Operations Officer/Senior Operations Officer (Program Manager)

Job #:	111840
Title:	Operations Officer/Senior Operations Officer (Program Manager)
Job Stream:	Technical Assistance & Advisory Services
Location:	To Be Determined
Closing Date:	01/04/2012
Background / General description:
The Organization: International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, fosters sustainable economic growth in developing countries by financing private sector investment, mobilizing private capital in local and international financial markets, and providing advisory services to business and governments. Our purpose is to create opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives in the areas where it’s needed most. For more information, visit www.ifc.org. The Program: IFC’s Access to Finance Program in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (A2F ECA) seeks to increase access to finance for small and medium-sized business, farmers, and those living in rural areas often overlooked by banks and other financial institutions. Through mainstreaming microfinance and introducing SME banking, agri-finance, and sustainable energy finance, IFC is helping banks to diversify their products to underserved markets, greatly extending the reach of secure and reliable banking services. IFC also supports systemic change in the infrastructure of the financial sector to increase access to finance by supporting the establishment or improvement of private credit bureaus, collateral registries, or innovations such as mobile banking. The ECA Financial Infrastructure Program Manager (Program Manager) will oversee all aspects of A2F ECA’s advisory work in the financial infrastructure area that includes the design of new projects, securing project funding, and supervision of project implementation including staff recruitment, compliance with all donor agreements as well as all IFC and World Bank Group policies, standards, and procedures. The Program Manager will also support IFC’s corporate knowledge management and be a member of the wider A2F ECA management team. Reporting Lines: The position reports jointly to the ECA Regional Business Line Leader Access to Finance and the respective Country Manager with a strong link to the Global Product Manager for Financial Infrastructure Advisory. The position is local, but in view of the complexity and scope of responsibility in this position the hiring department would also like to encourage candidates with an international profile to apply. Should s/he be selected through a competitive selection process over a local candidate, the terms will be commensurate with experience and status. Location to be confirmed: preferably – Central Asia, alternatively – Moscow, Russia, or Kiev, Ukraine.
Duties and Accountabilities:
The Program Manager will take overall responsibility for all aspects of the A2F ECA advisory work in financial infrastructure, including design, managerial and financial oversight, day-to-day delivery of advisory services to clients, financial and operational reporting to IFC and donors, and overall quality control of the work. S/he will do this in close collaboration with regional and global product specialists, and short term consultants. • Program Design: Overseeing all aspects of further elaborating the design and implementation of the Program, including impact targets and timelines. Draw on the expertise of regional and global product specialists to ensure Program design exemplifies best practice and lessons learned from similar initiatives globally. • General Program Management including accountability for Program objectives and targets: a. Develop a detailed project plan for the Program’s various components b. Manage external and internal relationships for successful delivery c. Collaborate with IFC investment staff in the country in identifying and assessing clients d. Work constructively with staff in other IFC business lines who have core expertise to contribute as well as with other market stakeholders as necessary in designing and executing program elements e. Represent the Program to stakeholders at multiple levels (e.g. at industry fairs, thematic seminars, etc.) • Team Coordination: Design the team roles and responsibilities, recruit and manage a team of professionals and a resource base of consultants who can deliver on the various components: a. Set clear goals and targets for team members b. Manage the performance evaluation process for all team members, incorporating feedback across the institution as per IFC guidelines, including from regional product specialists who will act as co-supervisors for select team members c. Adapt to different circumstances and demonstrate ability to act decisively when faced with obstacles by identifying innovative solutions and approaches d. Resolve differences across stakeholders and consider interests of multiple stakeholders in addition to clients • Communications and Reporting: a. Manage the communications and reporting required by IFC and donor partners according to IFC standards and guidelines b. Track project performance indicators against the monitoring and evaluation plan, refocusing activities as required to meet project targets in coordination with other IFC stakeholders including the regional and global product specialist • Budget and Financial Management: develop a detailed program budget, manage and report on financial performance according to plan: a. Ensure that the IFC pricing policy for advisory services is applied b. Control expenditures according to IFC policies and guidelines and within own approval thresholds while achieving maximum results • Knowledge Management: a. Systematically consolidate and analyze lessons learned from project implementation experience and share with team members and colleagues across the region b. Ensure connectivity with the IFC global product team and other IFC/World Bank programs • General program management & stakeholder engagement: o Act as the proxy for or represent the Program Manager (PM) on an as needed basis; o Support relations with WBG and other IFIs as program partners; o Work collaboratively with other business lines, as well as with the donor organization as necessary in designing and executing program components; o Collaborate with IFC investment staff in Russia in identifying and assessing investment potential in the area of energy efficiency, including assessment of specific program opportunities; o Engage with relevant stakeholders including financial institutions, business associations, project developers, government entities both federal and regional, NGO’s and other civil society stakeholders among others and represent IFC in a professional capacity on behalf of the program; o Assist with managing stakeholder mapping for the program and ensuring the team maintains effective relationships and communication channels with all key stakeholders; o Help in developing Program strategy for Russia and other countries in EMENA • Communications & Outreach: o Support the Program Manager and the team communications advisor on developing and delivering various external engagement events throughout the life of the program; o Contribute to the outreach strategy as well as content for delivery • Managing consultants and procurement: o Assist in the design of the procurement plan for the Program for the various components, and ensure on time delivery; o Manage the entire process, with guidance and oversight by the PM, for securing short term consultants including: working with IFC e-Consult based selection requirements, developing TORs etc., seeking out suitable candidates by leveraging local and global networks, working with HR, finance and procurement offices to execute per IFC policies and processes; o Manage the entire procurement process, with guidance and oversight by the PM to contract goods and services as per IFC procurement policies and procedures • Technical & financial: o Evaluate sustainable energy (SE) loans and advise partner financial institutions (FIs) on their lending strategy: i. Assist FIs to develop new SE financial products and/or program structures; ii. Evaluate FIs loan portfolios for possible IFC investments in FIs under supervision of IFC’s investment department; o Conduct trainings and educational seminars: i. Design and carry out seminars and training events, targeted at various stakeholder groups including banks’ credit officers, senior management, and technical specialists; ii. Represent the Program at conferences; o Contribute to corporate knowledge base and share effective approaches with team members and other IFC units • Program reporting: o Manage the cyclical reporting requirements both according to IFC and donor guidelines; o Support the Program Manager in preparing the program management plan, evaluate progress of the program against milestones and timelines for various components and deliverables; o Prepare semi-annual program supervision reports (PSR) as required by IFC Advisory Services; o Report as per donor requirements, managing documentation and agreements to manage funding and other reporting; o Coordinate with the ECA Regional Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Advisor and the Global Business Line M&E Advisor, overseeing and quality controlling the inputs to the M&E framework and constantly updating the logframe with new information as it arises throughout the program; o Support the Program Manager in updating and evaluating Program risks and supporting the PM in devising mitigating strategies as necessary • Knowledge and document management: o Systematically consolidate and analyze lessons learned from program implementation experience and share, along with subject matter knowledge, with team members and colleagues across the region and IFC globally; o Ensure connectivity with other IFC or World Bank SEF related projects within the region and globally Perform other duties as required by Program Manager. All of the above activities must be in compliance with IFC/WBG policies, standards, and processes.
Selection Criteria:
The Candidate should be a senior professional with comprehensive and in-depth expertise in project/program management, and in providing advisory services in financial sector with emphasis on credit information systems, collateral registries, and payment systems including mobile banking. S/he routinely leads complex projects and integrates work of other (often multi-disciplinary) professional staff. S/he can interact with clients at the policy level or with senior counterparts in national governments and/or other organizations with confidence. Minimum Requirements • Master’s degree in economics, finance, business or other relevant discipline; • At least ten years of relevant working experience, preferably working with/in the financial sector in an emerging market environment; • Sound knowledge of policy and legal/regulatory issues related to financial infrastructure; • Proven ability to conceptualize, design and implement major projects and to produce major/complex reports or studies; • Demonstrated professional leadership and ability to lead a team of professionals in the execution of major project components; • Ability to engage with various stakeholders, effective influencing skills and demonstrated diplomacy; • Strong leadership, organizational, and communications skills; ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently, articulate issues and recommend solutions. • Relevant experience working in Eastern Europe and Central Asia is desirable; • Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Additional Russian language skills preferred; • Willingness and ability to travel regularly within Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Qualified candidacies of women professionals will be positively viewed.
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