Director, Risk February 2020
Contents About FSD Africa
03
Qualification, skills and experience
07
The Role
04
How to Apply
08
Responsibilities
05
About Oxford HR
09
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About FSD Africa FSD Africa is a specialist development agency working to reduce poverty by strengthening financial markets across sub-Saharan Africa. Based in Nairobi, FSD Africa’s team of financial sector experts work alongside governments, business leaders, regulators and policy makers
to design and build ambitious programmes that make financial markets work better for everyone. Established in 2012, FSD Africa is incorporated as a non-profit company limited by guarantee in Kenya. It is funded by UK aid from the UK government.
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The Role The Director of Risk leads FSD Africa’s market intervention pillar on Risk Management & Transfer. She/he will be responsible for a budget of approximately £10m over 5 years. Supporting market innovation, the Director will work with insurance providers, other financial institutions, digital platforms and other channels & intermediaries, to design and test
innovative mechanisms of risk management and transfer to target groups. The Director will lead research, analysis and thinking around ecosystem, conceptualise and lead a portfolio of impactful intervention projects – e.g. working with insurance sector regulators to develop new policy and regulatory frameworks.
Title: Director, Risk Start date:
Mid 2020
Duration:
Full-time contract, subject to performance and funding availability beyond a five-year funding cycle.
Salary:
Internationally Competitive Package
Location:
Nairobi, Kenya, with frequent travel.
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Responsibilities Thought Leadership Act as a thought leader in risk management & transfer in Africa and how to develop marketbased approaches for managing and transferring risk, whether to reduce household or business vulnerability or derisk investment, aiming to boost innovation and enhance regulation and market infrastructure. • Stay abreast of local, regional and international regulatory and other market developments and trends to determine their impact on FSD Africa’s strategy • Ensure regular engagement with experts and decision makers in SSA countries and elsewhere to understand strategic priorities for the development of effective risk markets and products • Create opportunities to (i) learn from other pillars to inform strategy development, and (ii) shape other pillars’ strategies in relevant areas. • On FSD Africa’s behalf, develop and strengthen partnerships with key and emerging players in the inclusive financial systems space – Insurance Development Forum, Access to Insurance Initiative, African Insurance Organization, InsuResilience Global Partnership, etc. • Initiate targeted research activities around agreed priority areas; using the results of research to understand risk mitigation market ecosystems and hypothesize Theories of Change. • Pay attention to personal professional development and learning in order to remain an expert in the inclusive financial systems and risk market space Strategic Planning As a member of the Executive Team, participate in the development of strategy for FSD Africa and lead the development of strategy for the Risk pillar; aiming to maximise the extent to which risk management and transfer can support inclusive economic development in SubSaharan Africa. • Contribute to strategy and workplan development for FSD Africa; ensuring the incorporation of lessons learned from the Risk pillar • Lead the development of strategy and pipeline for the Risk pillar; incorporating new and
evolving thinking for reducing investment risk in Africa, disaster risk financing, marketbased financing of social protection etc. • Ensure FSD Africa’s cross-cutting themes around gender, youth, climate and fragile states are incorporated into pillar strategy, aligning with DFID goals. • Devise and manage an effective results measurement framework that yields important insights into what does or does not work for poor people and how to drive beneficial systemic change. • Working closely with counterparts in the other FSDs, develop strategies for jointly originating and managing programmes Programme Design & Implementation Lead the effective implementation of risk management & transfer programmes; ensuring the development and implementation of a portfolio of impactful projects that collectively drive systemic change: • Develop and critique new programme and project ideas for the Risk pillar, contributing personal expertise and knowledge of research findings and MRM • Ensure the development of programme/project proposals for approval; including theories of change and results measurement frameworks. • Supervise the implementation of programme / project activities and ensure effective project management is undertaken to deliver on programme plans according to FSD Africa policies & procedures. • Develop tools and approaches which will support and guide the pillar team, implementing partners and stakeholders as they roll out agreed programmes and strategies. • Ensure monitoring and results measurement of implementation progress and impact; ensuring achievement of the results anticipated in the MRM framework. • Identify and take actions to manage the operational, strategic and financial risks associated with pillar activities. • Build high quality relationships with all implementing partners and stakeholders involved in each project; ensuring effective two-way communication (cross-pillar, partners, etc.)
