Director, Direct Equity Department

Director, Direct Equity Department

Job #: req38617

Organization: IFC

Sector:

Grade: GI

Term Duration: Open-Ended Staff (OPEN-OP)

Recruitment Type: International Recruitment

Location: Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date: 11/4/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

At the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. In fiscal year 2026, IFC committed a record $105.6 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

Background/ General Description

IFC is seeking to recruit a Director to lead its Direct Equity Department, based in Washington, DC. Reporting to the Vice President, Products & Clients, the Director will provide strategic and operational leadership for IFC's global direct equity investment business. The Director will lead the implementation and continued evolution of IFC's direct equity strategy and provide global technical leadership to regional investment teams across sectors, with accountability for consistent investment standards, portfolio quality, and development impact.

The Department will serve as IFC's global center of expertise for direct equity, supporting regional teams across the investment lifecycle from origination and structuring through active portfolio management, value creation, and exits. The Director will work closely with regional and industry teams and with the Directors responsible for Funds and Venture Capital and Client Engagement, and will collaborate with Risk, Legal, Treasury, Economics, Environmental and Social, and other functions to strengthen investment quality, mobilize private capital, deepen capital markets, and maintain a high-performing and financially sustainable equity portfolio in support of IFC 2030 priorities.

Specific Duties and Accountabilities

Business and Strategic Leadership
• Lead the implementation and continued evolution of IFC's global direct equity strategy, aligned with IFC 2030 priorities, development goals, financial sustainability, and private capital mobilization objectives.
• Provide global technical leadership and set standards for direct equity investing, working through regional and industry investment teams to ensure consistent investment discipline, quality, and strategic alignment across sectors and regions.
• Support regional and industry teams in originating, structuring, negotiating, and executing complex direct equity investments, with particular focus on strategic, innovative, or high-impact opportunities and new client relationships.
• Advance approaches to mobilize private capital through co-investments, strategic partnerships, and other scalable investment structures, and promote innovation informed by market intelligence, technology, and data analytics.
• Represent IFC in senior client engagements and external forums related to direct equity, emerging markets, and private capital, strengthening IFC's position as a leading long-term equity investor and development partner.

Portfolio Management and Value Creation
• Provide global oversight of IFC's direct equity portfolio and support regional portfolio teams in strengthening performance, portfolio quality, governance, value creation, and development outcomes.
• Establish and maintain rigorous approaches to equity valuation, portfolio monitoring, capital allocation, and risk management, working closely with regional teams and relevant corporate functions to promote consistency and sound judgment across the portfolio.
• Drive active value creation across the portfolio, including strengthened governance, strategic and operational improvements, and timely responses to underperforming or complex investments.
• Guide portfolio optimization and exit strategies, balancing financial returns, development impact, market conditions, and IFC's role as a long-term investor.
• Promote systematic learning and sharing of investment and portfolio experience across regions and sectors, codifying best practices and strengthening IFC's global equity investment capabilities.

People and Resource Management
• Manage financial and talent resources, including hiring, developing, and retaining diverse talent to achieve the Department's business objectives.
• Provide overall leadership and people management, setting clear priorities and fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and inclusive culture.
• Lead effectively across organizational boundaries and through matrix relationships with regional and industry investment teams, building a strong global community of direct equity professionals and alignment around common standards and priorities.
• Manage the Department's budget with a focus on efficiency, effectiveness, and deployment of resources toward the highest-priority business and portfolio needs.

Selection Criteria

In addition to the WBG managerial selection criteria*, the following qualifications are sought:
• Master's degree or equivalent in finance, economics, business administration, or a related field, with at least 15 years of relevant professional experience in direct equity investing, investment banking, corporate finance, asset management, development finance, or related fields.
• Demonstrated track record of originating, structuring, executing, and managing complex direct equity investments, with substantial experience in emerging markets and a strong record of financial performance and development impact.
• Deep expertise across the equity investment lifecycle, including valuation, transaction structuring, corporate governance, active portfolio management, value creation, restructurings, and exits.
• Strong commercial judgment and investment discipline, with proven ability to balance financial returns, risk, additionality, development impact, and long-term institutional objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to shape and implement investment strategy and to provide technical leadership across multiple sectors, regions, and organizational units, including through matrix relationships and influence without direct authority.
• Proven ability to mobilize and crowd in private capital, build strong relationships with investee companies, co-investors, and strategic partners, and position IFC as a partner of choice.
• Proven capacity to lead through influence in a complex global organization, build alignment across boundaries, and develop high-performing, collaborative, and diverse teams and talent.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with WBG senior management and IFC's Board of Directors and to represent IFC and World Bank Group viewpoints in global forums.

* World Bank Group-wide managerial selection criteria include: (i) Courage of your convictions; (ii) leading the team for impact; (iii) influencing across boundaries; (iv) fostering openness to new ideas; and (v) building talent for the future.

As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who:

• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
• Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
• Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.

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

WBG Five Managerial Competencies Include only for managerial positions

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.