Senior Program Officer - Inclusive Financial System Delivery (LTE) at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people- especially those with the fewest resources - have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Sue Desmond-Hellmann and co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Program Officer - Inclusive Financial System Delivery (LTE)

Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full-time

Your Role

• The IFS country team develops and maintains strategies in nine focus countries. As a member of our country team, you will be responsible for IFS’s work in Nigeria.
• In the role of PO, you will develop and lead the country action plan for Nigeria, including a portfolio of investments to support the plan. This will require you to be deeply involved in the country’s government, financial regulation, banking, and financial technology networks to drive a consistent, evidence-based strategy across the various grant-making areas that will deliver digital financial services to the poor. You will also help build and engage a strategic network of advisors. In doing so, you can recognize the interrelationships between policies and regulations; financial infrastructures; and public- and private-sector institutions to identify key strategies that will influence distinct classes of financial service providers to better serve low-income clients.
• The role will report to the Deputy Director, IFS Focus Countries based in Seattle.

What You'll Do

• Develop and manage a cohesive portfolio of grants and investments that will foster the growth of digital financial services uptake and usage among the poor.
• Initiate, develop, and cultivate strategic relationships with potential partners, including other organizations and individuals working in but not limited to corporations, the Central Bank, Mobile Network Operators, Government, Academics, Social Protection Agencies, etc. with the goal of advancing IFS’s core strategy in financial inclusion, consumer protection, digital identity, and low-cost payments infrastructure in the region.
• Provide support for, and interact with, the community of fintech companies and commercial service providers, including non-profit organizations who will ultimately deliver financial services to low-income individuals in Nigeria.
• Monitor and share key insights from the work done in Nigeria to facilitate work in other countries, especially countries that are a focus for the foundation.
• Provide concise and insightful written analyses and recommendations for making investments including drafting grant proposals and progress reports for review by foundation leadership.
• Serve as the primary contact within Nigeria for IFS initiatives engaging and working through key implementing partners in close collaboration with their governance bodies. Facilitate connections between technical knowledge specialists and country stakeholders working in financial inclusion.
• Consult regularly with grantees and partners to improve the impact of projects and ensure the sharing of lessons learned. This will include field visits, hands-on oversight, operational guidance, and convening and facilitating interactions among key partners. Acquire and utilize market data that highlights the current landscape of the financial inclusion position across the region will be encouraged to determine appropriate interventions.

Your Experience

• MBA or Master's Degree in relevant subject matter.
• We are looking for people who enjoy solving complex problems using a hypothesis and data-driven approach and are experienced in delivering innovative solutions in complex environments.
• You should be prepared to work across a diverse set of subject areas, bridging a wide range of expertise all while being a teammate, with a proven ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, and diplomacy in an exciting, challenging environment.

Seven-plus years of prior work experience gained in some combination of the following:

• Private Sector (e.g. Banks, Mobile Network Operators, FMCG), Governments, Central Banks, or public policy organizations; with an emphasis on experience in Nigeria and/or Sub-Saharan Africa more generally
• Financial inclusion donor or similar grant-making organization
• Development organizations utilizing technology to address the specific needs of very low-income and vulnerable people.
• Effective leadership skills with a demonstrated ability to inspire others.
• Innovative and open-minded approach to all aspects of work. Ability to question and challenge colleagues, including managers constructively.
• Ability to engage and negotiate with all levels of decision makers including C-Level and executives within the public and private sectors.
• Language skills to work effectively in Nigeria.
• Technology company with a focus on large-scale enterprise platforms
• Financial services with an emphasis on providing products to mass-market consumers or low-income audiences.
• Startup ventures in the digital products and services market, including firms that provide venture capital and advisory services.
• Knowledge of the public policy sphere in Nigeria specifically; additional exposure to the broader Sub-Saharan Africa region desired.
• Demonstrated strategy skills and capacity to conceptualize, structure, and supervise projects/programs.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills to convey complex concepts concisely.
• Ability to navigate the vastly varied cultural, linguistic, and political landscapes in Nigeria. Experience with leading and working with a range of clients, colleagues, consultants, and other partners with broad exposure to senior policymakers & regulators.
• Knowledge of mobile money and digital financial services platforms and technologies.
• Proven ability to build personal and institutional relationships and networks.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply