Senior Advisor to the Regional Vice President (Middle East & Central Asia - MCA)
- Workplace
- On-site
About this role
Senior Advisor to the Regional Vice President (Middle East & Central Asia - MCA)
| Job #: | req37184 |
| Organization: | IFC |
| Sector: | Operations |
| Grade: | GH |
| Term Duration: | 4 years 0 months |
| Recruitment Type: | International Recruitment |
| Location: | Washington, DC,United States |
| Required Language(s): | English |
| Preferred Language(s): | |
| Closing Date: | 7/20/2026 (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.
The Regional Vice President (RVP) for the Middle East & Central Asia is looking to recruit a Senior Adviser for the Vice Presidency’s front office based in Washington, DC and reporting to the RVP. The Vice Presidency Unit (VPU) oversees IFC’s investment and advisory engagements in the Middle East & Central Asia. The region covers the following sub-regions:
CAT: Turkiye, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
CPC: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, Iran
CME: Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, West Bank & Gaza
GCC: UAE, KSA, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait
The position includes responsibilities to operationalize IFC’s 2030 strategy to stimulate more investment activities and mobilize private capital at scale to generate more and better jobs; building a strong pipeline for private sector investments rooted in country strategies, and fostering more collaboration opportunities with key stakeholders to maximize impact. The RVP is part of IFC’s senior management and interacts closely with the Board, the World Bank, MIGA, and external partners.
The Senior Adviser will support the RVP in all aspects of the VPU’s work. The role requires deep knowledge of IFC’s strategy and operations, cross-sector knowledge and understanding of the private sector, sound judgment and ability to engage effectively with senior stakeholders to support regional priorities. Working closely with the RVP and MCA Core Leadership Team (MCALT), the Senior Adviser will serve as the key headquarters-based liaison for the MCA VPU, ensuring effective coordination with DC-based WBG Management and the MCA VPU. This role involves overseeing the day-to-day operations of the MCA VPU, providing operational support to leadership, and acting as the liaison between the field and headquarters. Additionally, the Senior Adviser will support the execution of IFC’s strategic priorities in MCA and lead the compilation, analysis, and reporting of operational data to drive informed decision-making. The ideal candidate should be prepared to work in a high-paced, dynamic environment, engaging with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to advance IFC’s mission in the region.
The Senior Adviser will work directly with the RVP, the MCA VPU leadership team, front office staff, other IFC teams and key stakeholders across the WBG to advance IFC’s development and investment agenda in the Middle East and Central Asia.
Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Strategic Advisory
• Advise the RVP on strategic initiatives, corporate priorities, and operational projects, ensuring alignment with IFC's global strategy and regional objectives. Review investment cycle documents and provide well informed institutional, market, and investment insights and strategic analysis to guide decision making.
• Support the RVP and MCALT in developing and overseeing the implementation of the VPU’s strategies, while establishing and maintaining a work program consistent with WBG objectives.
• Lead the execution of specific strategic projects and programs, and handle special assignments on behalf of the RVP.
• Monitor and report on the implementation of the regional strategy, tracking progress against key performance indicators, impact and other relevant metrics.
Internal and External Stakeholder Engagement
• Facilitate seamless coordination and communication with senior internal and external stakeholders (including WBG senior management, Board members, government officials, private sector leaders, development partners, etc.), on operational and strategic engagements, and ensure follow-through on actions, decisions, and commitments made by the RVP.
• Work closely with WBG Global Practice teams, Regional Industry Directors, Division Directors and other members of the regional leadership team, as well as IFC Corporate and Cross-Cutting functions, including Environmental & Social (E&S), Legal, Climate, Corporate Strategy, Communications, etc., to advance regional priorities.
• Represent the VPU in high level meetings, ad hoc working groups, and task forces, and maintain strong relationships with IFC and WBG leadership (including directors, managers, ED advisors, and other front offices) to ensure effective collaboration, information flow, and early identification of emerging issues that require RVP attention.
Front Office Operations
• Co-manage the day-to-day operations of the RVP’s front office, acting as a liaison between the IFC Management and WBG leadership teams in DC, and the field office of the RVP, and providing support on all VPU matters including strategy, operations, finance, budget, business administration, human resources, communications, partnerships, etc.; as determined by the RVP.
• Coordinate with other VPUs, IFC global practices, regional and operational teams, and WBG institutions to advance the region’s strategic priorities and help maximize private sector development and investment.
• Prepare and/or review high quality correspondence, memoranda, briefs, speeches, and talking points for a broad range of occasions, working closely with communications staff as needed, to ensure clarity, accuracy, and strategic messaging.
• Mentor and develop staff in the unit, and oversee performance evaluation processes and career development conversations, as required.
• Champion good corporate citizenship, including contributing to developing, implementing, and communicating corporate policies, strategies, and priorities.
Selection Criteria
• Master’s degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Public Policy, or another relevant field.
• At least 15 years of relevant professional experience, including at least 8 years’ experience of IFC/WBG operations in industry, country, and global engagements, with a strong track record of high performance.
• Strong understanding of IFC 2030 strategy, and WBG’s strategic priorities, IFC/WBG operations broadly, and in particular IFC's operational procedures, principles, policies, guidelines, and day to day processes.
• Proven experience in a leadership position and demonstrated ability to work effectively in teams and across departmental and institutional boundaries.
• Results-oriented with the ability to develop practical solutions, produce high-quality work under tight deadlines, manage a large workload, balance competing demands under pressure.
• Capacity to respond quickly to complex and ad hoc requests that require rapid turnaround and follow up systematically and efficiently on a broad set of initiatives and decisions.
• Proven ability to take initiative, work independently in a fast paced, unstructured environment, with strong organizational, analytical, and logistical skills, and a high attention to detail.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills to translate complex ideas into strategic messages for a wide group of internal and external stakeholders. Ability to understand and confidently communicate the full spectrum of the MCA strategy and program.
• Excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills, with a high degree of tact and discretion in dealing with internal and external stakeholders, and in handling confidential and sensitive information. Ability to understand the political landscape and willingness to pass knowledge to project teams.
• Commitment to the World Bank Group's mission, strategy, and values.
• Flexibility in work hours, as needed, to accommodate the demands and pace of operations.
• Strong mobilizer of people, role model, and ability to build trust across diverse stakeholder groups.
Note: This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.
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.
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