Senior Business Development Officer, LAC Region

Senior Business Development Officer, LAC Region

Description

At the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), a member of 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. 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. MIGA’s guarantees help mitigate risks. In fiscal year 2026, the WBG Guarantee Platform delivered a total of $17.8 billion in guarantees. For more information, visit https://www.miga.org/  

Recognizing the need for MIGA to be closer to prospective new clients, MIGA established its Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC) practice based in the region[CM1.1], empowered to originate new business opportunities in support of MIGA’s focus areas. The presence of staff in the region helps MIGA to work more effectively with LAC based clients and the wider World Bank Group entities and allows it to actively participate in regional markets and to benefit from the strength of outbound and inbound investments. It also offers a chance to build on the growing interest of investors looking for opportunities in emerging markets.

MIGA’s LAC Regional Operations unit (MIGLA) is now seeking a Senior Business Development Officer with extensive financial structuring, new business origination, and client relationship management experience to identify new business opportunities, achieve business targets, and grow the World Bank Group Guarantee Platform business. The position will be based in Panama City or Sao Paulo and supervised by the Regional Head of LAC. The final duty location will be decided by the Hiring Manager based on business needs.

Duties and Accountabilities

1. New business origination and client relationship management: 
•  Identify new business opportunities to mobilize private financing/investment for private and public sector projects through the instruments of MIGA and the World Bank Group (WBG) Guarantee Platform in LAC, focusing on Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and Colombia, with flexibility to provide ad-hoc support in other countries in the region as required.
•  Develop project leads from identification through guarantee application, ensuring high-level client relationship management throughout the process; this will include performing eligibility assessments, developing pricing strategies and pricing models, executing benchmark analyses in collaboration with banking partners, designing uses of proceeds in coordination with other MIGA departments (including with climate, environmental & social, legal and economics teams) to ensure alignment with internal requirements and strategic priorities, structuring initial deals, and assisting clients through the application process, amongst others.
•  Develop and implement strategies, in collaboration with the Regional Head of LAC, for priority sectors, and sub-sectors, as well as for priority areas such as climate mitigation and adaptation, municipal finance, energy transition, and others.
•  Develop, maintain and manage relationships with public and private sector clients at senior levels, including national and subnational governments, state-owned enterprises, national and regional public development banks, international commercial banks, institutional investors, and project sponsors.
•  Develop and maintain partnerships with donors and other Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and reginal Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).
•  Promote the World Bank Group (WBG) Guarantee Platform, including marketing the guarantee product offerings of the World Bank, IFC and MIGA understanding how these can complement each other to provide maximum value to the client.

2. Deal structuring: 
•  Work with clients, Sector Managers and Underwriters to structure guarantee projects to address client needs in line with MIGA business goals, strategic priorities, and policy directives.
•  Work with other MIGA departments, including with climate, environmental & social, legal and economics teams, as well as with WBG colleagues to ensure alignment of projects with internal requirements and WBG strategic priorities. 
•  Prepare and make presentations to management and other MIGA Teams about potential and ongoing guarantee projects.

3. Underwriting support:
•  Work with the Regional Head of LAC, Sector Managers, Underwriters and project and portfolio teams to facilitate project analysis, provide underwriting expertise and quality control, as well as high level client management oversight.
•  Support project due diligence, including evaluating financing structures of projects as well as reviewing legal documents and financial models.
•  Ensure consistency of MIGA’s guarantees with WBG Country Partnership Framework (CPF) and assess project’s risks in view of MIGA’s standards.

4. WBG Collaboration:
•  Develop and maintain strong relationships with World Bank Country Management Units and Global Practices, as well as IFC country and sector teams, to leverage relationships with government clients and investors, generate new business opportunities, maximize the benefits of a WBG collaboration, and ensure alignment with WBG strategic priorities.
•  Collaborate with relevant MIGA, WB and IFC colleagues on country partnership engagements and WBG strategy initiatives. 

5. Innovation and Knowledge:
•   Leverage knowledge of client needs and market trends to develop new products or product applications, including developing the concept, socializing it with clients and management, obtaining management and Board approvals, and implementing pilot projects.
•   Mentor/supervise junior underwriters, analysts and other staff to develop their professional and technical expertise.
•   Share knowledge and expertise at MIGA and other WBG learning events.
•   Develop MIGA’s marketing materials in collaboration with the Communications team.

6. Events and public speaking: Represent MIGA and proactively seek out speaking engagements at high-level conferences or other events where it is desired to market its services and products; oversee sponsorship at such events where needed.

Selection Criteria

•  Master’s degree in international Business, Finance, Economics, or related field, plus at least 8 years of directly relevant experience (e.g., political risk underwriting, sovereign debt financing, financial structuring, project finance, and/or private sector work in emerging markets).
•  Extensive knowledge of emerging markets finance and economic development as well as an understanding of issues related to investment insurance and foreign direct investments in emerging markets.
•  Experience with political / sovereign risk guarantee products, and their application in project and export finance within the banking sector;  
•  Proven experience working with and developing strong relationships with senior public and private sector clients in emerging markets, as well as with donors, MDBs and DFIs.
•  Demonstrated experience working in LAC including with public sector clients such as subnational governments, state-owned enterprises, and public development banks. 
•  Strong technical underwriting and financial analysis skills, and proven track record in originating, structuring and managing complex project, corporate and/or sovereign finance transactions. 
•  Strong client orientation and diplomatic skills, with sensitivity to social and cultural issues that affect multilateral risk mitigation and investors operating in developing countries.
•  Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage with clients, management, and colleagues in multicultural settings, and to deliver persuasive oral and written presentations.
•  Experience leading teams and a proven track record in delivering high quality work and results;
•  Experience in mentoring and coaching staff on technical and business matters.
•  High degree of discretion and professionalism in handling confidential and sensitive information.
•  Willingness to travel frequently to build relationships with public and private sector clients and to follow up on opportunities likely to result in new business for the WBG Guarantee Platform.
•  Language requirements: English and Spanish (required), Portuguese (preferred).

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.