Senior Program Officer

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Position Title: Senior Program Officer
Location: Seattle
Country: United States
Deadline Date: March 5, 2025

Job Details

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 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, and opportunities for employee engagement in various communities. The Foundation is committed to fostering a workplace environment that supports both personal and professional growth.

Job Overview:
The Senior Program Officer (SPO) will play a crucial role in enhancing digital financial inclusion through the development and management of inclusive instant payment systems (IIPS) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This position requires a seasoned digital payments expert who will lead the creation of principles and criteria for payment platform operators and digital financial service providers, ensuring that these services are affordable, useful, secure, and accessible. The SPO will also be responsible for establishing a measurement framework to track the progress of these principles across various deployments, supporting the implementation of these standards through grants and capacity building, and collaborating with global standard-setting bodies to advance quality in financial services while safeguarding consumer interests. This role is integral to achieving the Foundation's aggressive targets for the adoption of digital financial services across Africa and Asia, and it offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Program Officer will be tasked with refining the Inclusive Financial Systems (IFS) team’s global digital payment strategy by defining principles, guidelines, and safeguards for the provision of digital financial services. Responsibilities include driving the design and establishment of center-of-excellence facilities to engage with payment platform operators and digital financial service providers, advocating for policies that enhance inclusivity, and identifying mechanisms to expand access to financial products while combating fraud. The SPO will also engage with cloud service providers to ensure proper rules for outsourced services, develop a measurement framework to assess service quality, and manage grants and contracts to assist partners in implementing these principles. Additionally, the SPO will conduct field visits, provide regulatory advice, and collaborate with various teams within the Foundation to inform digital payment strategies across different sectors.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree or equivalent experience in technology, payments, regulations, finance, or related fields. Strong experience in the provision of digital financial systems in LMICs is essential, along with exposure to fraud management technology and a robust network of relationships in the digital financial services sector. Experience in marketing digital financial services and managing large programs is also required. Candidates should demonstrate strong communication skills, both written and oral, and possess persuasive public speaking abilities. The ability to work independently and collaboratively, along with innovative problem-solving skills, is crucial for success in this role.

Educational Background:
An advanced degree in technology, finance, regulations, or a related field is required for this position. Equivalent experience in relevant areas may also be considered.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have significant experience in managing technology strategy and operations within the digital payments landscape, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. A proven track record in scaling payment platforms and driving growth in digital financial services is essential. Experience in program management and a strong understanding of the regulatory environment surrounding digital financial services are also important.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages relevant to the regions of focus may be considered advantageous but is not required.

Additional Notes:
This is a full-time position based in Seattle, WA, with a competitive salary range of $169,700 to $255,500 USD, recognizing the high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C. The salary range for this role in these locations is $185,000 to $277,400 USD. New hires typically start between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range, depending on their skills and experience. The role may require global travel up to 25% of the time. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, and the organization is committed to providing accommodations for candidates with disabilities during the application process. The Foundation values diversity and inclusion and strives to create a workplace that reflects these principles.