Senior Industry Specialist – Automotive

Description

• 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. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet.
• IFC has embarked on an ambitious strategy to stimulate more investment activity, especially in Low-Income Countries (LICs) and Fragile and Conflict-affected Situations (FCS). This strategy aims to create our own opportunities for private investments in riskier markets by proactively working in these countries to create, deepen, and expand the markets themselves. The Creating Markets strategy requires taking a systematic approach that draws on Country Strategies together with diagnostic tools, including Country Private Sector Diagnostics (CPSDs) and Sector Deep Dives. This strategy also calls for a closer WBG collaboration to identify and prioritize operations at the country and sector level based on the new WBG approach to Maximize Finance for Development by prioritizing Private Sector financing and solutions (the “Cascade”).
• The Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Services (MAS) department manages a large part of IFC’s overall business in terms of investment volume and capital at risk. MAS engages in a wide range of sub-sectors including manufacturing, agribusiness, health, education, property, retail and tourism, and other areas, with investment, advisory services, and Upstream activities delivered to IFC’s clients through IFC’s global network. Within MAS, the Global Manufacturing unit works across the Chemicals, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement, Glass, Automotive, Electronics, Textiles, and other Light Manufacturing value chains.
• The Global Manufacturing team is seeking an experienced Senior Industry Specialist to be based in Istanbul, Türkiye. The Senior Industry Specialist will serve as a business and technical expert to IFC multi-disciplinary teams in assessing investments in manufacturing sector projects, supporting business development, as well as supporting the curation of IFC’s investment portfolio across the Automotive, Electronics, and Machinery value chains, with a specific focus on the Automotive sector.  This includes IFC investments in businesses that manufacture chassis metal parts, automotive electronic and electrical components, HVAC and thermal management systems, body parts, stamping, battery materials, and cells, as well as powertrain components. A minimum understanding of rubber-related components (tires, shock absorbers, gaskets, wiper blades) and experience in OEM assembly processes would be advantageous. Additionally, the Industry Specialist will oversee the quality of outputs from Short Term Consultants/Consultants for projects that require deeper expertise in niche verticals e.g. semiconductors and photovoltaics.
• Incumbents must have relevant, in-depth, private sector technical and business management operational experience, preferably in executive functions, as well as some understanding of financial instruments. Understanding of regulatory standards, competitive advantage, economics, and climate-related challenges within the sector is also required. This expertise is needed to engage on a broad range of policy issues and development impact interventions.
• The Senior Industry Specialist will work alongside other Industry Specialists, Global Sector Leads, Investment, Advisory, and Upstream staff to help deliver on IFC’s ambitious program and development objectives in the manufacturing sector.

Roles and Responsibilities 

Organizational Role

• Provide sectorial business support to teams and clients on sector transactions, sector portfolios, and advisory projects to ensure sound investments, and to help address potential problems or risks
• Play a supporting role in business development and market creation activities for the sector
• Mentor and coach junior staff and share experiences

Strategy, Business Development and Upstream Work 

• Contribute substantively to market creation activities by using sector business experience, networks, and expertise, including WBG activities
• Grow IFC business by providing sector expertise in pitching opportunities to potential clients
• Contribute to sector and country strategy development, market assessments, and identifying market potential and market creation activities

Early Screening – Appraisal – Portfolio 

• Provide technical and business input at all stages of the investment cycle from business development, screening, appraisal, and processing, to investment portfolio supervision, with the aim of supporting sound, impactful, and well-performing investments. This will be achieved by identifying potential issues and weaknesses and offering timely solutions including the design of advisory support
• Early Screening – Support investment teams in identifying clients who would be good targets for investment, and assisting in screening out projects that lack business fundamentals
• Appraisal – Produce clear and comprehensive appraisal and supervision reports. Provide investment teams with technical and business parameters as inputs into financial models, and support investment officers and analysts in developing robust scenario-based models
• Portfolio – Advise investment and portfolio teams on the significance of changes in the business operations of client companies in the assigned sector portfolio, to determine how the IFC investment is likely to be impacted
• Design interventions and work closely with clients to address emerging business risks that jeopardize project success

Knowledge Management

• Contribute to internal knowledge building activities and maintenance of a lessons-learned database and relevant industry benchmarks
• Client Engagement
• Contribute to Client Relationship Management
• Work proactively with investment teams to identify opportunities for advisory engagements that result in greater development impact and value
• Provide expert input to new IFC Advisory & Upstream products that lead to strategic investment opportunities for IFC

Selection Criteria

• Engineering Degree in a relevant field such as Mechanical, Industrial, or Production Engineering with a post-graduate degree (Masters-level Degree or higher). An MBA from a recognized institution would be an added advantage
• Minimum 15 years of relevant experience in private-sector manufacturing and business, with in-depth experience in the automotive value chain. Exposure to EV technologies and the EV Battery value chain will be a distinct advantage
• Expertise and experience in LEAN manufacturing would be advantageous
• Experience in developing and/or evaluating business plans, project design, project execution, project management, plant operations, marketing and business development, etc
• Business management with P&L responsibility experience is essential
• Up-to-date knowledge of automotive component production technologies, trends, challenges, and economies of scale, as well as conversion processes, potential applications, and markets across the value chains
• Ability to travel worldwide to/work in emerging market countries for up to 35% of the time
• Ability to work under pressure on multiple projects in parallel, often with tight deadlines
• Self-starter capable of independently resolving administrative requirements
• Genuine commitment to sustainable development and to the WBG and IFC’s mission, strategy, and values
• Excellent people skills, openness to feedback, new ideas, and ability to guide, and motivate others
• Sensitivity for working in a multicultural environment, commitment to diversity, and ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues/clients/partners across regions
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
• Proficiency in French, Spanish, Mandarin, Turkish, or other languages relevant to IFC’s emerging market focus would be a plus
• Experience working in emerging economies is highly desired

Source: https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=28774&site=1