Manager - Housing Finance Systems

Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is currently seeking a talented finance professional for the role of a Manager - Housing Finance Systems. The purpose of this position is to support, manage and deliver Housing Finance Systems (HFS) related interventions by working with both private and public sector partners through a market systems approach. Working with the Global Habitat team and Habitat’s Africa National Offices (NO’s) to strengthen the overall housing market system and apply a systemic approach, the HFS Manager will work to support access and utilization of affordable financial services throughout the entire housing market system with the goal of improving the accessibility and affordability of housing finance solutions in the region. In addition to private sector partners and NO’s, the role will require one to work with colleagues in the Shelter Venture Lab (SVL) program to support the design and implementation of innovative housing finance solutions in related sectors such as building materials or construction labor. This individual will also work closely with the Associate Director - Housing Finance for Africa.

This position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Key Responsibilities:

National Offices Support (60%)

- Lead/Manage the HFS related interventions/programmes within the National Offices
- Support the National Directors in the regional National Offices in strengthening financial services in support of their intervention portfolios (co-creation)
- Support the National Offices with designing of HFS interventions and development of proposals linked to HFS
- Identify, develop, mentor and support staff members in HFS programming within the National Offices
- Lead the reporting and MEAL activities with regards to the HFS interventions within the National Offices
- Facilitate internal National Offices learning activities

Launching and Implementation of Africa Housing Finance Systems Program (30%)

- Support in research, strategy, planning (including budgeting) of HFS interventions in the region
- Identify and manage a credible network of partners including private sector, government, academia, public sector, industry associations, and other market actors
- Participate in design of innovative HFS solutions in the respective markets
- Participate in driving market understanding and body of knowledge to position HFS as a regional expert
- Support the HFS team in development of concepts and proposals aimed at soliciting funding from development partners
- Collaborate and work closely with global HFS colleagues to ensure alignment with global program strategy
- Work with the MEAL team to ensure monitoring and evaluation of the HFS and ensure data is periodically captured and analyzed and reported
- Represent Habitat for Humanity and TCIS in industry gatherings and conferences as required
- Collaborate with Habitat’s teams around the globe to share emerging good practices and foster organizational learning

Participation in SVL program (10%)

- Lead the development of concepts, proposals and interventions related to financial systems including consumer housing loans, impact insurance, SME financing etc. in support of the Shelter Venture Lab (SVL) goals
- Manage the Housing Finance projects within the SVL
- Represent and become an active member within the Shelter Venture Lab (SVL)
- Lead the report and MEAL activities within Shelter Venture Lab (SVL) for HFS related interventions .
- Manage a strong HFS portfolio in the region evidenced by active interventions and collaborations
- Participate in active strategic and strong regional and global partnerships along with provide support to the National Offices and other programmes including SVL
- Manage a strong pipeline of proposals for soliciting funding
- Maintain ongoing relationships and reports of interactions with key ecosystem partners
- Conduct timely reporting in compliance with all internal Habitat for Humanity and external donor requirements
- Participate in active internal learning and feedback

Key Requirements:

- At least a bachelor’s degree and/or postgraduate degree in Finance, IT, or related field
- 5 years relevant experience in the financial sector particularly in the product design/roll out or similar field with progressively increasing responsibility
- 3 years’ experience in digital financial services including developing digital finance solutions
- Significant experience working with financial institutions, impact investors, venture capital firms in the region, with evidence of networks and relationships
- Experience in project management particularly scaling of products/solutions
- Entrepreneurial - Works well in dynamic environments with limited resources
- Persuasive - Demonstrates ability to influence others, to work with outside actors and create collaborative projects
- Agile - Prioritizes tasks and redirects work effort in response to new opportunities and changes in priorities
- Strong inter-personal skills - with the ability to develop and manage good relationships with internal staff, between the project, private sector, government and other stakeholders
- Quality and results oriented - Demonstrated attention to detail, highly organized and able to coordinate multiple activities simultaneously and within deadline
- Consultative and communication skills - with a proven ability to work with globally dispersed teams, and different private sector partners
- Strong project management skills - with demonstrated track record of leading initiatives from concept to completion

Active support of HFHI Values & Commitments:

- Humility – We are part of something bigger than ourselves
- Courage – We do what’s right, even when it is difficult or unpopular
- Accountability – We take personal responsibility for Habitat’s mission
- Safeguarding: HFHI requires that all employees take seriously their ethical responsibilities to safeguarding our intended beneficiaries, their communities, and all those with whom we work. Managers at all levels have responsibilities to support and develop systems that create and maintain an environment that prevents harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, safeguards the rights of beneficiaries and community members (especially children), and promotes the implementation of Habitat for Humanity’s code of conduct.

Technical Competencies:

- Proposal Development – capacity to write development/impactful proposals
- Product Development – evidence of understanding/experience in product development methodologies including Human Centric Design is a plus
- Project Management – evidence and experiment of project management essentials
- Monitoring and Evaluation – evidence of ability to monitor project implementation
- Planning and Budgeting – evidence of experience developing and reviewing plans and budgets
- Strategic Partnerships – evidence of experience in creating and managing strategic relationships

Preferred:

- MSc or MBA degree
- Knowledge of the affordable housing sector or construction technologies
- Knowledge in product development methodologies