About the Center for Financial Inclusion:

The Center for Financial Inclusion is an independent think tank housed at Accion that conducts research and advocates for evidence-based change to ensure that all people can make use of financial products and services to improve their lives and prosper. The Editorial Director plays a strong leadership role in CFI’s research and policy influence work by managing CFI’s editorial pipeline and leading stakeholder influence campaigns across different communications platforms and channels. The position requires a deep understanding of CFI’s influence strategy, exceptional editorial judgment and abilities, strong project and relationship management skills involving diverse stakeholders – both internal and external, and strong contributions to building an organizational culture of excellence across CFI.

About Accion:

Accion is a global nonprofit committed to creating a financially inclusive world, with a pioneering legacy in microfinance and fintech impact investing. We catalyze financial service providers to deliver high-quality, affordable solutions at scale for the three billion people who are left out of — or poorly served by — the financial sector. For nearly 60 years, Accion has helped tens of millions of people through our work with more than 160 partners in 55 countries. More at http://www.accion.org. 

Messaging, influence strategy, and campaign development

• Manage CFI’s messaging and campaigns via all of CFI’s communications channels. Activities will optimize stakeholder behavioral change to advance financial inclusion and CFI’s thought leadership brand by:
  • Leading—with internal and external stakeholders—the development of influence campaigns focused on driving desired behavioral change from industry stakeholders.
  • Providing strategic guidance to internal and external content creators for developing content pipelines and outreach plans that are aligned with the influence strategy.
  • Collaborating with Accion communications team to provide visibility and identify coordination opportunities, as appropriate.
  • Analyzing stakeholder impact and influence data, and leveraging insights to refine communications and advise teams.

Editorial calendar and pipeline management

• Lead the development and implementation of CFI’s overall editorial calendar and pipeline by:
  • Working with teams to plan their communications deliverables, taking into context factors such as contractual obligations, resourcing, messaging, CFI’s strategy, and stakeholder influence pathways.
  • Managing the processes and systems for developing and implementing CFI’s editorial calendar.
  • Ensuring accountability of teams for adhering to editorial calendar deadlines.

Knowledge product development

• Oversee the development of publications and knowledge products at CFI by:
  • Providing strategic guidance to CFI researchers to help craft research, communications strategies and products suited to the audience they seek to influence.
  • Working with content creators to shape and edit content—ranging from presentations to publications—such that finished pieces are timely, polished and appropriate for publishing in relevant channels, aligned with overall CFI messaging/branding/influence strategies, signed-off by all relevant stakeholders, and technically/factually correct. Overseeing peer review and editing process for knowledge products, to ensure technical and editorial quality, aligned messaging, and appropriate format for stakeholder influence.
  • Ensuring that content creators leave the process feeling supported and enthusiastic about generating content.

Organizational culture (includes mindsets and behaviors)

• Help lead a culture that attracts and retains top talent, and ensures a high performing, respectful, and inclusive work culture; a culture in which all staff: 1) reach their full potential as learners, unorthodox researchers, and thought leaders 2) work effectively with each other by sharing ideas, brainstorming, and co-developing knowledge products 3) feel accountable for results and impact and 4) strive and achieve excellence.

• Deep understanding of financial inclusion/market systems development issues and relevant stakeholder ecosystem
• Experience working with diverse groups of stakeholders in developing complex messaging and influence campaigns, generating high-quality content on a deadline, and participating effectively and efficiently in an editorial/peer review process.
• Track record in designing and implementing communications campaigns that drive stakeholder behavior change
• Demonstrated record of sound situational awareness/judgement
• Trusted peer, adding strong internal/external political judgement
• Superior judgement/knowledge with the ability to lead a project from conception through its end
• Use of superior judgment and knowledge gained through experience
• Advanced project management experience.
• Ability to influence leaders of the organization
• Typically holds an advanced degree in appropriate technical or functional field
• Generally 12+ years of relevant experience 
• Interested in our mission and working globally.
• Willingness to embody our values of excellence, respect and passion for social change.
• Excellence: Accion staff should always put forth their best effort in all activities, strive for high quality of collective and individual performance; and demonstrate honesty and integrity at all times while in the workplace and while working on behalf of the organization.
• Respect: Accion staff should value one another’s roles and responsibilities as much as their own, be encouraging, and value the diverse and unique perspectives of colleagues. They should honor obligations and commitments to each other and to external partners.
• Passion for Social Change: Accion staff should be committed to making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate, value the greater good of the organization over personal gain, and promote a productive workplace by acknowledging the accomplishments of others.  

This job may require travel on a regular basis (<25%).