UNDP Careers · 3 weeks ago
Investment Specialist – SME Trade Finance, IPSA10, Home-Based, UNCDF, [Open to internal and external applicants]
United States
Full-time
Remote
Senior Level
5+ years expUNDP Careers is seeking an Investment Specialist for the SME Trade Finance program within the UNCDF. This role involves providing leadership in trade finance innovation, building partnerships with financial institutions, and ensuring the program's success through effective management and oversight.
International Affairs
Responsibilities
Provide the overall drive, direction and management of the implementation of programme activities under the Trade Finance Innovation workstream
Provide capacity building support to local financial institutions on SME trade finance best practices and risk management
Develop trade finance readiness programs for SMEs including training on documentation, compliance, and financial management
Support digitalization initiatives in trade finance including adoption of electronic documents, blockchain solutions, and online platforms
Contribute to policy dialogue on trade finance gaps and regulatory reforms needed to improve SME access to trade credit
Conduct comprehensive financial and operational due diligence on SME trade finance opportunities, including assessment of working capital needs, cash conversion cycles, and trade flow patterns
Evaluate creditworthiness of SME borrowers and their trading partners, analyzing transaction history, payment terms, and counterparty risks
Structure and underwrite trade finance instruments including letters of credit, supply chain financing, invoice discounting, and receivables financing facilities
Assess sector-specific trade risks including commodity price volatility, foreign exchange exposure, and cross-border regulatory compliance
Design and structure blended finance solutions combining grants, guarantees, and commercial capital to de-risk SME trade finance transactions
Develop innovative trade finance products tailored to SME needs, including pre-export financing, warehouse receipt financing, and factoring solutions
Create risk-sharing mechanisms with local financial institutions, export credit agencies, and development finance partners to expand SME access to trade finance
Structure syndicated trade finance facilities and club deals to mobilize larger capital pools for SME trade corridors
Build and maintain relationships with commercial banks, trade finance institutions, and fintech platforms serving the SME trade finance market
Coordinate with export promotion agencies, chambers of commerce, and SME associations to identify pipeline opportunities
Engage with supply chain anchors (large corporates) to develop supplier and distributor financing programs for their SME partners
Collaborate with trade facilitation organizations and customs authorities to streamline trade finance processes
Monitor trade finance portfolio performance including utilization rates, default rates, and trade volume growth metrics
Track developmental impact indicators such as SME job creation, export value growth, and market access improvements
Implement early warning systems for trade finance exposures including monitoring of shipping documents, commodity prices, and payment delays
Prepare quarterly portfolio reports highlighting trade finance trends, SME success stories, and lessons learned
Act as Programme Manager, providing programme oversight including budget management, strategic planning, and operational risk mitigation across the SME trade finance portfolio
Lead donor engagement and resource mobilization efforts, managing relationships with development partners (ADB, World Bank, IFC, IMF) and preparing donor reports to secure additional funding for trade finance initiatives
Oversee programme monitoring, evaluation and learning activities, ensuring alignment with UNCDF's Gender Equality Strategy and integration with national development frameworks and UN Sustainable Development Goals
Participate in high-level forums on SME trade finance, providing technical leadership on blended finance approaches and advising senior management on business development opportunities in the trade finance sector
Identify capacity building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training and other relevant capacity building activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia. Lead workshops with senior level officials and stakeholders
Proactively identify and pursue opportunities for the documentation and communication of best practices, programme results, and lessons learned under the project
Qualification
Required
Advance university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Finance, Banking, Economics, Social or Development Studies, Business Administration, or a related field is required
A first-level university degree (bachelor's degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree
A minimum of five (5) years (with master's Degree) or 7 years (with bachelor's degree) in Trade Finance is required
At least three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in project management in the context of SME finance is required
Proven track record of working in international development projects with financial service providers (e.g. commercial and/or development banks, export credit agencies), ministries (e.g. for trade and commerce) and regulators (e.g. central banks) is required
Demonstrated experience in engaging and collaborating with multilateral and bilateral organizations, donors, private foundations, and government bodies to build partnerships and manage external relations is required
Fluency in written and spoken English is required
Preferred
Proven experience in collaborating with SME entrepreneurship incubation and/or acceleration programmes is desired
Experience and expert knowledge of key challenges and opportunities in financing SMEs and technology startups is desired
Familiarity with the policy and regulatory environment for trade and SME finance in the programming countries, including engagement with institutions such as Central Banks and Ministries of Trade is desired
Experience working on EU–funded projects, with a clear understanding of EU reporting requirements and compliance standards is desired
Experience working in the context of joint-UN programming is desired
Experience and knowledge of UNCDF/UNDP's corporate policies, operational processes, and programme frameworks is desired
Professional knowledge of French is considered an asset
Relevant certifications, such as Certified Trade Finance Professional (CTFP), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or similar, are a plus
Company
UNDP Careers
UNDP’s mission is an ambitious one: to lead the United Nations in its fight for a world without poverty, in which women are empowered, inequality is addressed and the planet is protected.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageCompany data provided by crunchbase