DIRECTOR OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

FSD Africa (FSDA) is a new regional programme that promotes financial inclusion by working with financial institutions (FIs) and markets across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to make a transformative impact on the reduction of poverty. FSDA’s initial funding is from the UK’s Department for International Development.

FSDA seeks a dynamic, highly qualified and high performing leadership team to manage significant budgets and develop ambitious new approaches to deliver FSDA’s Strategic Plan to make financial markets work for the poor. 

The role

Reporting to the Director of FSDA, the Director of Professional Education will manage the Centres of Excellence component of the programme.  He/she will be chiefly responsible for conceptualising and funding the implementation of a range of training-related interventions aimed at increasing the supply of suitably qualified personnel into the financial industry (entry level) and at maintaining the professional and technical standards of those who are already working in the industry (leadership and middle management).

He/she will work with partners (industry associations, regulators, standard setters, leading business schools and universities, private training services providers etc.) to identify specific industry needs in relation to skills shortages and mobilise resources to meet those needs.  These programmes will aim to develop new/existing courses to reach more than 4,000 people in the next five years, preferably with certified qualifications; build the capacity of local training institutions; pilot novel approaches to training; encourage the regional supply and demand of training; and encourage investment in training by the financial industry.

Key responsibilities

• Develop strategy for the Centres of Excellence programme, identifying areas of thematic focus and determining realistic, yet ambitious, impact goals
• Build outreach to partner institutions to initiate long term relationships based on clearly defined outcomes
• Conceptualise learning programmes and, with partners, develop high quality curricula and support the marketing and delivery of programmes
• Identify and secure sources of co-funding
• Build technical capacity and business skills in partner institutions to ensure long term sustainability of programmes in local markets

This role is based in Nairobi, Kenya, with extensive travel within SSA and occasional travel outside Africa.

Background and Qualifications

This role presents a unique challenge for an individual who would like to contribute to the early stages of an organisation that will deliver significant impact over the coming years, and who would like the opportunity to innovate and develop new ideas and ways of working. Over the next 5-7 years, the role offers the opportunity to be a central part of the dynamic FSDA working group and to engage with, and learn from, the community of financial deepening trusts (FSDs) and DFID.

The role will create a platform for the successful candidate to build extraordinary networks – with senior leaders within FIs across SSA, with training service providers and training institutions, with policymakers and regulators, with global experts in financial sector consulting (especially in financial inclusion) and with the donor community, especially DFID. 

The successful candidate will bring to the role a deep knowledge of the way professional education markets work as well as experience in the financial industry, perhaps in a talent management role, such that he/she has an appreciation of the scale and changing nature of FIs’ skills requirements.  He/she will recognise the need to adopt a fresh approach towards skills development and will embrace the opportunity to innovate.

He/she will be highly relationship-driven, persuasive and goal-oriented, and will be adept at managing institutional and regional sensitivities. Although intimately acquainted with East Africa’s academic and professional education system, he/she will also be able to draw on international networks for ideas and expertise.

We are looking for “change-makers”. Applicants should have a strong strategic focus, be results driven, and committed to exceptional standards of performance and to establishing an operating environment of the highest integrity. They must be comfortable with the start-up environment and with taking responsibility in an uncertain and evolving context. Whilst being strongly focused on clear deliverables, there will also be the freedom and operating latitude for team members to make their own unique contribution to initiate programmes and to stimulate genuine innovation. At the same time it is recognised that for some aspects of the leadership team roles and in particular for innovative projects, it may be some years before the full results of their work can be appreciated.

Essential

• More than 10 years’ experience at a senior level in executive and/or professional education in the financial sector, a business school or professional firm at a senior level
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships, influence others and gain commitment at global, regional and national levels
• Strong understanding of/experience in the financial sector and of the skills gaps faced by FIs
• Hands-on experience of both leading and developing professional skills programmes, ideally involving accreditation
• Understanding of organisational development and practical capacity building (as opposed to purely academic)
• Strong appreciation of what makes training effective
• Understanding of, and commitment to, the delivery of a market building approach
• Demonstrated ability to manage risk
• Excellent skills in written and spoken English

To apply

For a full role description, go to www.fsdafrica.org. To apply, please send a CV and covering letter to Warucu Itotia (info@fsdafrica.org) by 7 January 2014.

FSD Africa is an equal opportunity employer.