Senior Industry Specialist - Clean Technology Products (Battery & Rare Earth Minerals Manufacturing)

Senior Industry Specialist - Clean Technology Products (Battery & Rare Earth Minerals Manufacturing)

Description

At the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

The Knowledge Bank is the WBG’s platform for generating, curating, and applying global knowledge to support development impact at scale. It connects operational experience, analytical work, data, and global expertise to inform policy dialogue, country programs, and investments across the World Bank Group.

The WBG’s Prosperity Vice Presidency, which includes the Bank’s Manufacturing and Manufacturing Services expertise, works to connect our operational teams with clients by providing public and private sector solutions to expand Manufacturing opportunities in emerging markets. 

Within this structure, the Manufacturing and Services Solutions and Impact Department (WKPTM) focuses on supporting investments in Manufacturing value chains including but not limited to those in Construction Materials (steel, cement, glass, etc.), Chemicals & Fertilizers, Automotive, Electronics, & Machinery (including batteries, solar, etc), Textiles Apparel & Footwear, Packaging & FMCG, and other sectors involved in industrial production, value enhancement, and processing.

The WKPTM department is seeking an experienced and respected Senior Industry Specialist (IS), based in Washington, D.C. This IS will work alongside other WBG staff, Global Sector Leads, Industry Specialists, Investment, Advisory and Upstream staff to help deliver on WBG ambitious program and development objectives in emerging markets in the manufacturing sector.  

This IS position will share responsibility for the Clean Technology Product value chains to promote the WBG’s (i) business development efforts, (ii) new project and investment generation, (iii) market creation and (iv) thematic approaches therein. The role is intended to complement existing automotive and industrial expertise in IFC by bringing direct industry experience in at least one of two target value chains: battery value chains or rare earth permanent magnet value chains. The Specialist is expected to provide direct sector credibility and practical manufacturing judgment in the various segments of the respective value chains.

Duties & Accountabilities

The role and responsibilities of the position will include but not be limited to the following:

Business Responsibilities
•  Provide technical and business input throughout the investment cycle, from business development, screening, appraisal, and processing through portfolio supervision. Identify material issues and weaknesses, recommend timely solutions, and help design advisory support where needed.
•  Early screening: Help investment teams identify suitable target clients and screen out projects that lack sound business fundamentals.
•  Appraisal: Produce clear and comprehensive appraisal and supervision reports. Provide technical and business parameters for financial models and support the development of robust, scenario-based analysis.
•  Portfolio: Advise investment and portfolio teams on material changes in client operations and their likely impact on IFC’s investment. Work with clients and relevant teams to design interventions addressing emerging risks to project success.
•  Support business development by applying sector expertise and networks to identify, assess, and pitch investment opportunities to potential clients.
•  Contribute to sector and country strategies, market assessments, and WBG market creation activities, including identifying market potential and barriers to investment.
•  Support WBG engagement with governments seeking to develop battery materials, battery manufacturing, rare earth processing, permanent magnet manufacturing, electric motor production, and related clean technology product manufacturing value chains.
•  Conduct systematic value chain diagnostics to identify realistic country and regional entry points, competitive constraints, and opportunities to increase value addition and sustainability, recognizing that not all countries can competitively host every stage of the respective value chains.
•  Support the development of investment acceleration platforms, processing and manufacturing zones, supplier development initiatives, technology partner outreach, and demand aggregation mechanisms, where appropriate.
•  Collaborate with WBG colleagues, governments, and external partners to identify and help implement sector and regulatory reforms, build partnerships, and enable public and private investment and project delivery.
•  Anticipate the interests of Board members and senior management and maintain readiness to respond to questions regarding country and regional manufacturing programs, including commitments, portfolio performance, pipeline, and barriers to growth.
•  Mentor and coach junior staff and share relevant experience.

Thought Leadership and Knowledge Management
•  Contribute to internal knowledge building activities and maintenance of a lessons learned database and relevant industry benchmarks.
•  Contribute to thought leadership and case studies on private sector led manufacturing, critical minerals value addition, supply chain resilience, and emerging market participation in clean technology value chains.
•  Support development of guidance notes and conceptual framework for the WBG approach.
•  Oversee fact-based analysis to spot Manufacturing industry shifts and to promote the WBG’s competitive advantage. 

Selection Criteria

•  Engineering Degree in a relevant field such as Mechanical, Industrial, Metallurgical, Materials, Process, Chemical or Production engineering with a post graduate degree (Masters level Degree or higher). 
•  Minimum 8 years of relevant experience (15+ years strongly preferred) in private sector manufacturing and business. 
•  Preferably at least 8-10 years of direct industry experience  within either the battery value chain and/or the rare earth permanent magnet value chains:
  o  For this purpose, qualifying battery value chain experience includes battery grade lithium, purified phosphate or graphite refining; battery chemicals; pCAM; CAM; anode materials; electrolyte or electrolyte salts; separators; current collectors and foils; battery cell manufacturing; module or pack manufacturing where linked to cell qualification and manufacturing
  o  For this purpose, qualifying rare earth permanent magnet value chain experience includes rare earth concentrate processing; rare earth cracking or leaching; solvent extraction or other rare earth separation; rare earth oxide, metal or alloy production; NdFeB powder production; jet milling; sintering; machining; coating; and magnetization.
•  P&L responsibility, within either the battery value chain or the rare earth permanent magnet value chains, is essential. Experience leading the establishment or ramp-up of a first-of-kind or greenfield commercial plant qualifies.
•  Experience with bench, pilot scale and/or startups does not qualify.
•  Strategy consulting, policy advisory, academic research, mining only roles, generic metals, generic chemicals, general automotive components, EPC only exposure, equipment sales, or laboratory only experience does not qualify.
•  Experience in both battery and rare earth permanent magnet value chains would be a strong advantage but is not required.
•  Experience in developing and/or evaluating business plans, project design, project execution, project management, plant operations, marketing and business development. 
•  Ability to travel worldwide to/work in emerging market countries up to 35% of the time.
•  Ability to work under pressure on multiple projects in parallel, often with tight deadlines
•  Self-starter capable of independently resolving administrative requirements.
•  Genuine commitment to sustainable development and to the WBG’s mission, strategy, and values.
•  Excellent people skills, openness to feedback, new ideas, and ability to guide, and motivate others.
•  Sensitivity for working in multicultural environment, commitment to diversity, and ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues/clients/partners across regions. 
•  Strong written and verbal communications skills in English.
•  Proficiency in French, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean or other languages relevant to IFC’s emerging market focus would be a plus.
•  Experience working in emerging economies is highly desired.

As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who:

• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
• Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
• Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.

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.