Africa or emerging markets.

• Ability to recognize and advance market innovations that reduce costs and deliver ambitious development impact.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for 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.