Senior Technical Advisor (STA), Commercial Lending Partnerships
Job Description
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, focusing on various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The organization is committed to improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. CRS has a collaborative, mission-driven culture and welcomes individuals from all faiths and secular traditions who share its values. The agency emphasizes safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, and its processes reflect this commitment. CRS has a diverse workforce and encourages candidates from the regions where it operates to apply, ensuring that its team is representative of the communities it serves.
Job Overview:
The Senior Technical Advisor (STA) for Commercial Lending Partnerships is a pivotal role within CRS, focusing on enhancing access to capital for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through innovative financing approaches. The STA will lead the development and adaptation of partnership models and financial structures that mobilize private-sector financing, particularly in critical areas such as water-smart agriculture, drinking water, and sanitation. This position requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including global finance units and regional teams, to create scalable approaches and technical guidance that strengthen CRS's engagement with commercial lenders. The STA will also be responsible for promoting cross-regional learning and knowledge exchange, ensuring that CRS's programming aligns with industry practices and donor requirements. This role is essential for advancing inclusive financing for SMEs and vulnerable populations in prioritized programmatic areas.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The STA will lead CRS's strategy for strengthening commercial lending partnerships, focusing on inclusive financing for SMEs and vulnerable populations. Key responsibilities include developing and overseeing strategic relationships with leading commercial banks and financial institutions, understanding their operational incentives and risk appetites, and serving as the technical lead on various commercial lending solutions. The STA will document and adapt approaches and tools for use across CRS regions, lead capacity-strengthening efforts for regional and country teams, and support ongoing initiatives to unlock local lending opportunities. Additionally, the STA will provide technical leadership in proposal development and project design, contribute to knowledge management by documenting promising practices, and monitor trends in commercial banking and SME financing to advise CRS leadership on strengthening financing partnerships.
Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a deep understanding of commercial bank operations, lending restrictions, and incentives, ideally with direct experience in executing SME lending. Extensive knowledge of finance structures used in development programming is essential. Strong relationship management skills are required, along with the ability to influence stakeholders and work effectively in diverse cultural settings. Candidates should demonstrate excellent strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills, as well as strong written and oral communication abilities. A proactive and results-oriented approach is crucial for success in this role.
Educational Background:
A Master's degree in finance, economics, business administration, or a related field is required for this position. This educational background provides the necessary foundation for understanding complex financial structures and mechanisms relevant to the role.
Experience:
Candidates should have at least ten years of progressive work experience in blended finance or related fields, ideally within an international NGO, commercial bank, or financial institution. A minimum of five years of overseas experience in multiple regions as a technical advisor or program manager is required, particularly in roles involving commercial lending partnerships or multi-sectoral projects with lending components. A proven track record of working with donors and development banks to unlock local bank lending for SMEs is also essential.
Languages:
Fluency in both written and spoken English and Spanish is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, enhancing communication with diverse stakeholders across regions.
Additional Notes:
This is a remote position, and CRS will only consider candidates based in countries where it has existing offices. The role may require travel up to 35%. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a retirement savings plan. For candidates employed outside the U.S., benefits packages will be based on the country of employment. The successful candidate is expected to adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct and safeguarding policies, ensuring the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults, are protected.
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, focusing on various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The organization is committed to improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. CRS has a collaborative, mission-driven culture and welcomes individuals from all faiths and secular traditions who share its values. The agency emphasizes safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, and its processes reflect this commitment. CRS has a diverse workforce and encourages candidates from the regions where it operates to apply, ensuring that its team is representative of the communities it serves.
Job Overview:
The Senior Technical Advisor (STA) for Commercial Lending Partnerships is a pivotal role within CRS, focusing on enhancing access to capital for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through innovative financing approaches. The STA will lead the development and adaptation of partnership models and financial structures that mobilize private-sector financing, particularly in critical areas such as water-smart agriculture, drinking water, and sanitation. This position requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including global finance units and regional teams, to create scalable approaches and technical guidance that strengthen CRS's engagement with commercial lenders. The STA will also be responsible for promoting cross-regional learning and knowledge exchange, ensuring that CRS's programming aligns with industry practices and donor requirements. This role is essential for advancing inclusive financing for SMEs and vulnerable populations in prioritized programmatic areas.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The STA will lead CRS's strategy for strengthening commercial lending partnerships, focusing on inclusive financing for SMEs and vulnerable populations. Key responsibilities include developing and overseeing strategic relationships with leading commercial banks and financial institutions, understanding their operational incentives and risk appetites, and serving as the technical lead on various commercial lending solutions. The STA will document and adapt approaches and tools for use across CRS regions, lead capacity-strengthening efforts for regional and country teams, and support ongoing initiatives to unlock local lending opportunities. Additionally, the STA will provide technical leadership in proposal development and project design, contribute to knowledge management by documenting promising practices, and monitor trends in commercial banking and SME financing to advise CRS leadership on strengthening financing partnerships.
Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a deep understanding of commercial bank operations, lending restrictions, and incentives, ideally with direct experience in executing SME lending. Extensive knowledge of finance structures used in development programming is essential. Strong relationship management skills are required, along with the ability to influence stakeholders and work effectively in diverse cultural settings. Candidates should demonstrate excellent strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills, as well as strong written and oral communication abilities. A proactive and results-oriented approach is crucial for success in this role.
Educational Background:
A Master's degree in finance, economics, business administration, or a related field is required for this position. This educational background provides the necessary foundation for understanding complex financial structures and mechanisms relevant to the role.
Experience:
Candidates should have at least ten years of progressive work experience in blended finance or related fields, ideally within an international NGO, commercial bank, or financial institution. A minimum of five years of overseas experience in multiple regions as a technical advisor or program manager is required, particularly in roles involving commercial lending partnerships or multi-sectoral projects with lending components. A proven track record of working with donors and development banks to unlock local bank lending for SMEs is also essential.
Languages:
Fluency in both written and spoken English and Spanish is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, enhancing communication with diverse stakeholders across regions.
Additional Notes:
This is a remote position, and CRS will only consider candidates based in countries where it has existing offices. The role may require travel up to 35%. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a retirement savings plan. For candidates employed outside the U.S., benefits packages will be based on the country of employment. The successful candidate is expected to adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct and safeguarding policies, ensuring the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults, are protected.
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We are not liable for any decisions or actions taken by applicants in response to this job listing. By applying, you agree that all application processes, interviews, and potential job offers are managed exclusively by the listed employer or organization.
Beware of fraudulent job offers. Do not provide sensitive personal information or make any payments to secure a job.