The Associate Director, Housing Finance & Market Development for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) leads some of Habitat for Humanity International's (HFHI) largest housing finance projects. Working with a talented global project team spanning multiple countries, this position is critical to influencing and implementing the current organizational strategy in order to build Habitat for Humanity's impact in market development within EMEA. This is an amazing opportunity for an individual to bring innovative and strategic approaches to expand existing markets and even create new ones in order to serve low-income clients and enable them to have reliable access to financing for affordable housing.
Working out of our regional office in Pretoria, South Africa, this position reports to the Director of Programs for EMEA, who is based at our area office in Slovakia.
This position offers a competitive compensation and benefits package in the international non-governmental organization market.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead and manage development of housing finance and market development strategies for EMEA.
- Provide global and regional subject matter expertise in housing finance and market development.
- Develop technical support strategies on relevant issues including modeling, strategic planning, innovations, evaluation, and involvement on specific projects.
- Advance Promising Practices.
- Actively participate in a global community of practice on the housing finance leadership team.
- Lead the establishment of robust communities of practice in EMEA.
- Coordinate EMEA’s participation in SEEP and CGAP related projects, and links to other relevant external groups.
- Lead global priority projects taken on by EMEA that are advancing our housing finance and market development practices.
- Identify relevant research partners.
- Recommend strategic advocacy opportunities to advance the cause of affordable homeownership for the poor.
- Provide leadership to National Organisations implementing retail lending to ensure industry best practices are mainstreamed in their projects as well as to address the current portfolio challenges.
- EMEA Area Office coordination, support, and influence.
- Significantly contribute to the overall strategy for the program department.
- Collaborate with the program operations team on National Organisation capacities and Housing Finance & Market Development work.
- Collaborate with other departments (particularly finance, legal, and resource development teams) to develop global systems and processes and manage reputation and financial risks associated with borrowing and partnerships.
- Collaborate with resource development department to secure new funds in support of housing finance and market development.
- Develop models and share learnings.
- Working collaboratively, lead the design, definition, and execution of common models and methodologies for Habitat for Humanity’s housing finance services.
- Design and evaluate innovative housing finance and market development programs at National Organisations and with partner financial institutions.
- Consolidate global models and learning in order to develop, refine and standardize best practices.
- Drive collaboration between the program operations team and the housing finance team to ensure knowledge is shared and collaborative working relationship is maintained.
- Be responsible for regional capture and dissemination of promising practices around:
- Market research and product development of housing finance and market development products.
- Institutional technical assistance packages to microfinance institutions.
- Retail lending/credit/portfolio management.
- Financial education/literacy.
- Housing support services related to housing microfinance products.
- Linkages with government subsidies.
- Oversee implementation of loan tracking system in EMEA.
- Participate in designing and implementing the Technical Assistance component for Microbuild with participating National Organisations and relevant departments.
- Lead and implement the housing finance investment strategy for EMEA (Microbuild, other investors).
- As a part of the housing finance leadership team, lead and implement the regional investment strategy.
- Lead the Microbuild initiative in the region.
- Conduct market study of social investment funds and determine partnership potential.
- Represent EMEA to potential social investors of interest in the region.
- Work with leadership team peers to create guidelines for housing finance equity investments and loans.
- Lead and coordinate financial (and microfinance) sector advocacy towards housing for the poor.
- Provide leadership for Habitat for Humanity’s engagement in the housing finance sector.
- Develop and represent Habitat for Humanity in global alliances (e.g. Opportunity International, SELECT, Rooftops network).
- Cultivate strategic relationships in order to position Habitat for Humanity as a leader in the field of housing finance.
- Bring the value proposition of Habitat for Humanity’s niche to housing microfinance in order to build bridges to microfinance institutions’ global networks and establishing new and promising business models.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree, preferably in Finance, Economics, Business.
- 6-10 years of progressive experience in microfinance, finance, economics, banking, business strategy and development, or related market development activities.
- 5+ years of experience in microfinance.
- 5+ years of experience managing staff.
- Experience working multi-nationally and managing regional programs.
- Fluent in written and spoken English.
- Ability to analyze complex issues and advise on strategic planning, organizational development, and program implementation.
- Ability to build and manage effective working relationships with global/virtual teams.
- Outstanding oral, written and interpersonal communication skills.
- Excellent cross-cultural management skills.
- Willing and able to travel 30% within the Europe, Middle East & Africa region, as well as occasional trips to HQ in the USA.
PREFERRED:
- MBA or other related master's degree.
- Experience specifically with housing microfinance.
- Experience working with regional initiatives within Africa strongly preferred.
- Experience with and knowledge of housing finance communities of practice such as SEEP and CGAP.
- Swahili, Arabic and/or French language skills.
HOW TO APPLY:
Apply by visiting our career site today!!
