Technical Advisor Sr, Development Bank Partnerships

NOTE: This is a remote position; CRS will only consider candidates who are based in countries where we have existing offices. 

Job Summary

The Senior Technical Advisor (STA), Development Bank Partnerships serves as technical leader on Multilateral Development Banks (MDB) engagement and development-finance partnerships including but not limited to CAF, the World Bank,  GEF, BCIE, and Inter-American Development Bank. The STA leads the identification, design, and advancement of financing opportunities with MDBs and other development-finance partners to support CRS programming, while prioritizing implementation across  Central America particularly in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Working closely with regional and country program teams, CRS's global innovative finance team, and external financing institutions, the STA strengthens organizational capacity to access and leverage development-finance resources, develops and shares partnership approaches and technical guidance, and contributes to CRS's broader innovative finance agenda.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Lead CRS’s strategy, engagement, relationship management, and resource mobilization efforts with MDBs and other development-finance institutions, prioritizing opportunities that support programming in Central America while contributing knowledge and partnership approaches that can inform CRS programming more broadly.
• Serve as CRS technical lead on MDB financing structures and partnership models, including sovereign and non-sovereign loans, co-financing arrangements, climate finance, blended finance, and other development-finance mechanisms. Develop and share guidance, tools, and lessons learned to strengthen organizational capacity in these areas
• Lead the identification, design, structuring, and advancement of development-finance opportunities with MDBs and other financing partners, working closely with regional and country teams as well as global stakeholders throughout the opportunity lifecycle.
• Collaborate with regional and country team to align development-finance opportunities with CRS technical priorities, program strategies, and organizational objectives, while promoting cross-regional learning and knowledge exchange, 
• Provide technical leadership in proposal development and project design, and partnership development related to development finance and MDB-funded initiatives, to ensure programming consistency with CRS standards, donor requirements, and emerging industry practices
• Represent CRS at MDB forums, engaging with high-level donor and government stakeholders to influence future funding mechanisms.
• Support organizational readiness for development-finance engagement by strengthening staff capacity, disseminating practices, and helping establish approaches that increase CRS’s ability to access and manage complex financing opportunities. 
• Contribute to CRS's knowledge management and learning agenda for development finance by documenting successful partnership models, financing structures, lessons learned, and market trends, and sharing insights across CRS regions and teams.
• Monitor advancements and opportunities on climate finance, and multilateral lending, CRS leadership, regional teams, and country programs on emerging opportunities, risks, mitigation, and strategic considerations. 
• Maintain a matrix of the strategic priorities and plans of the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), and CAF to identify opportunities for CRS programming and co-financing in priority areas. 
• Represent CRS at global and regional development-finance, climate-finance, and MDB forums, strengthening CRS’s visibility, partnerships, and influence in the development-finance community. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of finance structures and mechanisms used in development programming particularly in climate finance 
• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Excellent strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including research publications.
• Excellent presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills.
• Proactive, resourceful and results oriented.

Required Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English and Spanish required. 

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 35% Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in finance, economics, business administration or related field.
• Ten years of work experience with progressive responsibilities in international finance, development finance, or related fields.
• With five years overseas experience in multiple regions as a technical advisor and/or program manager of MDB Programs and/or multi-sectoral project with development finance partnerships.
• Experience working in and directly with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to design loan packages and programs.
• Track record of complex stakeholder management and designing sovereign or development finance mechanisms.

• Demonstrated experience working in multi-cultural teams, with LACRO (Latin and Central America region) experience 
• Experience working in relevant thematic sectors (agriculture, water, youth employment, climate adaptation including- land restoration and water governance and resilience)

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions. 
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

What we offer

CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan.  Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role.  CRS´ work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.