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

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

Job summary

An international development organization is seeking a Regional Industry Director for Infrastructure & Natural Resources to oversee strategy execution in Africa. The role demands strong leadership, with responsibilities including business development and maintaining key client relationships. Applicants must hold a relevant master’s degree or PhD, have at least 15 years of experience, and possess excellent communication skills in English. This position offers a chance to contribute significantly to sustainable development across the region while operating within a dynamic, multicultural environment.

Benefits

Retirement plan

Medical, life and disability insurance

Paid leave including parental leave

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience in the field.
• Strong track record of business delivery and investment experience.
• Ability to think strategically and prioritize effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of INR's strategy in East and Southern Africa.
• Manage portfolio for strong profitability and impact.
• Represent IFC to key clients and stakeholders.

Skills

Business judgment

Policy dialogue

Teamwork

Fluent English

Interpersonal skills

Education

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

Job description

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

Job #: req35458
Organization: IFC
Sector: Grade: GI
Term Duration: 4 years 0 months
Recruitment Type: International Recruitment
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa; Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Required Language(s): English
Preferred Language(s): French, Arabic
Closing Date: 2/4/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

The World Bank Group -- comprised of 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, we have taken steps to become faster, simpler, and more impactful—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 are constraining people in developing countries from escaping poverty. To accelerate solutions, the WBG has brought forward the idea of 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. 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 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 .

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.

IFC's priorities in the Africa Region for INR are: (i) grow business in the region, and achieve strong profitability and impact (ii) build new and nurture existing client relationships to make IFC the preferred partner for key clients (iii) manage 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.

Duties and Accountabilities

• 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 (Environmental, Social, and Governance) 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.
• Lead, in coordination with the regional leadership team, the design and implementation of the strategy for business development and ensures pro‑active and comprehensive client and portfolio management in the Region.
• Represent IFC to key clients and stakeholders in the Region, build and maintain excellent long‑term relationships with them.
• 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.
• 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.
• Report directly to the Regional Vice President, Africa, with a functional reporting line into the newly established Knowledge Bank; 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, …)
• 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.

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.