About CRS

A leading global humanitarian and development agency, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) reaches over 190 million people across more than 110 countries. Since 1943, we have built strong partnerships with local communities, governments, and organizations around the world, creating renowned programming and operations that produce tangible results and make us a trusted partner. Our mission is lasting transformation of individual lives and entire societies—change that requires significant resources.

While CRS has a long, rich history of funding from governments and private donors, we also recognize the need for innovative finance as a way to engage with new markets and new investors to achieve humanitarian and development outcomes at scale. CRS has multiple new funding streams that are innovative and driving toward programmatic impact including blended investment approaches, social impact bonds, debt swaps, climate financing, and others. We are looking for a leader for this work who will help advance CRS in the field of innovative financing. 

Job Summary

The Director, Innovative Finance, will lead CRS efforts to develop and implement innovative finance strategies and mechanisms to mobilize capital for impactful projects aligned with CRS strategy. This role requires a visionary leader with deep expertise in innovative finance, investment strategies, results-based financing, and public-private partnerships with a commitment to the mission and vision of CRS.  The Director will be responsible for developing and executing an overall innovative finance strategy for the agency, covering blended finance, impact investing, and other related vehicles. S/he will be responsible for business development, technical assistance, and operational support for innovative finance mechanisms. The Director will work closely with country, regional and headquarters teams and partners to develop and implement catalytic capital mobilization strategies that maximize both social and financial returns.  S/he will lead a team of experts in innovative finance to provide complex technical advice in the areas of innovative financing, including investment vehicle structuring, portfolio management, investment analysis and due diligence, new financing models, measurement of financial and social returns, and other related topics. The candidate will need to be socially driven, detail-oriented, flexible and a self-starter. 

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Direction and Leadership

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute strategies for innovative finance that aligns with the organization’s mission and goals. 
• Change Management: Lead change management processes within CRS to ensure the organization is primed for innovative finance options.

Capital Mobilization and Partnership Development

• Capital Mobilization: Identify and pursue funding from diverse sources, including new funding mechanisms, while cultivating relationships with donors and investors to mobilize additional funding. 
• Business Development: Contribute to writing and reviewing funding proposals that include innovative finance components. 
• Partnership Development: Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, investors, and partners.
• Lead CRS venture development: Lead the development of the CRS Venture Fund. 

Technical Expertise and Program Support

• Technical Leadership: Provide thought leadership and technical support to CRS programs around the world related to innovative financing. 
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with CRS country, regional and headquarter teams to ensure alignment, and co-create and support implementation of innovative financing models 

Portfolio and Risk Management

• Investment Management: Monitor the management of existing investment portfolios, ensuring alignment with impact objectives and financial performance.
• Fund Oversight: Ensure the oversight of existing and future investments, identifying any areas of concern, proactively working with CRS teams to mitigate these areas, and guiding CRS in future activities. 
• Compliance and Risk Management: Ensure all financial activities comply with relevant regulations and organizational policies.

Team Building and Development

• Team Leadership: Lead and mentor a team of innovative finance professionals, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Monitoring and Evaluation: Develop and apply a framework for measuring the effectiveness and impact of innovative finance initiatives. 
• Learning: Ensure that learning from the agency’s innovative finance activities are documented, shared and applied to improve the effectiveness of future efforts. 

Representation

• External representation: Represent CRS externally to donors, partners, and peers in the area of innovative finance. 
• Internal Collaboration: Report to CRS executives on innovative financing at regular intervals and interact with the CRS Board as needed, including attending and presenting at committee and board meetings. 

Basic Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in finance, economics, international development, business administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in finance, international development, investment management, or a related field, with some of that experience heavily focused on innovative finance.
• Proven track record of mobilizing capital and managing innovative finance portfolios in the social sector.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Strong understanding of impact measurement and reporting frameworks.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage and influence diverse stakeholders.
• Experience working with international donors, development banks, public and private sector.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to assess financial risks and design sustainable financial models.
• Excellent listening skills and ability to adapt and demonstrate flexibility. 
• Experience working with projects in Africa, Asia, Latin America and/or the Middle East.
• Commitment to the values and mission of a faith-based organization.
• Ability to work effectively in a diverse and dynamic environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preferred experience working with development finance institutions such as the USG/DFC, Inter-American Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, African Development Fund, etc. 
• Fluency in French/Spanish is an advantage.

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 25%.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions. 
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

What we offer

CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.