Regional Industry Director, Infrastructure & Natural Resources, Africa – East and Southern Africa

World Bank Group; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 600 000; Full time

Job summary

A global development institution is seeking a Regional Industry Director for Infrastructure & Natural Resources in East and Southern Africa. The successful candidate will lead strategy execution and business growth while managing relationships with key clients. The role demands significant leadership experience, a PhD or master's degree in relevant fields, and fluency in English. A knowledge of French or Arabic is an added advantage. Candidates with a strong track record in investment and business delivery are encouraged to apply.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

Retirement plan

Medical insurance

Paid leave including parental leave

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience.
• Strong track record of delivering on business investments.
• Fluent in English; knowledge of French or Arabic is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of INR's strategy in East and Southern Africa.
• Build and maintain relationships with key clients and stakeholders.
• Manage a dispersed team in a dynamic environment.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Business acumen

Education

PhD or master’s degree in economics, finance or business

Job description

Regional Industry Director, Infrastructure & Natural Resources, Africa – East and Southern Africa

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa; Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Term Duration: 4 years

Closing Date: 2/4/2026 at 11:59pm UTC

The World Bank Group — comprising the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development, the International Development Association, the International Finance Corporation, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, and the International Center for the Settlement of Disputes — is evolving to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. Over the past two years, steps have been taken to become faster, simpler, and more impactful, creating a bigger, better Bank Group equipped to tackle unprecedented complexity and advance our vision of a world free of poverty on a livable planet. This matters because uneven growth, heavy debt, geopolitical fragmentation, conflict, and climate change constrain people in developing countries from escaping poverty. To accelerate solutions, the WBG has introduced a Knowledge Bank — an integrated function that unifies expertise across IBRD/IDA, IFC, and MIGA, shortening the path to solution development and enabling the delivery of client solutions at scale.

IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. It works in more than 100 countries, using capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71 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 Strategy 2030 sharpens our focus on mobilizing private capital at scale to create more and better jobs, with four building blocks: enhanced origination and mobilization, a differentiated approach to equity, revamped support for MSMEs, and new ways of working that deepen One WBG collaboration. 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 a systematic approach to understanding the regulatory and sector bottlenecks that prevent the flow of private capital into productive investment in member countries and addressing these bottlenecks through World Bank Group engagement on policy reforms and programmatic interventions at the country and sector level.

The Infrastructure and Natural Resources (INR) Industry is one of IFC’s key strategic priorities. The team delivers financial and technical support to clients in the power, transport, municipal & environmental infrastructure, telecommunications, oil and gas, and mining sectors, from IFC’s own Balance Sheet and through mobilization of other capital. For INR, the One WBG collaboration and IFC2030 translate into scaling climate‑aligned infrastructure, accelerating energy access (including distributed renewable energy), strengthening digital connectivity, and improving municipal and environmental services—especially in IDA and FCV contexts across East and Southern Africa.

IFC’s priorities in the Africa Region for INR are: (i) grow business in the region, achieving strong profitability and impact; (ii) build new and nurture existing client relationships to make IFC the preferred partner for key clients; (iii) manage a portfolio of assets for strong profitability and impact; (iv) support local companies while improving transparency and corporate governance; (v) catalyze foreign investment, including mobilizing B loans and parallel loans; (vi) introduce and develop new financial products; (vii) build long‑term partnerships with strong regional players; and (viii) develop client, sector, and country‑level solutions that can be scaled and replicated.

IFC is seeking a Regional Industry Director for INR, who will have primary responsibility for INR activities in the East and Southern Africa Region (location to be confirmed). This is a key leadership role requiring significant and demonstrated leadership and management skills.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Business Responsibility:
  • Lead the development and execution of INR’s strategy and priorities in East and Southern Africa—partnering with Division Directors, Country Managers, the INR Management Team, and other Regional Industry Directors—to deliver strong profitability and sustainable development impact.
  • Lead and grow INR’s overall business and portfolio, adhering to IFC’s risk management and ESG practices.
  • Ensure the program is geographically balanced—including building a strong pipeline in FCV and low‑income countries—and paced throughout the year to avoid bunching.
  • Demonstrate the ability to collaborate across Global Industries and, when needed, develop multisectoral responses in partnership with the Knowledge Bank.
  • Position strategically the INR business in East and Southern Africa, working closely with other Regional Industry Directors and Division Directors in the development of the Country Strategies.
• Client and Stakeholder Responsibility:
  • Lead, in coordination with the regional leadership team, the design and implementation of the strategy for business development and ensure pro‑active and comprehensive client and portfolio management in the Region.
  • Represent IFC to key clients and stakeholders in the Region, building and maintaining excellent long‑term relationships.
  • Partner across the WBG and with industry players in the Region to identify opportunities for joint ventures, mobilize resources and partners, and foster collaboration and knowledge transfer among institutions for the benefit of clients. In collaboration with the new global equity directorate, contribute to the delivery and execution of INR’s regional equity strategy.
• Resource Responsibility:
  • Act as Primary Supervisor for INR Managers and Reviewing Official for other INR staff dedicated to the Region.
  • Implement agreed corporate initiatives for enhancing efficiency and client service.
• Reporting Lines:
  • The RID will report directly to the Regional Vice President, Africa, with a functional reporting line into the newly established Knowledge Bank.
  • The RID will be part of the Africa Core Leadership Team (ACLT) of the Africa VPU.

Selection Criteria

• A PhD, master’s degree or equivalent professional qualification in economics, finance or business and a minimum of 15 years of relevant experience.
• Commitment to the World Bank Group’s and to IFC's mission, strategy, and values.
• Strong track record of business delivery demonstrated investment experience, superior business judgment, policy dialogue and established professional credibility, covering different financial sector institutions and markets (banks, non‑banks financial institutions, capital markets, fintech, etc.).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and fluency in English. Knowledge of French and/or Arabic would be a plus.
• Demonstrated ability and experience to think strategically, prioritize effectively, set direction, mobilize resources, and deploy them flexibly, teamwork and collective leadership.
• Ability to work collaboratively with superior interpersonal skills.
• Ability to represent the organization to external clients and stakeholders from the public and private sector.
• Demonstrated ability to lead effectively and manage a large and dispersed team in a dynamic and multicultural environment.
• Excellent people management skills and openness to feedback; new ideas and ability to guide staff to solutions to problems.
• Demonstrated highest standards of integrity and decisiveness.
• Ability and willingness to take decisions and deal with ambiguity, as well as take accountability and hold others accountable for results.
• Ability to deliver results under stressful timetables and environment.
• Ability to build organizational capacity through system and process improvements, be a change agent and serve as catalyst for innovation.

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 World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.