Job Postings

Job Opening in Microfinance: Mercy Corps

Microfinance Technical Advisor

Job Description on Mercy Corps Website: Link

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps’ organizational strategy is to work in countries in transition, where communities are suffering and recovering from disaster, conflict or economic collapse.  Our experience demonstrates that during these times of turmoil and tragedy, there exists the possibility for positive, lasting change.  To accomplish our mission, we seek to enable communities to organize for the change they want to see, catalyze the interaction of civil society, government and business, and prompt market-led economic prosperity so communities can sustain these changes.

Mercy Corps has an impressive record of advancing innovation in microfinance and extending access to financial services to communities recovering from conflict and crisis.  The institutions it has helped create have made a million loans, worth a billion dollars, to underserved small businessmen and women.  Today, Mercy Corps works via 12 direct financial service providers, reaching over 200,000 clients with $267 million in loans outstanding.  It is expanding its competency to include meso-level industry support organizations as well as pioneering IT solutions and back-office support via a wholesale commercial bank for the Indonesian microfinance industry, one of the largest in the world.  This contribution to extending financial services to the poor is all the more impressive given that it has been made in the most difficult of environments – front-line

post-conflict situations, transitional economies and post-disaster circumstances.

Included in the Mercy Corps network are: XacBank in Mongolia, Partner Microfinance in Bosnia, Kompanion in Kyrgyzstan and Bank Andara/MICRA in Indonesia, each of which has been recognized for extraordinary success in creating social and economic value for both investors and the countries in which they operate.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps seeks an exceptional Microfinance Technical Advisor to join its Financial Services Team to provide financial services for the poor.  In collaboration with a matrixed team comprised of agency principals and technical specialists, the Microfinance Technical Advisor will engage with individual microfinance affiliates to further their objectives, facilitate investment and evaluate our microfinance institutions for inclusion within the broader Mercy Corps strategy.  S/he will possess the technical depth to navigate the challenges of operating in multiple and varied regulatory environments and provide solid financial and capital markets guidance.  The Microfinance Technical Adviser will coordinate Mercy Corps’ ongoing strategic assistance to its current portfolio of institutions as well as establish greenfield programs and de novo organizations in new countries.  S/he will understand standard microfinance delivery systems and metrics, but will not shy away from experimenting with innovative systems and flexible products in a vulnerable environment context.  This position will work closely with the Director of Financial Services in sourcing, evaluating, structuring, and championing investment deals, in ensuring that post-investment responsibilities, including serving on Boards of Directors, are fulfilled, and in assessing and recommending appropriate exit strategies.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Working closely with Mercy Corps’ wholly or partially owned microfinance entities, provide technical guidance, training, and mentoring to microfinance staff and Mercy Corps field-based program staff on best practice principles, disciplines, and methodologies.

Review and comment on business plans, strategic plans, financial projections, etc. for Financial Services programming.

Participate in (and lead, when appropriate) proposal development, including assessment visits.

Review and assist with development of consultant scopes of work and employee position descriptions; assist with the recruitment and interviewing of candidates for technical positions; provide guidance and support on project/program concept papers, assessments, evaluations, monitoring and evaluation plans, etc.; assist with documentation of case studies; disseminate lessons learned and best practices; disseminate information related to training opportunities; and assist with identification of potential funding sources.

Provide timely written reports after field visits including next steps, recommendations, and conclusions.

Help develop Financial Services training and orientation for MC HQ and field staff, board members of local MC partners, volunteers and local partner staff.

Help develop innovation in current multi-layered financial services programming (e.g., microinsurance, mbanking, microleasing and IT enhancements)

Represent Mercy Corps’ Financial Services initiatives and actively engage in external and internal relationship building, providing project updates and accurate information at meetings, academic events, conferences, media forums and other events.

Assist in tracking, coordinating, and insuring responses to the field; utilize internet capability for up-to-date news and information on global developments and program areas; interface with HQ web team to ensure adequacy and timeliness of content.

Organizational Learning – As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.

Accountability to Beneficiaries – Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None
ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Director of Financial Services

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Financial Services Manager, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, Regional Program Directors, country office teams

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

BS/BA or equivalent in finance or relevant field.

5-7 years of project management experience (at least some of which is in direct “hands-on” microfinance), including budget oversight, grants management, proposal development and relationship building.

Experience with business plan/strategic plan development, financial modeling, accounting for microfinance institutions, loan tracking management, board development, internal control and asset/liability management are necessary. Banking experience a plus.

Demonstrated understanding of economic development and livelihood programming, including broad conceptual issues, best practices, lessons learned, and a variety of institutional structures (both commercial and for-profit) is necessary.

Experience with assessments, monitoring and evaluation, and training design critical.

Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required.

Experience working with diverse teams.

Willingness to travel to field locations as required

Fluency in English required.  Foreign language abilities a plus.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The Microfinance Technical Advisor will exhibit exceptional analytical and project management skills.  S/he should have high creativity and strong social entrepreneurial skills to support new opportunities and partnerships.  Effective verbal and written communication, facilitation, participatory leadership and solid management skills are essential.  In addition to these qualifications, we are seeking someone with a great attitude who is flexible, outgoing and thrives in evolving and changing environments.  The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability.

LIVING/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

This position requires up to 50% travel to overseas program locations.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Job Location Portland, OR, US. Position Type Full-Time/Regular

© 2009 SeaMo: Connecting the Microfinance Community.