Chief Innovative Finance Hub Finland

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Position Title: Chief Innovative Finance Hub Finland
Location: Helsinki
Country: Finland
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. Established with a mission to promote the rights of every child, UNICEF is committed to innovation and excellence in its operations. The organization prides itself on a culture that fosters personal and professional development, offering diverse opportunities for its staff. With a workforce dedicated to a rewarding mission, UNICEF provides an attractive compensation and benefits package, ensuring that employees thrive in their roles. The organization is known for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, encouraging candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Job Overview:
The Chief of the Innovative Finance Hub in Finland will play a pivotal role in transforming how UNICEF operates by unlocking capital markets to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) financing gap. This position is crucial for creating thought leadership around innovative financing strategies that support children. The incumbent will be responsible for promoting the adoption of the Child-lens Investing Framework (CLIF), which aims to integrate children's needs into investment decision-making processes. The role involves collaboration with various divisions within UNICEF and external partners to foster innovative financing approaches that can be scaled sustainably. The Chief will also contribute to building a global pipeline of high-impact child-aligned projects and engage with industry experts to develop new social goods constructs.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will have a range of responsibilities, including: 1) Advocacy, Investor Relations, and Partnership Management: Engaging with investment ecosystem actors in Finland and globally to create opportunities and partnerships around CLIF. 2) Financial Instrument and Impact Measurement Development: Collaborating with technical experts to create and validate tools and instruments for private and public equity markets. 3) Knowledge Management: Contributing to knowledge building within UNICEF, promoting effective interaction and partnerships across the organization. 4) Development of child-related KPIs and metrics for investors, ensuring alignment with industry standards. 5) Raising awareness and creating KPIs for impact measurement related to the IF Hub’s initiatives.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in fields such as Innovation, International Relations, Business Administration, Economics, or other relevant technical areas. A minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible professional work experience is required, with a focus on sustainable finance. Candidates should demonstrate strategic and analytical thinking, excellent organizational and communication skills, and the ability to conceptualize and execute projects effectively. Familiarity with existing standards adopted by financial institutions, as well as experience in direct impact investing, venture capital, or private equity, is essential. Knowledge of the Nordic sustainable finance ecosystem is a strong asset, along with experience in metrics development and monitoring.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in a relevant field is mandatory. This could include areas such as Innovation, International Relations, Business Administration, Economics, or other technical fields that align with the responsibilities of the position.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible professional work experience, particularly in sustainable finance. Candidates should have a strong background in strategic and analytical thinking, with proven experience in project execution and collaboration across divisions. Familiarity with financial standards and frameworks is essential, as is experience in impact investing and venture capital.

Languages:
Fluency in written and verbal English is mandatory. Proficiency in Finnish is considered an asset, and knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is also advantageous.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Helsinki and is part of UNICEF's commitment to diversity and inclusion. UNICEF offers flexible working arrangements and has policies in place to support employees with disabilities. The organization emphasizes the importance of safeguarding children and has a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct. Candidates will undergo rigorous background checks, and medical clearance is required for appointments. UNICEF does not charge any fees during the recruitment process and encourages applications from all qualified individuals.