ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
Accion is a global nonprofit dedicated to building a financially inclusive world with economic opportunity for all, by giving people the financial tools they need to improve their lives. We are building the next generation of top-tier microfinance institutions, and over the last 50 years have helped create 64 such institutions in 32 countries on four continents that today reach millions of clients. Our impact investing initiatives are pushing beyond microfinance to catalyze more than 20 innovative start-ups dedicated to improving the efficiency, reach and scope of financial services for the poor. And our Center for Financial Inclusion is helping to build a stronger industry with high standards. Currently, our work spans nearly two dozen countries, including the U.S., where we are the nation’s largest nonprofit microfinance network.
ABOUT THE JOB:
Accion’s Training and Capacity Building team responds to the growing need for management and technical skill building at Accion, across our partner institutions, and in the industry. We provide high quality programs and cross-regional learning experiences that connect participants virtually and in-person to build core skills and promote knowledge sharing. Working with subject matter experts and field based staff allows us to customize our programs and tools for local institutions and practitioners looking to expand their services and outreach, further contributing to the creation of a financially inclusive world. Our offerings leverage more than 50 years of rich industry knowledge and expertise within our organization and across our network of partners and are constantly evolving to incorporate best practices, trends and innovations. Visit www.accion.org/training to learn more.
The Training & Capacity Building (TCB) unit is looking for a self-motivated Learning and Knowledge Exchange Specialist with excellent analytical and communication skills who is eager to learn and contribute in a highly collaborative environment. The specialist will support the unit in the design, implementation and evaluation of learning and knowledge exchange initiatives across the globe. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working with team members across regions and functions, demonstrate a strong ability to cull and curate information, and be a proactive problem solver.
Tasks and Responsibilities:
- Learning Material Development (60%):
- Conceptualize and develop new ways to systematically capture and share key pieces of Accion’s intellectual capital; lead story framing, information gathering/ synthesis, analysis, and production of final outputs;
- Collaborate with subject matter experts to “productize” frameworks and tools in priority technical areas that can be quickly accessed and applied by Accion technical staff and partners;
- Lead the development and dissemination of materials that capture Accion’s experiences from both TCB activities and field work such as case studies and “lessons learned” briefs;
- Support the development of new virtual programs, including the creation of eLearning modules and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), which allow TCB to maximize reach, decrease cost, and increase convenience in providing training programs.
- Global Programming (40%). Lead the development, implementation and promotion of TCB’s learning and knowledge exchange initiatives for Accion technical staff and managers of partner institutions, such as:
- Learning Circles in which small working groups build, share and capture knowledge of a six-month period through monthly webinars, an in-person exposure visit, and the exchange of discussions and resources on an online collaboration space;
- Expert-led webinar series on a priority topic which connect practitioners across the globe to discuss best practices, lessons learned, and application to their work;
- Cross-regional exposure visits to a model institution during which participants are able to gain first-hand experience of best practices in a specific technical area;
- Workshops at Accion regional and/or all staff meetings and other knowledge exchange forums for financial inclusion practitioners;
- Support the design and content development of industry facing programs which use a blend of mediums to build the leadership and technical capacity of board members and managers of financial service providers in the areas in which Accion works (Africa, China, India, etc.).
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, International Relations, Communications, or another related field; Master's degree preferred;
- Minimum of 5 years of work experience with 2-3 years of experience in financial inclusion; field/developing country experience a plus;
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to interact effectively with internal and external stakeholders to achieve program goals; comfort moving seamlessly between boardroom and field;
- Superb project management skills (organizational, interpersonal & problem solving); demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple tasks, motivate others and meet deadlines;
- Entrepreneurial minded; ability to work independently and proactively, and as a part of a highly collaborative global team;
- English fluency required, and strong preference for advanced proficiency in a second language relevant to TCB operations (Spanish, French, Mandarin).
HOW TO APPLY:
