Senior Investment Officer, Financial Institutions Group, Central America

World Bank Group•Panama City, FL

About The Position

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. The FIG’s Latin America and the Caribbean team (FIG LAC) is based across the LAC region with main hubs and locations in Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and Sao Paulo. The team members work on both new business development and processing, and portfolio management across the region. FIG LAC Regional Industry Team is seeking a Senior Investment Officer with significant market and industry experience in the LAC Region to drive business growth and oversee the portfolio, with a primary focus on Central America and selective coverage of Mexico and the Caribbean as needed. The position will be based in Panama City, Panama.

Requirements

Master’s degree in finance, economics, or other related areas.
12+ years of experience in banking and finance, with evidence of growing expertise in banking, financial institutions, and finance related disciplines.
Strong financial and credit skills; demonstrated ability to structure a variety of complex financial instruments.
Ability to interact directly and independently with the senior management of potential clients, of financial and technical partners as well as senior government officials.
Good management skills with proven track record of success in developing client relationships and execution of client engagements.
Demonstrated capacity to originate and generate business, including across innovative and complex transaction structures.
Knowledge and Experience in International Economic Development Arena and commitment to sustainable development.
Excellent business judgment and strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify issues and present creative, practical solutions.
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 and Spanish are required.
Knowledge of the Central American financial markets system is required

Nice To Haves

familiarity with the Mexican and/or Caribbean financial systems is preferred.

Responsibilities

Demonstrate a thorough understanding of banking, financial institutions, and related industry knowledge.
Develop and drive investment strategies in the region, with a particular focus on Central America, including identifying priority investment areas with strong development impact, articulating IFC’s additionality in the market, and targeting potential clients, partners and investors.
Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, banking and multilateral partners and government officials to develop specific investment opportunities.
Originate and generate new business opportunities, building and managing a robust pipeline and ensuring successful execution to closure.
Evaluate, structure, negotiate, and close new transactions, portfolio restructurings, rescheduling, capital increases, equity sales, as necessary, with a strong focus on credit and asset quality (include processing mandates, due diligence, negotiating term sheets and other documentation, syndications, and board approval).
Provide support to regional industry and portfolio teams in processing and supervising regionally managed projects.
Provide supervision and support to more junior staff, managing and coordinating projects and work program of the team across the regional hub.
Work with the FIG country team, country, and industry managers to formulate a FIG strategy for the country and the region.
Monitor portfolio performance and recommend follow up and proactive support to enhance the investee company's value/ franchise.
Provide leadership and support in the development of the Financial Institutions Group’s knowledge management strategy, and assist in execution of this strategy.
Coordinate closely with social, environmental, advisory, and technical assistance colleagues in order to champion IFC’s value to our clients' businesses, find pragmatic solutions to the specific sector challenges, and achieve sustainable development impact.
Coordinate closely with IBRD and MIGA teams to identify and advance joint opportunities, ensuring effective One WBG collaboration and maximizing development impact.
Take responsibility for supervision of investments in the financial industry sector, with particular focus on problem/restructuring situations.
Mentor and coach less-experienced investment staff and help build talent and grow skill base of staff.
Assist in other project or strategy related activities as the need may arise.