Senior Program Officer (SPO)

Job Posting Organization:
The Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting poverty, disease, and inequity on a global scale. Established with the mission that all individuals, regardless of their identity or circumstances, should have the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives, the Foundation emphasizes the importance of diversity among its employees to reflect the global populations it serves. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage without premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, retirement contributions, regional holidays, and opportunities for employees to engage in various community initiatives. The Foundation is committed to fostering a workplace environment that supports both personal and professional growth for its employees.

Job Overview:
The Senior Program Officer (SPO) will play a pivotal role in leading and supporting gender-focused financial inclusion initiatives within the Inclusive Financial Systems (IFS) team. This position is crucial for maintaining the momentum of the Women’s Financial Inclusion (WFI) agenda during a transitional period. The SPO will be responsible for managing existing gender-related investments, overseeing gender mainstreaming efforts across the IFS portfolio, and ensuring that new gender-focused investment opportunities are advanced. The role requires a strategic approach to integrating gender considerations into digital financial systems, with a focus on creating sustainable economic growth and empowering women financially. The SPO will report directly to the director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Deputy Director, Usage, Gender, and Distribution, and will be instrumental in ensuring continuity and knowledge transfer during the interim period.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Program Officer will be tasked with several key responsibilities, including:

• Developing and managing new investments that align with the IFS’s Women’s Financial Inclusion strategy, ensuring they are designed to create significant impact for women's economic empowerment.
• Collaborating with other teams and external partners to identify opportunities for synergy and collective impact.
• Managing the current WFI portfolio to ensure timely delivery of projects, adherence to budget constraints, and alignment with strategic goals.
• Monitoring risks associated with the portfolio, identifying areas for improvement, and working collaboratively with partners to address any issues that arise.
• Leading the preparation of materials related to portfolio management for reviews, planning processes, and updates for leadership.
• Overseeing efforts to integrate gender considerations across the IFS portfolio, contributing to the monitoring and evaluation of gender-intentional investments.
• Maintaining and enhancing IFS’s knowledge management practices related to gender integration and collaborating with leadership to advance gender commitments across the team.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree in Economics, Business, Finance, or a related field. Additionally, they should have 8 to 10 years of relevant professional experience, demonstrating proven expertise in women’s economic empowerment and/or financial inclusion, particularly with experience in Africa or South/Southeast Asia being preferred. Strong investment and portfolio management experience is essential, along with the ability to build partnerships and navigate a complex matrix of stakeholders. Candidates should also have a demonstrated ability to integrate gender considerations into design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design and implementation, as well as excellent communication and synthesis skills.

Educational Background:
An advanced degree in Economics, Business, Finance, or a related field is required for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate has the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to effectively contribute to the Foundation's mission and objectives in financial inclusion and economic empowerment.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have 8 to 10 years of relevant professional experience. This experience should include a strong focus on women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion, with a preference for candidates who have worked in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa or South/Southeast Asia. Candidates should also have substantial experience in investment and portfolio management, demonstrating their ability to manage complex projects and partnerships effectively.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential given the nature of the role and the organization's global operations. Additional language skills may be beneficial, particularly in languages relevant to the regions where the Foundation operates, such as French or Spanish, which could enhance communication with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is a limited-term employment (LTE) role for a duration of 9 months. It is important to note that relocation assistance will not be provided for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship. The salary range for this role is between $169,700 and $254,500 USD, with specific adjustments for high-wage markets like Seattle, where the range is between $185,000 and $277,400 USD. The Foundation aims to balance competitive salaries with its mission-driven focus, and new hires typically fall within the range minimum and midpoint, depending on their skills and experience.