Change Management and Business Innovation – Innovative Finance Manager – Innovative Finance

Job Description

Change Management and Business Innovation – Innovative Finance Manager | World Food Programme

The Tone:
This is a 6-month contract role, which can be based in Rome, Italy, or remote. The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives in emergencies and building pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and climate change impacts. This role is crucial for scaling up efforts to mobilize innovative financing solutions, moving beyond traditional Official Development Assistance, to meet growing humanitarian and development needs. The consultant will contribute to the organization’s mission by designing and implementing cutting-edge financing instruments.

The TL;DR
• Role: Consultant
• Type: Contract (6 months)
• Location: Hybrid – Rome, Italy or Remote

• Team: Change Management and Business Innovation Unit (BIU) within WFP’s Innovation division
• Mission: Design and implement cutting-edge financing instruments that can unlock new funding flows, alternative to traditional Official Development Assistance, for partners.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Design: Support the design and structuring of innovative financing mechanisms aligned with partners’ strategic priorities.
• Strategy Development: Develop innovative financing strategies and conduct landscape reviews of existing and emerging financing models.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with donors, investors, and implementing partners to co-develop and validate financing structures.
• Operationalization: Support the operationalization of selected financing mechanisms, including legal, governance, and risk frameworks.
• Strategic Advisory & Leadership: Provide strategic advisory support to senior leadership on financing innovation and guide junior staff.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Managerial level, with a preference for a degree in finance, economics, business administration, public policy, or a related field.
• Experience: At least 7 years of relevant work experience in innovative finance, impact investing, development finance, or investment banking, with experience in a top-tier management consulting firm or investment bank.
• Skills: Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing innovative financing instruments; strong financial modeling and structuring capabilities; deep understanding of resource mobilization tools and strategies; ability to lead and oversee junior resources; strong analytical abilities and communication skills.
• Bonus: Experience working with multilateral organizations, development banks, or philanthropic investors; knowledge of a second UN language.