(Senior) Investment Officer – Bond Specialist

(Senior) Investment Officer – Bond Specialist

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 International Finance Corporation (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. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions, and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit: https://www.ifc.org.

IFC’s Structured Products Team (CCPSP), in Products and Clients VPU, is seeking to recruit a Bond Specialist with significant current structuring and execution experience in debt capital markets and or structured finance to help grow and develop its bond investment business in emerging markets. The Bond Specialist will be primarily responsible for providing structuring and execution advice to IFC's investments in plain vanilla and thematic bonds (climate, social, impact, etc.) and other debt securities (covered bonds, perpetuals, project bonds, etc.) across all IFC industry groups globally.  Whilst the primary focus is on bond investments, the candidate is expected to also contribute to other products within the Structured Products department as applicable. This position will complement the existing cadre of Investment Officers and specialists who deliver on Bonds and other Structured Products development and innovation. The position will also support coordination across IFC’s operational departments and industries in relation to IFC’s Bond investment program. The position will report to the Senior Manager, Structured Products and will be based in Washington, DC.

Duties & Accountabilities:

•  Contribute to the development of IFC's Bond and Structured Products investment program, to achieve its objectives and ambitious plans for investment growth and development impact. 
•  Develop a consistent Bond investment approach across all IFC industry groups (FIG, MAS, and INFRA) and regions. 
•  Develop a strong pipeline of good quality investment opportunities for IFC through anticipating market trends and employing sector/country knowledge. 
•  Develop and maintain active relationship management with arrangers in multiple jurisdictions and connect them with the relevant regional investment teams to explore collaboration opportunities.
•  Develop further Bond and Structured Product offerings across sectors in FIG, MAS, and INFRA. 
•  Focus on adding value to IFC's clients, advising clients on optimal capital market solutions, propose financing solutions to sector challenges, and achieve sustainable development impact. 
•  Participate in client/investors meetings pitching Bond and Structured Products. 
•  Work with key stakeholders (private and public) to define consultancy/advisory services. 
•  Evaluate, structure, and negotiate new transactions in order to make recommendations to IFC's management, including thematic bonds (impact, green, social), covered bonds, and MBSs. 
•  Review bond prospectus terms and conditions and advise the investment team and credit on adequacy of the covenants and deal structure taking into account any internal IFC guidelines or procedures, the nature of the client’s business, financial performance and market trends
•  Use strong negotiation skills to develop solutions and overcome impasses in straightforward and complex transactions. 
•  Work closely with and collaborate with IFC regional teams across industries and operational departments as well as legal, syndications, regulatory, credit, and risk departments and teams, to provide project support and bring in product knowledge, as needed. 
•  Support portfolio teams across industries in monitoring bond portfolios, develop monitoring processes and exit strategies, as need be. 
•  Develop and provide training and guidance to IFC investment teams on Bonds and Structured Products to enable growth and development of knowledge and expertise across all sectors and industries. 
•  Collaborate with the WGB Knowledge Bank to establish priority areas for joint efforts and support the Joint Capital Markets Program (J-CAP) in developing markets.
•  Mentor and train junior staff. 
•  Assist in other projects or strategy-related activities, as the need may arise.

Selection Criteria

•  Master's degree in finance, economics, or other related areas. CFA is a plus.
•  Minimum 8-10 years of experience in debt capital markets, with in-depth understanding of industry trends in capital markets. 
•  Solid track record and exposure to debt capital markets transactions across diverse sectors in emerging markets. 
•  Ability to interact directly and independently with the senior management of potential clients, of financial and technical partners as well as senior government officials. 
•  Strong track record of negotiating both plain vanilla and more complex transactions. 
•  Experience working with on all aspects of a bond deal life cycle, including book building, documentation, road show, pricing, execution, hedging, and selling.
•  Background in liability management, corporate finance, or credit analysis. Demonstrates an ability to understand and analyze client's business and financials. 
•  Deep knowledge of financial services (DCM, buy and sell, infrastructure, and treasury) and comfortable discussing industry and market trends, technology innovation, and regulations. 
•  Excellent business judgment and strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify issues and present creative, practical solutions. 
•  Ability to work with teams within IFC, WBG, and other DFIs to mobilize private sector investors and increase financing to emerging markets and build and develop collaborative relationships across industries. 
•  Great team player, able to mentor and train more junior staff. 
•  Capacity to deal with conflicting priorities and deliver high-quality work on schedule; facility to work successfully in multicultural teams and across boundaries. 
•  Excellent oral and written presentation skills in English are required; additional major language such as French or Spanish desirable. 
•  Willingness to travel.

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.