Insurance Officer - Investment and Credit Risk

World Bank Group; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A global financial institution seeks an Insurance Officer to manage insurance coverage for investments in Johannesburg. Candidates must have a Master's degree, 5+ years' experience in insurance, and strong negotiation skills. Fluency in English and preferably French is required, with a focus on developing local insurance markets in Africa. This position offers comprehensive benefits and career growth opportunities.

Benefits

Retirement plan

Medical, life, and disability insurance

Paid leave including parental leave

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in sophisticated construction and operational phase insurance.
• Familiarity with Sub-Saharan Africa insurance and reinsurance market.
• Fluency in English and preferably French.

Responsibilities

• Establish and monitor insurance coverage for IFC’s investments.
• Guide clients on risk assessment and insurance management.
• Negotiate insurance coverage with sponsors.

Skills

Insurance industry experience

Risk management expertise

Negotiation skills

Presentation skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Master's degree in finance, accounting, business, engineering

International insurance qualifications

Job description

Insurance Officer - Investment and Credit Risk

Job # req34987

Organization: IFC

Sector: Risk

Grade: GF

Term Duration: 3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s): French

Closing Date: 12/2/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

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 successful candidate would join IFC’s Insurance Services Group (CIRTI), a unit in Investment and Credit Risk Department. CIRTI is responsible for providing support to Investment Departments in all underlying investments covering assessment of risk and insurance issues, compliance with agreement covenants and guidance to clients.

CIRTI is looking to recruit an Insurance Officer with expertise across a broad range of industry sectors (including Infrastructure and Natural Resources, Financial Institutions, Manufacturing, Agribusiness & Services) to join in one of the regional hubs in Africa region.

If the selected candidate is a current World Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open‑Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open‑Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 3‑year renewable term appointment.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Establish, evaluate and monitor the insurance coverage of IFC’s investments. Prior to an investment being made, this will require careful identification and assessment of project risks and appropriate insurance solutions.
• Provide guidance to internal and external clients vis‑à‑vis risk assessment and insurance management value‑add service.
• Draft sustainable risk transfer proposal and insurance provisions in legal investment documentation.
• Negotiate insurance coverage with sponsors.
• Provide assistance to clients to achieve positive and sustainable development whilst developing local insurance markets in emerging countries.
• Provide leadership and guidance on non‑recourse project financing involving multitude of Lenders without in‑house capacity.
• Provide guidance to clients in handling insurance claims where needed.
• Provide value‑added guidance on operational risk for upstream projects incubated by IFC.

Selection Criteria

• Master's university degree (finance, accounting, business, engineering) with international Insurance qualifications.
• Minimum 5 years of working experience with a preference to those with experience in sophisticated construction and operational phase insurance within the insurance industry.
• Sound familiarity with Sub‑Saharan Africa insurance and reinsurance market, including CIMA country operations.
• Strong familiarity with industries and sectors, including Infrastructure, Energy, Financial Institutions, Manufacturing, Health and Education, among others.
• Demonstrated ability to work with cross‑functional teams to provide insurance guidance.
• Applied knowledge of innovative risk transfer solutions.
• Demonstrated experience working and leading lenders’ insurance advisors workstream.
• Ability to effectively multi‑task and training internal and external clients.
• Ability to work collaboratively across the organization with superior influencing and interpersonal skills, demonstrating the capacity to deliver results under stressful timetables and environments.
• Self‑starter with proven ability to work independently while being results‑oriented, producing consistently high‑quality results under tight deadlines.
• Proven ability to work effectively under a complex matrix organization and multicultural environment.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Excellent oral and written English skills: fluency in a second language, preferably French.

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.