Green Building Country Lead - Operations Officer

•  IFC seeks to hire an Operations Officer to be based in Nairobi, Kenya to lead business development and oversee the execution of the EDGE Green Building Program, as well as the BRI and APEX Green Cities Programs, in response to market demands. The successful candidate will report directly to the Green Buildings Lead for Africa. 
•  The new team member’s core responsibilities will be to: (i) define and implement a comprehensive go-to-market strategy for EDGE-BRI in Kenya and one or more other African markets; (ii) outreach to financial intermediaries on the creation of financial and non-financial products and services that support the growth of the green and resilient building sector and low carbon cities.
• Lead and expand the EDGE Green Buildings Program in Kenya and additional African markets.
• Conduct market research and data analysis to identify growth opportunities and innovative strategies for program expansion.
• Advise certification providers on successful EDGE certification strategies, encompassing technical, operational, marketing, and financial aspects.
• Develop a detailed workplan and country-specific strategies to meet ambitious EDGE targets.
• Assess market readiness for BRI and APEX Programs and foster new and existing strategic partnerships.
• Engage with key industry players to promote EDGE, enhance capacities, and ensure program adoption and client retention.
• Generate and disseminate high-quality content to reinforce the business case for EDGE-BRI in local markets and support stakeholders in their business development efforts.
• Advocate for resilient and decarbonized portfolios, including retrofitting and Zero Carbon initiatives.
• Represent IFC programs at public events to increase awareness and support program integration.
• Work with the global marketing lead to refine the program’s messaging for African markets and use various channels to highlight client success stories.
• Prepare donor and supervision reports as needed.
• Assist the regional lead with strategy, budgeting, and fundraising activities for the Africa region.

Selection Criteria

• The candidate must have a significant network in the property and/or financial real estate sector and be able to work both independently and as a team player, be at ease in working with high-level clients, and have several years of experience in business development as related to the real estate sector.
• Master's degree in business, economics, architecture, civil engineering, or related field.
• At least 8 years' experience in the green building sector and 5 years in business development within property/financial sectors.
• Business development expert with a robust network in property/financial real estate and a deep understanding of African markets.
• Independent and team-oriented professional comfortable with high-level client engagement.
• Proven track record in client conversion and relationship management with financial institutions and other key players.
• Dynamic leader with exceptional energy, initiative, and the ability to drive multi-disciplinary team collaboration across borders.
• Strong business judgment and project management skills are essential, with a track record of delivering results in high-pressure situations.
• Experience with urban infrastructure and planning is desirable.
• Candidates with GHG quantification expertise are preferred.
• Exceptional presentation, verbal and written communication skills are required for liaising with internal and external parties.
• Fluency in English is mandatory; proficiency in French is advantageous.