Senior Country Officer

Senior Country Officer Job #: req33339 Organization: IFC Sector: Other Grade: GG Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Ho Chi Minh City,Viet Nam Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Vietnamese Closing Date: 6/12/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

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. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org. 

IFC has embarked on an ambitious growth strategy based on scaling our mobilization efforts to drive private sector-led growth that creates more and better jobs in our member countries. This strategy calls for generating unique opportunities by proactively working “Upstream” to create, deepen, and expand markets and to imagine, design and implement investment projects. It requires taking a systematic approach to understanding the regulatory and sector bottlenecks that prevent the large-scale flow of private capital into productive investment in our member countries and addressing these bottlenecks through World Bank Group engagement on policy reforms and programmatic interventions at the country and sector level.

Description 

IFC is recruiting a Head of Office (HoO) to lead the World Bank Group Ho Chi Minh City office, reporting to the IFC Viet Nam Country Manager based in Hanoi.  In close collaboration with regional management and Regional Industry Departments (RIDs), the HoO will play the lead role in raising IFC’s visibility in the market, and strengthening relationships with existing and potential clients, like-minded investors, development partners, local government officials and other stakeholders to support business development efforts and help grow IFC’s program. In addition, the HoO will support the Country Manager in overseeing IFC’s program in Viet Nam, including strategy development, liaising across the World Bank Group on joint initiatives, supporting senior visits, briefing materials and the like.  The HoO will also be responsible for administering the local office in all respects, from office administration and staff management to security. While the World Bank has a limited footprint in HCMC, the HoH (and local office) will support World Bank operations, as need be. 

Duties and Accountabilities

I. Program Implementation and Business Development (c. 50% of TOR)• Support the IFC Viet Nam Country Manager with development and implementation of IFC’s country strategy and delivery of a strong, well-coordinated and impactful program across investment, advisory, and upstream activities.• In coordination with industry departments, regional colleagues and World Bank teams (as appropriate), proactively engage with prospective clients, co-investors and other stakeholders to originate transactions, manage portfolio issues and help increase IFC’s investment program in terms of volume, sectors, products, etc. while optimizing IFC’s development impact.    • Cultivate and maintain senior-level relationships with key public and private sector stakeholders in the local market to support client and business development, including client and stakeholder mapping and engagement with IFC’s strategic partners.• Provide business intelligence to IFC teams in terms of local political-economy issues, sponsors (including IDD assessments), business risks and opportunities, and stakeholder engagement. 

ii. Representation (c. 20% of TOR)• Actively represent IFC at workshops, seminars, conferences, signings, client events, etc. (including speaking engagements) to increase IFC’s visibility in the local market, reinforce business development efforts, and strengthen IFC relations with key stakeholders. • Organize and attend events, make presentations, and scale up communications activities to raise IFC’s profile as a thought leader on private sector development in Viet Nam.  

III.   Office Management and Country Support (c. 30% of TOR)• Oversee day-to-day administration of WBG’s HCMC office, including managing ACS staff, logistics, and space management.• Manage and support senior IFC missions, including coordination of meeting agendas, preparation of briefing materials, and logistics.  Facilitate World Bank missions as needed.• Sustain an office environment conducive to high performance and integrated effort.  • Mentor and coach junior team members and provide input to performance of staff. • Lead IFC’s HCMC office crisis management team supported by security and business continuity departments.

Selection Criteria

• MBA or similar degree with a minimum of 15 years of relevant work experience.• Solid understanding of private sector development, the work of development finance institutions, and a track record of successful performance in investment and/or advisory activities.• Strong business development and relationship management skills, preferably with an existing network of relevant senior contacts in Viet Nam’s private and public sectors and/or demonstrated ability to build one. • High level of self-motivation to seek out new business opportunities and ability to champion innovative ideas through the exercise of sound business judgment, personal influence, negotiation skills and tact to build stakeholder consensus, motivate teams and manage conflicts. • Strategic mindset with ability to identify and promote projects and ideas to a range of internal business units and externally to a diverse set of stakeholders in line with IFC strategy.  • Proven ability to represent IFC externally in events, conferences, workshops, and other forums, based on excellent presentation, communications and public speaking skills.• Experience working with multiple stakeholders on complex projects, with • Strong leadership skills, and ability to work effectively in multicultural, matrix and multi-disciplinary teams.• Excellent written and verbal communication in English, with fluency in Vietnamese a distinct advantage.• The highest standards of business ethics and integrity aligned with the World Bank Group.

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.