Mexico: Team Leader - Financial Services

Start date: April 2019
End date: March 2023
Status: Full time
Based in: Mexico City, Mexico

Please note that fluency in Spanish and English (written and spoken) is essential for this role.

Prosperity Fund Mexico - Financial Services Strand

Funded by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the objective of the Strand is to create a more inclusive and competitive financial services sector, accessible to all segments of Mexican society and new market entrants. The Strand will increase the depth, coverage and efficiency of financial services in order to support a reduction in poverty, increase productivity and promote long-term social and economic development. The Strand aims to do this by matching the identified market failures with specific UK capabilities to build capacity and share best practice within the public and private sectors.

The role

DAI seeks a driven and innovative Team Leader who will be responsible for the technical leadership and in-country management of DAI’s Financial Services Strand programme and staff in Mexico.

Working closely with the Programme Director, the post holder will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing the successful delivery of agreed upon programme outputs in a timely and efficient manner. S/he will serve as the principal in-country point of contact for the British Embassy in Mexico City (“the client”), programme partners and stakeholders, developing productive and professional relationships with all these parties. The Team Leader will also be the primary point of contact for DAI’s Apsley Office staff and take overall responsibility for the correct implementation of jointly established budget, technical and financial plans (at all times according to DAI and FCO guidelines), and management of programme staff.

Specific responsibilities include inter alia:

- Project management

• Accountable for the inception and implementation delivery of the programme effectively and efficiently, and aligned with contractual deliverables

• Be the first point of contact in charge of liaising and communicating in a productive and politically sensitive manner with the client, DAI’s Apsley Office, and with programme partners

• Build close relationships with the client, beneficiaries and other key stakeholders (e.g. Fintechs, MicroFinance Institutes, civil society) to assist with programme delivery

• Ensure quality of programme outputs are fully aligned with DAI and client requirements through mentoring, training and monitoring of staff and partners

• Meet with the client on a regular basis and be available at a short notice for any ad-hoc meetings/phone calls

• Ownership of programme tools such as the detailed annual workplan, and ensure programme is carried out in line with the agreed logical framework

• Performance manage and provide regular support to the three Component Leads, the Deputy Team Leader and the Monitoring, Reporting, Evaluation and Learning (MREL) Manager, ensuring accountability and adherence to KPIs and programme deliverables, including professional development reviews and mentoring

• Responsible for ensuring the approval of deliverables from the client

• (During the inception phase) Finalise job descriptions for all team members and agree on annual KPIs, ensuring high levels of performance and accountability

• Produce and submit quality assured programme reporting to the client on time, as outlined in the annual workplan

• Work closely with the Deputy Team Leader to ensure effective operational and financial management of the programme (including but not limited to: tracking, reviewing and updating key project documentation such as work plans, budgets, manuals; staff supervisory responsibility; compliance with DAI policies and FCO rules and regulations), in line with the programme’s budget, logframe and value for money framework

- Technical and leadership

• Supervise the accurate implementation of both the inception and implementation phases’ agreed workplans

• Work closely with the Programme Director, the three Component Leads and the MREL Manager to provide technical direction, review all aspects of the programme and progress towards delivering programme outputs and outcomes, as well as financial (monitoring and forecasting), risk, and client satisfaction

• Responsible for the quality submission of programme deliverables

• Quality assure programme deliverables prior to submission

• With the Programme Director, develop, update and implement annual programme activities and strategy in line with timeframes established within the programme’s workplan

• With the Programme Director, identify programmatic areas of weakness, establish remedial action plans, and share knowledge and experience

• Be an active member of the Central Delivery Unit

• Develop effective relationships with key players in the Mexican market including the CNBV, the Central Bank, Fintechs, MicroFinance Institutes and civil society, and attend high level meetings and events

• Deliver key monthly, quarterly and annual programme reports, and all other reports and plans as necessary

• Support the Deputy Team Leader with the development and implementation of the Agile Programming Fund

• Ensure programme strategies, plans and activities are gender sensitive, socially inclusive, promote economic growth and are sustainable

• Create a productive and supportive working environment, providing astute and capable leadership at all times

Requirements

• More than 10 years’ senior experience managing complex technical assistance programmes in Mexico focusing on financial services/inclusion sector

• More than 10 years’ experience leading high-performing teams across job functions and geographies, personalities and levels of seniority

• Strong communication and inter-personal skills with a track record of managing multidisciplinary teams demonstrating leadership and support.

• A track record of successfully delivering measurable programme outcomes

• Extensive experience of adaptive management and a proven track record of developing and managing new projects, introducing new concepts, and posing creative solutions to the challenges of innovation

• Solid understanding of financial/compliance/risk management of large programmes

• Experience of donor-funded projects, specifically UK funded donor programmes desirable, including familiarity with donor negotiations, management tools, mechanisms and procedures

• Expertise working with ProMexico / other FDI programmes, which link digital to Mexican trade and investment

• A solid understanding of the Mexican financial services industry and technical expertise in one of the three implementation areas, i.e. cash transfers, regulation, Fintech MSMEs

• Strong external communication and relationship building capacity, including a track record of successful coordination and effective working relations with a wide range of stakeholders including local and international partners, Government of Mexico, CNBV, Fintechs, Microfinance Institutes, banks, civil society, academia

• Demonstrated success applying analytical skills to interpret complex issues to support private, public and community organisations particularly women’s CSOs/agencies

• Ability to manage uncertainty, offering flexibility and thriving at the edge of change

• Ability to work under pressure and deliver to tight deadlines on a continual basis

• Sound interpersonal skills, including first class political acumen underpinning inclusive and collaborative leadership

• Strong report writing skills (both narrative and financial)

• Fluency in Spanish and English (written and spoken)

• An advanced degree in Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Political Economy, or other relevant discipline

• Ability to take up the post immediately

Reporting and support

The Team Leader will be supported and line managed by the Programme Director.

Interviews

Monday, 25 March (in Mexico City).

Interested applicants please use the following link to apply directly to DAI:https://chm.tbe.taleo.net/chm04/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=DAINC&cws=1&rid=4338