– Work with a team dedicated to supporting women around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice
– Flexible working environment, based in Melbourne or Canberra
– Fixed term, Full time (0.8 FTE considered)
CARE Australia works to defeat global poverty by supporting women to create lasting change in their communities around the world.
About the role
This is an exciting opportunity to join the CARE Australia International Programs Department in the newly created role of Senior Manager – Microfinance Program Delivery.
The position is designing and establishing systems to support CARE Australia to engage with microfinance institutions (MFIs) across Asia in line with the strategy for the program. The position holder will be expected to build strong relationships with MFIs as part of the process of selection and engagement in the program. The position is responsible for collaborating with CARE Australia and CARE International stakeholders including Country Offices to deliver the program. In particular, the role will work closely with the Senior Manager, Microfinance Business Development, and work closely with the Director of Fundraising and Marketing and other members of the Executive Team.
The role will build relationships and ways of working across teams and departments. This includes working with colleagues in CIU to ensure minimum program standards are met, including GBV mitigation measures, building partnerships with in-country stakeholders, engagement with IP and cross-departmental colleagues to ensure compliance and policy obligations are met, and engagement with colleagues in Fundraising & Marketing to support fundraising and resource mobilisation. In the longer term, the position will also be responsible for identifying innovation, impact and influence opportunities, in collaboration with IP and cross-departmental teams.
The Senior Manager will support a culture of strategic thinking, learning and continuous improvement and learning within CARE Australia and in engagements with Country Offices, and will ensure the program builds on CI and CA frameworks and global best practice.
CARE managers exemplify our commitment to the prevention of sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, and the protection of children in our work. CARE managers are role models for their team, and consistently demonstrate our values of Courage, Ambition, Respect and Equality.
Key responsibilities
Program design and delivery for the Microfinance Program (primary focus in 2023-4)
– Engage in Agile and traditional teams’ approaches, as the program lead for IPO, in design and execution of the microfinance program
– Work closely with Senior Manager Microfinance Business Development and HCIU to develop and maintain an appropriate project plan identifying program deliverables and interdependencies with other workstream deliverables
– Build the relationships, systems and processes to support the selection and onboarding of Microfinance Institutions to CARE Australia’s Microfinance Program
– Work collaborative with CIU colleagues to ensure appropriate minimum interventions for GBV risk mitigation and monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL)
– Contribute to the Governance of the Microfinance Program through attending meetings and providing regular updates to Steering Committee, Executive Team and Board where needed
– Provide support to F&M with technical content in development of proposals to institutional donors, foundations and companies
– As required act as spokesperson to media and public forums to present CARE’s work in Microfinancing and associated programming
Ensure delivery of a high-quality microfinance program
– Support identification of suitable entrepreneurs in line with the program strategy for impact and oversee MFI engagement with entrepreneurs in accordance with ethical and screening standards (from late 2023)
– Oversee the development of technical resources to support the impactful delivery of microfinance program, focused on ensuring GBV mitigation is mainstreamed into all client interactions
– Engage with cross-departmental teams that ensure MFI partners are meeting contract, compliance, risk and program quality standards in their operations and deployment of loans
– Engage with CA’s portfolio strategy to maximise impact within and across programs and market-based approaches (from 2024)
– Other responsibilities as required for successful execution of the program
Capture impact for learning, influence and engagement in WEJ (increasing focus FY24 onwards)
– Undertake monitoring of MFIs supported through creation of a monitoring framework support COs to engage in monitoring of MFIs in areas of: Impact, Compliance, Lender Profiles, Training
– Lead annual monitoring and learning activities including around social impact and MFI financial metrics
– Drive the development of learning materials and knowledge products and capture impact for learning, influence and engagement in the practice of markets-based approaches and microfinance delivery
– Contribute to development of a programming and policy influence agenda for CA and work with multi-sector stakeholders to build CA’s profile and influence with internal and external stakeholders.
– Contribute to growing CA’s internal and external economic justice networks including with funders
Ideally you will have
– Subject matter expertise – gender transformative microfinance program delivery approaches, risks and opportunities are part of your standing knowledge base. You are able to critically assess the differential impacts of microfinance on women as entrepreneurs. You see beyond loan transactions to the structural change that the program can contribute to.
– Demonstrated track record in complex and strategic program delivery – you are an experienced program or project implementation leader with demonstrated ability to deliver yourself while being strategic and thoughtful
– Ability to lead others, coordinate delivery of multiple competing timeframes and directly deliver high quality results towards outcomes – you can get ‘stuff’ done by mobilising and communicating with others
– Experience in partnership development with the private sector, government, not for profit, allies and networks and communities.
– Demonstrated experience in working in diverse teams, and exceptional cross-cultural skills and experience with feminist approaches, localised approaches and sensitivity to power.
– Personal experience of the contexts we work in and/or the forms of injustice we seek to address would be an advantage.
– A commitment to the protection of children and the prevention of sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse.
What we can offer you
– Base salary up to $112,052 (may be flexibility for applicants with considerable experience; pro rata for part time) plus 10.5% superannuation
– A chance to improve the world, advance gender equality through your work and be the change you want to see
– A flexible and supportive working environment including working from home options to support excellent work-life balance
– Generous salary packaging benefits (up to $15,899 tax free) – for more information, visit https://www.salary.com.au/
– 17.5% leave loading
– Professional development and training opportunities
Terms and conditions for Australian-based staff
CARE Australia will seek information from job applicants’ previous employers about incidents of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment, and/or child abuse the applicant may have been found guilty to have committed or about which an investigation was in the process of being carried out at the time of the termination of the applicant’s employment with that employer. By submitting the application, the job applicant confirms that s/he has no objection to CARE Australia requesting the information specified above.
CARE Australia is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and encourage applications from people living with a disability and/or have lived experience of disability. We also encourage Pacific Islander people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to apply.
How to apply
Please review the Position Description and Candidate Information Pack available on our website and complete the online application form by clicking ‘Apply Now’ via the portal on our website. Please ensure you attach your CV and cover letter addressing the selection criteria (max 2 pages). After submitting your application you will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt.
This will be conducted as a rolling recruitment process, with shortlisting and interviews being completed as applications are received. Please submit your application ASAP if you are interested in the role. More information can be found at careaustralia.connxcareers.com/Job/ViewJobs
Questions about the role?
Please contact Suzi Chinnery on [email protected] using the subject line “Senior Manager – Microfinance Program Delivery Enquiry”. Please do not email applications to this address.
Applications Close: 11:59 pm 2 July 2023.
