Senior Industry Specialist - Water

Senior Industry Specialist - Water

Job #: req
35256
Organization: IFC
Sector:
Water/Sanitation
Grade: GG
Term Duration: 3 years 0 months
Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC, United States
Required Language(s):
English
Preferred Language(s):
Spanish, Portuguese, French
Closing Date: 1/18/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works 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.

The International Finance Corporation (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 $71.7 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.

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The Knowledge Bank Global Water team is recruiting a highly experienced Senior Water Industry Specialist/Industry Specialist (IS) to support IFC’s investments and the wider World Bank Group’s Water Strategy. The final title and grade will be determined based on the experience and seniority of the chosen candidate. This position will be based in Washington, DC, will have a global focus and will require international travel.

The position provides a great opportunity for the candidate to apply and enhance their extensive water sector experience while making a difference to people’s lives.

The IS will have a key role in developing prospects and delivering technical and sector due diligence for potential IFC investments in water and sanitation and support the Knowledge Bank. In the context of investment and advisory engagements, the IS delivers sector analysis and writes due diligence reports, so clarity in communications is vital. The IS needs to be commercially minded and be familiar with all the stages of a project investment cycle.

The IS should have senior management water utility experience and understand the principles of both corporate and project finance investments.

The World Bank Group’s Water strategy focuses on leveraging Private Sector Participation in emerging economies, and in pre‑investment activities. This work includes commissioning and reviewing market and feasibility studies and business development mappings where the IS will be a key member of the team, working with a multi‑disciplinary team from across the World Bank Group. As part of the Global Water team at the Knowledge Bank, the IS will also have the opportunity to help shape interventions across the broader World Bank Group.

The candidate should have some experience of procuring and managing consultants.

The successful candidate is expected to come from a senior position in the water and sanitation sector. They should be either part of, or used to working with, the executive directors (C‑suite) of a water utility. They should have at least 20 years experience in the water and sanitation sector. Some experiences in roles such as water utility director/manager are a prerequisite for the position.

Additional experience can be as a consulting engineer, regulator, or engineering contractor. They should be professionally qualified as an engineer with a professional registration related to the water and/or construction sector.

The IS should have experience of working in emerging markets. The IS should be able to provide water sector…