Senior Technical Advisor (STA)

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to save, protect, and transform lives in need, CRS operates in more than 100 countries, providing relief and development programs that address various issues such as emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The organization is committed to serving the poor and vulnerable populations without regard to race, religion, or nationality. CRS fosters a collaborative, mission-driven culture and welcomes individuals from all faiths and secular traditions who share its values. The agency is dedicated to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, ensuring that its processes and policies reflect this commitment. CRS also prioritizes candidates from the regions in which it operates, emphasizing local engagement and expertise in its humanitarian efforts.

Job Overview:
The Senior Technical Advisor (STA) plays a crucial role in driving business development for innovative finance and climate finance transactions globally, aligning with CRS' mission to deliver sustainable solutions to impoverished and vulnerable populations. The STA is responsible for managing the entire transaction process, which includes identifying new opportunities, developing partnerships, structuring financial and capital arrangements, designing innovative initiatives, and coordinating with internal stakeholders. This position requires leadership across CRS, guiding cross-agency teams that may include country colleagues, business development leads, technical experts, legal and finance teams, depending on the specific transaction. The STA will engage in various innovative finance structures such as debt swaps, performance payments, blended capital, carbon credits, and impact investments, ensuring that CRS remains at the forefront of innovative finance and climate finance initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The STA will lead resource mobilization efforts in innovative finance and climate finance, collaborating closely with teams from the Global Resource Engagement and Mobilization (G-REM), Climate Finance Support Unit (CFSU), and regional and country teams. Key responsibilities include identifying new resource opportunities by understanding donor needs and aligning them with CRS strengths in sectors like agriculture, health, and education. The STA will support regional and country team leads in identifying opportunities for blended finance or climate finance structures, acting as an internal expert. Additionally, the STA will develop partnerships and funding opportunities using innovative finance tools, provide technical guidance in proposal development, and ensure that project teams are appropriately staffed. The role also involves leading the design and implementation of agency-wide strategies and best practices in innovative finance, representing CRS at global forums, and networking with relevant organizations to enhance CRS' profile in the sector.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in finance, economics, business administration, or a related field. A minimum of ten years of work experience in blended finance, climate finance, or a related area is required, with progressive responsibilities ideally within an international NGO or financial institution. Experience working overseas in multiple regions is preferred, along with a proven track record in resource mobilization and managing innovative finance mechanisms in development contexts. Candidates should demonstrate experience in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams and possess the skills to represent the organization at high-level meetings with donors and government entities. A solid understanding of partnership principles is essential.

Educational Background:
The position requires a Master's degree in finance, economics, business administration, or a related field. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of finance structures and mechanisms used in development programming, particularly in innovative and climate finance contexts.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have at least ten years of relevant work experience, particularly in blended finance and climate finance. This experience should include progressive responsibilities and ideally be gained within an international NGO or financial institution. The candidate should also have experience working in diverse geographical regions and contexts, demonstrating the ability to navigate complex environments and engage with various stakeholders effectively.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of Spanish or French is considered a valuable asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate with a broader range of stakeholders and partners in the field of innovative finance and climate finance.

Additional Notes:
This position does not have supervisory responsibilities. Candidates must be willing to travel up to 25% of the time. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. For candidates employed outside the U.S., salary and benefits packages will be based on the country of employment. The anticipated duration of the assignment for expatriates will be informed by a term limit based on the job type and level, as well as the agency's needs. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants and staff from exploitation and abuse, and successful candidates will be expected to adhere to CRS' Code of Conduct.