About Accion:

Accion is a global nonprofit committed to creating a financially inclusive world, with a trailblazing legacy in microfinance and fintech impact investing. We catalyze financial service providers to deliver high-quality, affordable solutions at scale for the 1.8 billion people who are left out of, or poorly served by, the financial sector. For more than 60 years, Accion has helped tens of millions of people through our work with more than 200 partners in 63 countries. More at http://www.accion.org. 

About Global Advisory Solutions (GLAS):

We are a diverse and close-knit global team with one common social purpose: building a financially inclusive world for small businesses and low-income households.  We are passionate about what we do – working with a wide range of financial service providers and other partners across the world to create to build sustainable businesses to achieve financial inclusion.  We enjoy solving problems, being exposed to new ideas, sharing information, and asking, “what if?” In this position, you will be in the center of it all. Working closely with the MD and our regional managers, you will be a key supportive team member for the GLAS leadership and collaborate with co-workers who are industry experts with diverse backgrounds, being part of a team that is shaping and challenging the industry. You will work to support our global program management efforts; lead our internal communications initiatives and collaborate with other teams to support external communications; oversee board and management reporting; contribute to industry engagements and GLAS thought-leadership efforts.

Position Summary 

The Accion Global Advisory Solutions (GLAS) team is seeking a Vice President, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships to develop and execute GLAS’ business development strategy.  

Working closely with GLAS regional program managers and the Accion Resource Development department, the successful candidate will seek to expand GLAS’ global engagements with a wide range of public and private sector stakeholders working in emerging markets to serve the base of the pyramid.   This will include financial service providers, platform providers, FMCG companies, and agtech providers, among others seeking support in the conceptualization, design and consequent implementation of innovative, scalable and fit-for-purpose financial products and services.   The candidate will be responsible for establishing new global strategic partnerships to magnify the scope and impact of these engagements. 

Position Responsibilities

Working closely with the MD and GLAS Regional Program Managers, you will develop and execute GLAS’ business development strategy.  This will include taking the lead on conceptualizing and designing various digital-first financial services projects for the underserved around the world in partnership with public and private sector partners, overseeing the functions of GLAS’ Sales Management Office (SMO), providing advisory support around new business models and digital strategy and contributing to GLAS’ thought leadership and industry engagement efforts. Specifically, the incumbent will be required to:

Business Development (40%)

• Define GLAS business development strategy, to include strategy for expanded range of industry stakeholders, including platform providers, FMCG companies, agtechs and others  
• Identify, conceptualize and design new strategic partnerships compatible with GLAS strategic objectives, in collaboration with staff managing institutional relationships in other parts of the organization.
• Maintain a “bird’s eye view” of the new business pipeline and support Regional Program Managers (RPMs) achieve revenue targets through networking and supporting relevant proposal development. Inform and advise on go/no go decisions.
• Take the lead on global proposal opportunities, engaging with FSPs, platforms and other ecosystem players to develop the vision and scope for multi-year initiatives.  
• Provide support to the development of GLAS’ communications and marketing strategies to support business development priorities. Coordinate with Communications and RPMs to implement effective execution tactics, globally and in the regions. 

Unit Management (30%)

• Ensure new business development systems, processes, and strategies are well-designed and managed. Collaborate and coordinate with Resource Development and Communications to ensure alignment.
• Build and lead marketing and industry engagement teams to maximize industry awareness of GLAS value offer.
• Develop and maintain relationships with vendors, contractors and consultants, interns and volunteers as needed.

Advisory support on digital product strategy and digital transformation (20%)

• Support the creation of business models for products and services to be deployed, especially focused on digital transformation and digital financial services.
• Serve as subject matter expert in technology-led models for digital transformation of FSPs.
• In collaboration with RPMs, support the development of comprehensive digital product strategy that considers market opportunities, customer behaviors, and business needs, and supports engagement and growth objectives.
• Actively support organization change management initiatives, leveraging GLAS and other resources/assets as needed, to cascade transformation priorities and changes across client institutions.

Thought leadership (10%)

• Collaborate closely with colleagues on knowledge and collaboration initiatives to share and exchange knowledge and organize learning exchange activities.
• Work with colleagues, look for linkages where our partners could potentially leverage new innovative models and technologies and benefit from new partner collaborations.
• Actively participate in, and support GLAS team’s activities to enhance its IP, thought-leadership and internal capabilities in various areas.
• Represent Accion Global Advisory Solutions team at events through speaking engagements, in line with GLAS Industry Engagement strategy to ensure business development opportunities are being identified and followed through.

Position Qualifications

• Must have 15-20 years’ relevant experience through a combination of consulting/advisory services in financial services, especially through digital models.
• Solid network in the financial services field, especially with donors, partners and other actors in the ecosystem.
• Demonstrated ability to build transformation strategies, and hands-on operating experience in challenging contexts.
• Must have excellent knowledge of and expertise in digital financial services as well as hands-on knowledge of one or more of the following: mobile money, digital payments, mobile banking, POS/cards, agent banking.
• Candidates must have very strong analytical skills across strategy, finance, consumer adoption and especially new channels and technology, but must also have experience planning and implementing.
• Master’s degree in relevant area, MBA preferred.
• Extensive project management skills and a proven ability to manage and coach teams.
• Proven client business development/sales and proven negotiating experience.
• Ability to speak and write fluently in English is required. Fluency in Spanish is a plus.
• 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.