Senior Industry Specialist – AgTech | World Bank Expert in Agricultural Technology & Innovation
The AgTech Senior Industry Specialist will assist the Agribusiness unit in the identification, development and execution of the AgTech approach, ensuring alignment with IFC’s broader strategy to build resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. When assessing investments, the specialist would be required to extensively travel and conduct due diligence on Companies being considered for an IFC investment. IFC Industry Specialists play a key role within the investment teams and provide broad and in-depth industry knowledge to assess new investment companies and conduct detailed on-site due diligence, as well as performing supervision and value-addition of portfolio investments. IFC’s Advisory/Upstream teams might tap into the specialist’s knowledge/expertise.
The employment contract will be on a renewable term appointment. However, if the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment.
Duties and Responsibility
The AgTech Industry Specialist will report to the Sector Lead and will be accountable for the following tasks:
- Assist IFC’s Agribusiness team in developing a comprehensive sector strategy for AgTech investments, building on lessons learned from IFC’s current AgTech portfolio;
- Identify and map existing AgTech startups and relevant themes that align with WBG/IFC’s investment mandate and strategic priorities;
- Working closely with the sector lead, Global subsector industry specialists, and regional investment teams, conduct due diligence to assess project strengths and weaknesses, and provide investment teams with an appraisal report and operational parameters to be built into financial models;
- Collaborate closely with Blended Finance and other stakeholders to mitigate risks and enhance the AgTech ecosystem.
- Provide industry and best practice advice to internal – IFC and WBG colleagues – and external clients and add value to new business development activities and portfolio monitoring, as well as to advisory services projects;
- Assist in the selection, briefing and supervision of technical consultants, engaged on due diligence, as needed;
- Participate in conferences and seminars and other events representing IFC and as appropriate to maintaining and building sector knowledge.
- Participate in the investment committee meetings and respond to the committee’s questions;
- Support the review of advisory/upstream services proposals;
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Selection Criteria for Senior Industry Specialist
- Commitment to IFC and the World Bank Group’s mission, strategy, and values
- 15 years + years of operational experience (10 years + experience focused specifically on AgTech with strategic multinational or Venture Capital fund);
- Minimum Master’s degree in a related field;
- Proven experience (strongly preferred in the AgTech sector) in early-stage investments, venture capital, and/or private equity;
- Strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities in farming best practices, climate resilience and adaptation, and food security and/or sound knowledge and experience in delivering sustainability solutions to the agribusiness sector;
- Excellent written and spoken English skills and ability to write technical appraisal reports in a timely manner, also with French language a plus;
- Ability to work effectively in teams and build bridges across organizational boundaries;
- Passion for understanding use cases of technology in Agribusiness, and commodity markets and results driven with energy, initiative, and self-motivation;
- Willingness to undertake extensive international travel in emerging markets.
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