Investment Officer - Sustainable Finance

Investment Officer - Sustainable Finance Job #: req34304 Organization: IFC Sector: Infrastructure Grade: GF Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Spanish Closing Date: 10/5/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

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 www.ifc.org.

 IFC’s Infrastructure Department provides investment and advisory services for private sector and municipal clients across energy, mining, transport, utilities, and telecom/media/technology sectors, and further mobilizes private sector capital from institutional investors and other financial institutions. In the last decade, IFC invested over $62 billion in infrastructure and energy across emerging markets.

IFC Global Infrastructure’s Innovation and Strategic Initiatives unit supports the continued expansion, growth and development of IFC’s Sustainable Finance and Resilient Infrastructure offerings, among other responsibilities. The team works closely with IFC’s client relationship managers, regional and global investment teams, the central climate business department, advisory services, development impact experts and communications to design and help execute products and services that address our clients’ needs and help IFC deliver on its mission. Since 2020, IFC has been involved in major sustainable finance transactions, including in green, social, sustainability-linked loans and bonds for its infrastructure clients in emerging markets, with a high volume of transactions in the Latin America & Caribbean region.

Duties and Accountabilities

The Strategic Initiatives and Innovation unit within IFC’s Global Infrastructure department seeks a talented and motivated sustainable finance professional to support IFC’s client Relationship Managers and Investment Officers in engaging clients on their sustainability and resilience strategies and priorities and in originating, structuring and executing sustainable finance transactions globally in energy, mining, transport, TMT, water, waste and municipal finance sectors. The selected candidate is expected to primarily focus on clients and transactions in Latin American and the Caribbean region but also be able to support clients and transactions globally across IFC’s working geographies.

The selected candidate will focus on (i) developing innovative sustainable finance, resilience, climate and impact finance product offerings in emerging markets in support of the IFC 2030 agenda and overall WBG strategy for a livable planet; (ii) pitching, structuring and executing sustainable finance transactions for infrastructure sectors clients across IFC geographies, in collaboration with Investment Officers, IFC sustainability and climate experts, impact specialists, and wider WBG communities of practices; (iii) supporting the integration of sustainability, resilience and climate strategies across INR investments, including ensuring alignment with global frameworks (e.g., MDB methodologies); iv) contributing to developing and delivering strategic knowledge internally and externally relevant for sustainability and resilience for INR; v) supporting blended finance structuring and fundraising efforts, with a focus on climate & sustainability cross-cutting themes.

The main roles and responsibilities of the selected candidate will include the following:
• Proactively learn and contribute to sustainable finance, climate, nature, and impact finance and stay current on key sustainable finance trends and innovations across Infra sub-sectors (energy, mining, transport, waste & water, cities, TMT) and regions (with a reinforced focus on the Latin America & Caribbean region) by actively participating in internal and external knowledge sessions, as well as business development activities.
• Engaging with market participants, such as commercial banks, other DFIs, Second Party Opinion providers and sustainability experts to stay abreast of the market opportunities.
• Support client Relationship Managers and Investment Officers in establishing strategic dialogue with clients and investors on beyond-compliance sustainability topics, including via strategic, tailored presentations which clearly narrate all relevant IFC additionality and expertise, and contribute to promoting resilient infrastructure, climate business (Renewable Energy, Electric Vehicles, Electric Equipment, Water Treatment and Efficiency, Energy Efficiency/Green Buildings, etc.), social priorities (skilled labor, gender, etc) and market innovations (Green/Blue/Social Financing, Sustainability-Linked Financing, Biodiversity finance, etc.).
• Contribute to structuring of innovative sustainable finance products, including developing sustainable finance frameworks, leading engagements with Second Party Opinion providers, and incorporating and analyzing the relevant provisions into legal documentation.
• Supporting blended finance structuring and fundraising efforts, including pipeline coordination and donor engagement for climate and sustainability themes for IFC’s Infrastructure sectors.
• Support the administration and management of the sustainable finance funding platform financed by trust funds.
• Produce monthly pipeline updates and reports as well as other reports, presentation materials, briefings and deliverables as required, in coordination with relevant colleagues within the IFC Infrastructure team, and in coordination with other IFC teams (Sustainable Infrastructure Advisory, IFC Climate Business Department, etc).
• Contribute to regular updates of intranet pages, marketing brochures, newsletters, market trends reports and generic pitch materials for the Global Infrastructure department’s Innovation and Strategic Initiatives team.
• Support or lead, as relevant, knowledge management and training events on sustainable finance, resilience and related issues, in coordination with IFC Infrastructure’s Knowledge Management team.
• Working with IFC Communications team to produce knowledge pieces and disseminate them with clients and the broader public
• Support the team, Investment teams and client Relationship Managers in organizing external sustainability-related external events.

Location
The selected candidate is expected to be located in Washington, DC and work with IFC teams members based in in Washington, DC, Paris, France and globally. Some travel may be required. 

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in finance, business, economics, environmental sciences, international development, engineering, or related field.
• At least 5-6 years of experience with an investment bank, consulting firm, or an international financial institution with tasks related to sustainable finance, infrastructure financing, resilient infrastructure, climate and nature finance, and sustainability.
• Good knowledge of sustainable finance products, market participants, as well as of broader sustainability, resilience, energy transition, climate and biodiversity issues.
• Hands-on experience in infrastructure financing transactions (ideally including capital markets transactions) would be a significant plus.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, in particular ability to effectively dialogue with and relate to clients and stakeholders, both in English and Spanish.
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues in a team environment, and to work on multiple client projects across a given time.
• Efficiency in using MS PowerPoint, Word and Excel.
• Strong interpersonal and client management skills, with the ability to build and maintain productive relationships and influence decision-making, tailoring approach depending on the seniority level of business contacts.
• High level of energy, initiative, autonomy and flexibility in quickly adjusting to changing work project requirements.
• Business fluency in English and Spanish is preferred.
As a representative of the World Bank Group, all professional activities are expected to be consistent with our Core Values: personal honesty, integrity, commitment, working together in teams with openness and trust; empowering others and respecting differences; encouraging risk-taking and responsibility; enjoying our work and our families.

Applications should be sent in English. All applications must be submitted through this website. The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Cover letter should clearly describe the relevant results the candidate has delivered in prior positions, rather than simply listing responsibilities. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. 

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability – Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful 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.