Director, Access to Finance Business Line Washington, DC

Closing Date:	07/03/2012
Background / General description:
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, promotes sustainable private sector investment in developing countries as a way to reduce poverty and improve people’s lives and in doing so offers a unique combination of investment and advisory services to its clients. IFC Advisory Services is organized into four business lines, each representing an area of IFC’s global expertise. The Business Lines have to be coordinated both among themselves and in each region in which IFC operates, in line with IFC’s overall regional business strategy and client needs. The Access to Finance (A2F) Business Line works with IFC Investment Services departments, financial institution clients and regulators to help extend financial services to around 15 million households and 1 million SMEs per year. The team has 200 staff serving over 300 clients in nearly 100 countries around the world. In addition to direct work with clients, the business line also provides global thought leadership on access to finance as a lead implementing partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion. Reporting to the Vice President Business Advisory Services, the overall role of the A2F Director is to provide strategic leadership and a coherent approach to advisory services for the Access to Finance business line while ensuring adequate regional mix, global business focus and technical quality assurance, efficient use of resources and effective relations with IFC investment services and other parts of the World Bank Group. As a member of the IFC’s Advisory Services Leadership Team, the A2F Director is also expected to collaborate with other members of the Advisory Services Leadership team to contribute to the coherent and effective functioning of IFC’s advisory services business. Working together with, in particular, Global Industry Directors, the A2F Director also ensures relevant global knowledge and thought leadership are focused on strategic priorities.
Duties and Accountabilities:
Business Accountabilities Strategy -In the context of IFC’s global strategic priorities, develops the global strategy for IFC’s advisory services business in the A2F department, in partnership with regional Departments and Regional Business Line Managers, and in close collaboration with relevant IFC investment departments and WBG departments. -Sets global business objectives for the products in A2F based on expected client needs and development results; -Sets quality standards for IFC’s advisory engagements in A2F, monitors progress and recommends corrective actions where/if necessary. -Oversees the design and delivery of global products and projects, in line with global strategy. Governance -Reviews, approves and supports implementation of global and regional projects within A2F. -Takes accountability for risks associated with project design in accordance with Advisory Services governance and risk management policies and, where needed, ensures effective mitigation of strategic, operational and/or reputational risks to IFC. -Ensures compliance with broader Advisory Services governance and risk management policies and procedures such as conflicts of interest, pricing, etc. Knowledge -Leads the identification and dissemination of global best practice and institutional knowledge in A2F, including trends and data, product development and categorization, project management and stakeholder relations. -Leads knowledge management events, internally and externally to ensure dissemination of lessons learned and experience within and across all Advisory Services Business Lines. -Leads the learning agenda to foster technical excellence within A2F, including learning for global product specialists to ensure product coherence and quality in accordance with IFC’s strategic and operational priorities. -Acts as IFC’s spokesperson with respect to A2F, represents the organization and builds relationships with external partners. Resource Management Accountabilities Talent Management -Recruits, leads and retains a team of global product specialists and other business line staff to provide world class global expertise in IFC’s client engagements; -In partnership with regional Departments, recruits Regional Business Line Leaders to ensure technical expertise meets the business line standards; -Reviews and signs off on Performance Evaluation and Planning for Regional Business Line Leaders and global product specialists; -Manages talent and strategic staffing needs across the Business Line, mentors global product specialists and Regional Business Line Leaders, facilitates development of networks and skills to assure quality and professional growth; -Allocates and deploys global product specialists effectively and efficiently across the Corporation to support the identification, development and implementation of IFC’s advisory services projects. Funding and Budget -Manages budgets allocated to the Business Line, including funds for global projects and business line staff; -Actively supports fund raising efforts for global Advisory Services budget. Relationship Management Accountabilities -Works collaboratively with other members of IFC’s Advisory Services Leadership Team to strengthen the effectiveness, coherence and impact of IFC’s advisory services. -Maintains strong relationships with regional Heads of Advisory Services and Directors to ensure the Business Line strategy is well aligned with regional priorities and that projects are developed and implemented efficiently; -Maintains strong relationships with other Global Business Line Leaders to ensure effective cross business line coordination and cross leveraging of expertise across business lines. -Collaborates and engages with relevant industry departments and seeks efficient ways to leverage resources and knowledge in order to meet IFC’s client needs. -Develops and maintains relationships with global players in the industries and acts as IFC representative for key global organizations and institutions; -Fosters strong relationships with counterparts in the World Bank Group, as well as in other private and public institutions to identify collaboration opportunities and to enhance client and business delivery; -Supports advisory services management in establishing and maintaining effective donor relations.
Selection Criteria:
In additon to the WBG managerial selection criteria*: -At minimum a Master’s degree in finance, business, law, public policy or equivalent professional qualification and a minimum of 15 years professional, relevant experience (including at least 10 years in a relevant industry). -Significant thematic leadership skills with proven track record of success in developing client relationships and execution of international programs. -Demonstrates highest level of integrity and decisiveness. Takes accountability and holds others accountable for results. -Is committed to the World Bank Group and to IFC's mission, strategy and values. -Demonstrated track record leading large, complex teams. -Capacity to build strong client relationships that lead to results oriented, development focused partnerships. -Ability to represent IFC to key external clients, government authorities, other stakeholders and critics. -Ability to set strategic direction and ensure implementation. -Demonstrated track record of sponsoring and preparing future leaders. -Ability to deal with increased complexity, ambiguity and crisis with confidence and discretion. -Ability to build organization capacity through system and process improvements; is a change agent and serves as catalyst for innovation. -Outstanding communication and presentation skills. *World Bank Group-wide managerial selection criteria include: selecting, coaching and appraising staff; planning and managing staff to achieve quality results; encouraging innovation in an open team-based environment; inspiring trust; and influencing and resolving differences across organizational boundaries. Only online applications are accepted: applications by e-mail will neither be accepted nor acknowledged. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews
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Director, Access to Finance Business Line

Washington, DC