Associate Program Manager, Financial Inclusion
POSITION: Associate Program Manager, Financial Inclusion
LOCATION: Toronto, Ontario
ABOUT THE MASTERCARD FOUNDATION The MasterCard Foundation is a global foundation based in Toronto, Canada. It was established through the generosity of MasterCard Worldwide at the time of the company’s initial public offering in 2006. As an independent entity, its policies, operations and funding decisions are determined by its own Board of Directors and President and CEO.
The Foundation believes that every person has the potential to transform their lives and improve the lives of their families and communities. The Foundation collaborates with partners to advance sustainable and scalable solutions in financial inclusion and youth learning, focusing on countries – particularly Sub-Saharan Africa – that face high rates of poverty, limited access to financial services and growing numbers of out-of-school youth.
The Foundation values innovative and fresh thinking as it strives to become an influential global thought-contributor. Its work is achieved by a strategic, nimble and highly entrepreneurial team with a proactive and results-oriented approach to its philanthropic activities. The organization's culture is shaped by people who are driven and passionate about the Foundation's mission.
FINANCIAL INCLUSION In March 2013, the Foundation’s Financial Inclusion program rebranded its work in “microfinance” to the more holistically termed “financial inclusion.” This internal shift at the Foundation mirrored a shift within the industry towards fostering and supporting a financially inclusive society. As the microfinance industry matured throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s and increasingly demonstrated its ability to scale and to achieve commercial sustainability, there was simultaneously wide recognition that poor people need a full range of financial services-not just credit- to deal with challenges related to income volatility and economic vulnerability. Therefore, the industry (and the Foundation’s Financial Inclusion program) shifted toward a vision of financial inclusion in which low- income individuals, households, and small businesses have access to, and can effectively use, appropriate, relevant financial services such as savings, credit, payments, health insurance, etc.
To date, the Foundation’s Financial Inclusion program has committed more than $350 million to 33 organizations across multi-year projects. These interventions serve approximately five million people and are anticipated to benefit fifteen million people by 2018. The portfolio has focused on scaling and expanding access to a broad range of financial services. To ensure that scale if effectively and efficiently reached, the Foundation has also supported the development of institutional capacity, while simultaneously supporting financial capability at the client level to ensure responsible usage of financial services. Furthermore, as a learning institution, the Foundation funds the generation and dissemination of monitoring and evaluation analysis to guide future programming and to benefit the wider financial inclusion industry. Job Posting
THE POSITION Reporting to the Deputy Director of the Financial Inclusion Program and working collaboratively with Program Managers on the Financial Inclusion team and colleagues in the foundation, the Associate Program Manager will support Program Managers to identify and evaluate opportunities that advance the Foundation’s strategy. The successful candidate will have expertise and experience and bring fresh ideas to solve current challenges facing the financial sector in Africa.
The Associate Program Manager will be expected to interact effectively with senior levels of partner organizations and work collaboratively to support Program Managers and partners co-develop and manage projects. The Associate Program Manager will also have the opportunity to co-develop and manage a smaller portfolio of their own programs. The successful candidate in this position must be highly motivated, entrepreneurial, and results- oriented.
Specific Responsibilities
Support the Program Managers to identify, develop and recommend projects for funding. This work includes conducting field visits and due diligence of potential partners and projects, and reviewing project design and budgets. Support Program Managers to monitor and manage a portfolio of approximately $75 million in projects. Communicate progress and learnings from projects to colleagues and the wider development community. Build relationships with partner organizations and global stakeholders. Collaborate with Foundation team to expand the organization’s knowledge base, develop new ideas and review and evolve program strategy. Provide perspective and expertise on emerging issues and trends in the field of financial inclusion. Work closely with the Youth Learning Program team leveraging synergies between the two programs.
THE PERSON Qualifications & Experience The ideal candidate should have the following qualifications: University Degree in Economics, Business or International Development. Advanced degree would be favourable. A minimum of four (4) years of experience in financial inclusion will be given greater consideration. This experience could include project management, field experience and/or experience in philanthropy working in developing countries. Experience working to expand financial inclusion to rural and agricultural households will be highly valued. Substantive knowledge of key issues and emerging trends in financial inclusion. Excellent communication; both verbal and written skills and presentation skills in English. Fluency in other languages relevant to the work, particularly French, is also desirable.
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Experience living and working in Africa would enhance standing. Experience with global grant making would be favourable. This experience may come from working in another funding organization, corporation or an NGO. Strong listening skills and ability to build effective relationships with partners. Ability to travel internationally. Demonstrated commitment to and a passion for financial inclusion and rural and agricultural finance in particular. Results driven. Motivated by a sense of performance excellence and urgency. Demonstrated ability to set and achieve clear objectives and deadlines. Shares information across the organization. Flexible, intellectually curious and open. Must be comfortable with ambiguity, receptive to new ideas and willing to change when presented with best options. Innovative and entrepreneurial. Able to formulate and develop a new or creative approach to a problem and inspires others on the team to do so as well. Strong attention to detail and organizational skills. Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective partnerships with all levels of the Foundation. Results focused with the ability to evaluate options and develop recommendations to problem or issues. Proficient computer skills including Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Ability to collaborate effectively with a variety of constituencies, as well as work effectively in a collegial manner in a team-based environment. Professional maturity and sensitivity to working within different cultures. Impeccable integrity. Exemplify the Foundation’s values of Collaboration, Innovation and Achievement.
BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION The Foundation offers an excellent benefits package and a salary that is commensurate with experience.
TO APPLY Please email your resume along with a cover letter explaining your interest in the position to [email protected], indicating “Associate Program Manager - Financial Inclusion” in the subject line of your email.
To comply with the Government of Canada's reporting requirements, the Foundation is obliged to gather information about applicants' status as either Permanent Residents of Canada or Canadian citizens. Applicants need not identify their country of origin or current citizenship, however, all applications must include one of the following statements: I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada; OR I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada in the body of your cover letter.
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All applications are appreciated; however, please note that only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
The MasterCard Foundation is an open, collegial organization which honours principles of equality of opportunity for all.
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