Associate Director, Innovative Finance

Note to candidates: Please send a resume and brief cover letter or email explaining your relevant background and interest to acosby@scgv.org. Do not apply through LinkedIn.

I. ABOUT US

We are Save the Children. Together, we fight for children every single day so that they can make their mark on the world and build a better future.We stand side by side with children in the toughest places to be a child. We do whatever it takes to make sure they survive, get protection when they’re in danger, and have the chance to learn.

Save the Children Global Ventures (SCGV) is Save the Children’s new impact investing and innovative finance platform, established in 2022 to mobilise high-impact capital and leverage Save the Children’s global delivery platform to solve some of the most critical problems facing children. To do so, our team oversees a portfolio of impact investment funds and develops innovative finance structures to leverage philanthropic capital to catalyse private funders into deep-impact funding opportunities.

II. ROLE PURPOSE

The Associate Director, Innovative Finance, is a key role within the SCGV team, bringing fresh perspective and thinking to develop new mechanisms to access funding for the humanitarian and development space, helping to address extreme poverty, child mortality, maternal health and combat communicable diseases and climate change around the world. Specifically, this role provides business development, innovative finance and financial modelling expertise to support the development of mechanisms to be funded by both philanthropic and private capital. The role spans full project lifecycles, from concept and design development to implementation and delivery oversight.

Comfort working in a dynamic start-up setting and managing stakeholders with varying levels of understanding of innovative finance is essential. Also essential is a talent for engaging and involving a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, from grassroots organisations, to humanitarian and development professionals, to high-level donors and investors. Exposure in a scale-up, start-up, consulting, and/or fund management environment is highly desirable for this role and a track record of innovation is crucial.

This position is subject to possible employment secondment arrangements with SCGV, a foundation registered in Switzerland, depending on the geographic location of the employee in this role. While this position is remote and global, preference will be given to candidates residing in time zones either in or working well with Africa.

III. KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Blended and innovative finance concept development:

• Identify innovative finance opportunities through proactive engagement with Save the Children country offices and member offices as well as philanthropic and private-sector funders.
• Create coalitions between different internal and external stakeholders, with varying levels of understanding of innovative finance, to successfully launch and test new mechanisms, including private sector companies, other NGOs, investors and corporates.
• Coordinate across Save the Children’s entities on priority areas for concept development.
• Support the establishment of new financing vehicles (such as funds, loan facilities, insurance, etc.) alongside relevant actors.
• Support the business case development for these mechanisms, including analysis and research, writing business plans and making recommendations on business model and financial structure.
• Jointly develop funder proposals with internal and external partners, leveraging networks to support concept development and fundraising efforts, particularly with non-traditional actors such as investors, innovators and guarantors.

Pilot support:

• Support the development and testing of pilots, wherever applicable, to refine product impact and offerings to funders.
• Identify common approaches for developing structures at scale and refine financial models to support innovative financing mechanisms.

Project implementation support:

• Co-create implementation plans for on-the-ground delivery of innovative finance mechanisms.
• Provide on-going support, tracking and/or monitoring of successfully launched projects.
• Contribute to reports for key internal and external stakeholders are required.
• Coordinate with external stakeholders to align expectations on delivery and ongoing monitoring.
• Create an internal knowledge base to document and share learnings across projects.
• Work closely with other key members of staff to contribute to broader organisational goals.

Thought leadership and additional support:

• Foster and support partnerships with organisations and industry experts to enable the delivery of strategic projects.
• Engage with industry networks, working groups and at conferences to represent Save the Children and forge strategic partnerships.
• Bring best practice and special expertise into Save the Children and SCGV, sharing knowledge and learning across the organisation and wider Save the Children Movement; and
• Contribute to building a world-class team and a highly innovative approach at SCGV.
• Manage other members of team SCGV expands over time.
• Provide other support to SCGV innovative finance and impact investing work as necessary.
• For the avoidance of doubt this role will not involve performing any tasks that would constitute carrying on a regulated activity or communicating a financial promotion in contravention of the Financial Services and Market Act 2000)

Child protection and safeguarding requirements:

• Maintain a child safe environment at the workplace and safeguard children’s rights, always acting in the best interests of children.
• Comply with the Child Safeguarding Code of Conduct and child safeguarding and protection policies and standards (click here to view further details).
• Demonstrate the highest standards of behaviour towards children in both private and professional life.
• Never abuse the position of trust that comes with being a part of the Save the Children family.
• Always maintain a safe and positive relationship when working with children and young people.
• Respond to any concerns for the safety or wellbeing of a child in a program in accordance with internal reporting processes.

IV. PERSON SPECIFICIATIONS

Essential technical knowledge, experience and skills:

• Comfort working in a dynamic start-up setting alongside remote colleagues all over the world.
• Ability to understand, explain and/or implement innovative finance and sustainable financing mechanisms within the humanitarian and/or development space.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and involve a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including grassroots organisations, humanitarian and development professionals and high-level donors and investors.
• Ability to manage and deliver on different parallel workstreams and to clearly articulate potentially competing priorities.
• Relevant work experience in financial modelling and business case development.
• Experience in investment and/or financing deal development (e.g. consulting, banking, fund management).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with capability to present complex financial concepts to diverse audiences.
• Results-oriented, with a commitment to continuous learning.
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills and awareness of other digital technologies.

Desirable experience:

• Demonstrated experience in development and/or humanitarian contexts.
• Experience working with an international organisation with a global reach.
• Essential characteristics:
• Organised self-starter with an entrepreneurial mindset – ready to challenge status quo.
• Structured thinker, able to deal with complexity and uncertainty.
• Innovative, creative, and strategic approach to problem-solving.
• Solves problems with multiple stakeholders in an open and empathetic manner.
• Passion for impact, new technologies, start-ups, and entrepreneurship.
• Enthusiasm to meet, build relationships and debate views with the team, founders, other investors, and experts and to learn from others.
• Excellent networking skills and able to build rapport and trust quickly.
• A keen eye for detail.
• Ability to understand new markets/products and quickly identify features and potential benefits.
• Strong desire for learning, personal and organisational growth and drive to achieve outcomes.

V. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Any offer of employment at Save the Children Global Ventures will be subject to a satisfactory criminal record check and, where required, a Working with Children Check.
• Employees must sign on to Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct;
• Ongoing performance and employment will be measured against the key areas of responsibility outlined above.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion:

Save the Children believes in a world that is inclusive, where equal opportunities and outcomes exist for all children, regardless of where they are growing up.

We also apply this to our workforce - we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where all employees feel a sense of belonging and feel they can be “Free to be Me”.

We aim to build, develop and retain a talented workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, skills and experiences. We welcome and actively encourage applications from anyone who feels they’d be a good fit for our organisation, regardless of race, religion, colour, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, neurodiversity or any other protected characteristic.

Not only do we understand, but we champion the value that diversity brings, and believe that having a team with different voices, perspectives and knowledge, working together, will enable us to better the lives of children around the world – the reason we’re all here.