Senior Agribusiness Specialist

Senior Agribusiness Specialist

Job #:
req30624
Organization:
World Bank
Sector:
Agribusiness
Grade:
GG
Term Duration:
3 years 0 months
Recruitment Type:
Local Recruitment
Location:
Panama City,Panama
Required Language(s):
English, Spanish and Portuguese
Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date:
12/13/2024 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

The Agriculture and Food team in the Latin America and Caribbean Region (SLCAG) working under the direction of the Latin America & Caribbean (LAC) Planet Department (SLCDR), supporting client countries tackle their most complex development challenges, including in the areas of Climate Change, and resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development. SLCAG's work program covers seven LAC Country Management Units (CMUs), and is led by a Practice Manager (PM), and a team of agricultural economists and specialists based at HQ in Washington, DC and across six country offices. The Unit manages a large operational portfolio and several analytical tasks. Looking ahead, in addition to Investment Project Financing (IPFs), there is a growing need for engagement on agriculture policy reforms through Program-for-Results (PforRs) and Development Policy Financing (DPFs), as well as Reimbursable Advisory services (RASs) and cutting-edge analytics to support the LAC agri-food system's green, resilient and inclusive transformation. SLCAG works in a collaborative manner with other GPs in landscape management, irrigation, fisheries, land use, nutrition, rural risk/insurance and policies. The focus of the team's work going forward is on the future of agri-food systems, green and resilient transitions, including inclusiveness, diversification of economies, jobs, agricultural competitiveness and linking farmers to markets, one health, leveraging the private sector, climate-smart agriculture, digital agriculture, financial innovation, resilience, and fragility and conflict, regional and cross-GP collaboration.

Duties & Accountabilities:

The WBG is recruiting a Senior Agribusiness Specialist based in Panama City, Panama. The Senior Agribusiness Specialist will report to the SLCAG PM and assist in the delivery of the Unit's work program, assurance of quality, interaction with internal and external clients, including the governments and private sector, and partnerships across LAC. The Senior Agribusiness Specialist will primarily focus on the SLCAG portfolio working on agrifinance and agribusiness development, but will also support the activities of other Planet units or other Practice Groups, such as the Finance, Innovation and Competitiveness Practice (FCI), and the Urban and Disaster Risk Management Practice working on disaster risk financing (DRF). The Seniro Agribusiness Specialist will also support the broader strategic dialogue and engagements, in areas including agrifinance, agriculture risk management, productive allicances, agribusiness competitiveness, and climate change.

In doing so, the Senior Agribusiness Specialist will work closely with the SLCAG PM, and the relevant Program Leaders. S/he will play an important leading or supporting role in the implementation support of complex operations, preparation of new operations and carrying out specific pieces of high priority Advisory Services and Analytics (ASAs). S/he is expected to lead the policy and reform dialogue in select LAC Countries among others, contribute to broader Planet and CMU engagements and dialogue, contribute to core analytic pieces for the country engagement as needed and proactively engage and seek opportunities for business engagement and support the Unit's achievements of operational milestones and results targets.

The Senior Agribusiness Specialist responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to the following:

* Play a key role in defining agri-food sector policy dialogue in LAC Countries, building and expanding on current activities, carry-out cutting-edge analytics, and provide strategic advice to clients, peers, and unit management relating to agri-food systems relevant themes - these could include policy and reform levers to inform macro-level agendas such as agrifinance, agriculture risk management, climate financing, and agribusiness development;

* Lead as Task Team Leader (TTL) or co-lead or serve as team member of complex operations, both in agriculture and multi-sectoral operations, assuring quality in all stages of the projects and other financial instruments such as MPAs, IPFs, DPFs, PforRs, and Trust Funds (TFs), and contribute to expanding current portfolio;

* Lead or co-lead sophisticated analytical and advisory service activities (ASAs) to support overall business development, inform reforms and fill knowledge gaps;

* Participate in the country strategic dialogue and represent the SLCAG team and provide contributions as needed;

* Support the effective and practical dissemination of knowledge products as well as potential knowledge exchanges;

* Engagement in the broader Planet and country dialogue is expected;

* Actively engage with LAC Country counterparts on the agriculture engagements and identify opportunities for future priority engagement;

* Provide inputs on country and sectoral briefs, policy notes, strategy documents and cross-cutting think pieces;

* Support the Unit's work program outside of LAC Countries as needed and as will be agreed as part of the work program;

* Contribute to the regional and global knowledge agenda in the area of agrifinance, agribusiness and agriculture risk management;

* As necessary, represent the World Bank and SLCAG at events with sectoral focus;

* Mentor, guide, and support junior staff in the Unit;

Selection Criteria

The Senior Agribusiness Specialist will have broad knowledge in the agriculture sector and policies, in particular in agribusiness and agrifinance, and across the Planet Department and will be well-versed in the WBG's operational and reform dialogue on agriculture and the broader Planet Department. In addition to meeting the WBG-wide requirements for a grade GG-level position, it is expected that the successful candidate will meet the following selection criteria:
- Masters or PhD in business administration, finance, economics, development economics, agricultural economics, or similar field strongly preferred.

- Master's degree and at least 8 years of relevant professional experience related to agribusiness, finance, climate studies, and other disciplines related to agribusiness and food systems;

- Relevant, proven operational experience in the area of agribusiness, agrifinance, agricultural and/or rural development that demonstrate cross-country/global expertise and client-facing skills;

- Robust, proven operational experience as task or project manager of agriculture and multi-sectoral lending operations;

- Strong analytical skills in the range of issues of relevance to agribusiness, agrifinance, agriculture and/or food systems;

- Recognized substantive leadership in one or more of the strategic/ technical areas noted above;

- Familiarity with the institutional context of LAC regional agricultural development and World Bank operations will be an advantage;

- Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving and team skills with ability to find balanced, pragmatic and implementable solutions also in a multi-disciplinary context;

- High level of energy, ability to work under pressure, and willingness to travel and work under challenging conditions;

- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, including the ability to present complex issues to upper level management and senior government representatives, as well as to non-specialist audiences;

- Willingness and ability to travel.

Competencies:

Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena. Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level.

Policy Dialogue Skills. Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners.

Integrative Skills. Understands relevant cross-sectoral areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations.

Analytical skills. Deep understanding of concepts used in analyzing the different agricultural sector issues, with significant experience.

Agriculture Policy, Strategy and Institutions. Solid understanding of agriculture policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations.

Project Design for Impact and Sustainability. Contributes to the design of projects and programs based on an understanding of the country and sector context.
Sector Dialogue. Able to conduct a dialogue with the client including on complex issues, based on a solid understanding of the sector.

Client Orientation. Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.

Drive for Results. Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables.

Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion. Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.

Knowledge, Learning, and Communication. Leads in the sharing of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.

Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making. Gathers inputs, assesses risk, considers impact, and articulates benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term.

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

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