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Responsibilities Influencing & communicating for Impact Drive the development and reform of Risk Management & Transfer Markets through effective influencing, advocacy, marketing and communication strategies. • Conduct stakeholder mapping for the pillar, identifying key beneficiary groups and decision makers / power brokers; develop innovative ideas for influencing them (e.g. to take constructive action for sector reform / development or to drive market demand). • Engage in advocacy for risk management and transfer market development, building stakeholder awareness and aiming to influence policy at the highest levels. • Support or manage (in close cooperation with FSD Africa’s communications team) FSD Africa’s communications strategy for the Risk Pillar, including organising dissemination events and preparing (or commissioning) communication materials. • Participate in networking events and/or convene stakeholders in order build awareness and influence the thinking around Risk market development Implementing partner engagement & work planning Identify, engage and empower key Implementing Partners (IPs) so that they are equipped to effectively contribute towards risk market development. • Select a portfolio of IPs with capacity to deliver against Risk pillar objectives • Build relationships of mutual trust and cooperation with IPs; ensuring that both partners’
interests are clarified, and strategies developed for mutual benefit. • Influence and review workplans and strategies with IPs to ensure alignment between partners’ priorities and FSD Africa’s Theory of Change • Work with IPs to ensure that projects are delivered according to agreed workplans and policies & procedures; troubleshooting any problems and adjusting plans if necessary Team leadership Build and lead the Risk pillar team of staff and consultants in a manner that empowers them to add value to FSD Africa and deliver high standards of performance. • Ensure that the pillar is resourced with the expertise necessary to deliver on strategy & project implementation; through a combination of recruitment and management of staff and procurement of consultants • Ensure that each pillar team member is provided with clarity concerning goals and expectations of their personal role in achieving results, standards and behaviour. • Plan and organise the work of the pillar team to accomplish project strategic & project goals and targets in the most cost-effective and impactful manner possible. • Ensure delivery of an engaging leadership style that motivates team members and results in high performance.
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Qualification, skills and experience Qualifications and Education • Degree level, either master’s qualification or senior professional experience in a field relevant to risk market development. • Excellent written and spoken English Experience, Knowledge and Skills • Significant regional risk sector experience (insurance and/or capital markets). • Profound and systemic understanding of SSA risk management and transfer sector. • Experience working in a complex or pioneering environment, including managing and creating opportunities for change / innovation. • Track record of managing relationships and influencing key stakeholders at a regional / international level; high-level influencing/interpersonal skills. • Experience in formulating, developing and implementing new strategies with a 3-10 year scope.
• Having gravitas, credibility and ability to initiate and develop strategic partnerships and alliances. • Track record of effectively managing and motivating a team of staff; including the delivery of an engaging leadership style. • Ability to manage a team in several locations using digital platforms or tools to communicate and manage projects; ability to manage data/documentation electronically. • Ability to manage project portfolio upwards of £10 million Desirable • Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment. • Experience in working with donors and the management of public funds; knowledge of donor policies and procedures. • Previous experience of working in DFID-funded projects. • Languages: French, local African languages
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How to Apply All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply� button in the job advert page and complete our online application form. Please provide a CV and cover letter in ONE single document, which should be prepared before applying as they will be requested in the application process. The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. The document should be saved in MS Word in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-Date (yymm) e.g.: Janet-Mbugua-CVandStatement-2002. Timeline Closing date:
14th March 2020
Equality statement FSD Africa is committed to equality and inclusion in all its employment practices, policies and procedures. The organisation employs a talented and diverse workforce and will help all staff to develop their personal and professional potential and to learn from shared experience. FSD Africa will provide a safe and healthy environment for its staff. Selection process All candidates will be notified about the status of their applications. Shortlisted candidates may be required to undertake an additional assessment prior to the final interview. Queries If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email: fsdafrica-risk@oxfordhr.co.uk in the first instance.
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About Oxford HR Oxford HR operates globally - mainly within the international development and charity sectors. We carry out retained executive search mandates at board and senior management levels. We also offer human resource and organisational development consultancy. Oxford HR has many years of experience in search as well as an extensive network of international development, social sector, corporate, public sector, and academic contacts from across the world.
We carry out comprehensive and often international searches designed to meet the specific needs of our clients. Oxford HR’s team members have significant personal experience of working in international development and the social sector as well as the corporate and governmental sectors. We are in a unique position to find and assess talented individuals from a variety of backgrounds.
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OXFORD
LONDON
AMSTERDAM
NAIROBI
The Old Music Hall
Three Tuns House,
Korte Schimmelstraat 12
Watermark Business Park
106-108 Cowley Road
109 Borough High Street,
1053 SZ
Cove Court, 1st Floor
Oxford
London
Amsterdam
Ndege Road off Langata Road
OX4 1JE
SE1 1NL
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The Netherlands
Kenya
+44 (0) 1865 403 298
+44 (0)20 7939 7451
+31 (0) 683 334 473
+254 (0) 797 233 217
www.oxfordhr.co.uk | Company No. 6456325
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