Impact Finance Specialist

About this position

We need your knowledge and expertise to help us achieve CDF Canada’s mission – Acting on co-operative principles, we partner with communities to achieve sustainable economic and social development.   

You are a skilled specialist who drives organizational growth by identifying, assessing and developing new project concepts.

You will use your skills and our resources to change the world for the better.  

You need to think creatively, exhibiting the tenacity and persistence.

At the heart of these requirements is a Blended/Impact finance specialist with an eye for identifying new opportunities and a talent for orchestrating spaces where markets and partnerships can be brought together to create opportunities for growth.

The successful candidate will have a strong business development background, preferably in the credit union sector.

Below are the key skills and characteristics we are looking for in our Impact Finance Specialist

• Creative Thinking: Whether it is seeing new ways existing opportunities could be developed, or finding a completely new direction, creative thinking is essential for the role. 
• Analytical Skills:  Creativity must be built on the bedrock of an analytical mind. You will need to use market research and data to present opportunities to stakeholders and to quickly understand what makes sense to pursue and what could potentially cost more to explore.  An in-depth understanding the wider market is essential if new, realistic, and attainable opportunities are to be proposed and developed.
• Curiosity:  You need to be curious for new ideas, projects, people, and expertise. You do want to challenge the ordinary and already done.
• Negotiation:  New business always requires new terms, and it will be your responsibility to ensure that the terms agreed upon are favourable to CDF Canada. 
• Your focus must always be on meeting targets and you must demonstrate that you have the ability to pursue a long-term strategic vision while remaining flexible enough to respond tactically to changing demands or unexpected opportunities.
• Organizational Skills: There are many balls to juggle and not all will be falling at the same rate. You must respond quickly to meet tight deadlines, yet still nurture and develop slower-burning opportunities. It's a balancing act, you'll have to juggle organizing other team’s workload as well as your own, but you welcome the challenge. 

CDF Canada’s Impact finance specialist requires a strong commercial awareness, impeccable presentation and interpersonal skills as well as drive, determination and confidence. 

Qualifications

• Previous experience in field of impact finance, blended finance, investment (preferably in a credit union sector
• Capacity and grit to develop impact finance/ blended finance proposal and to manage its implementation.
• Minimum of 5-10 years of proven and progressive experience.
• Demonstrated experience in international development, consulting, or cooperative sectors, a strong asset.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills – interacting successfully with all levels of staff – partners, and managers with a positive, enthusiastic attitude.
• Degree in relevant development field or finance an asset.
• Ability to adapt quickly to changing situations and conditions while under tight timelines; effectively managing multiple competing deadlines.
• Self-starter that can work independently with minimal oversight along with a proactive service attitude and willingness to take a "hands on and can do" approach.
• Professional expertise in one or more of CDF Canada’s sectors: co-operative development, micro-enterprise development, agriculture, climate change programs, environmental programs, gender programs, etc.
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally, Cross-cultural sensitivity and experience. 
• Fluency and excellent written skills in English.

If this opportunity interests you, please submit your resume and a cover letter to apply@cdfcanada.coop

Application Process and Deadline

1. Applications must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. Friday, February 19, 2021.
2. Late submissions will not be accepted.
3. Applicants must include cover letter and resume. 
4. Please reference the job title in the email subject line.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those candidates selected for interview will be contacted.