VP of Program Management, LATAM

About Accion

Accion is a global nonprofit on a mission to create a fair and inclusive economy for the nearly two billion people who are failed by the global financial system. We develop and scale responsible digital financial solutions for small business owners, smallholder farmers, and women, so they can make informed decisions and improve their lives. Through targeted investment strategies, advisory solutions, and expert thought leadership, we work with local partners to develop and scale cheaper, more accessible, and customer-friendly financial solutions. Since 1961, Accion has helped build 267 financial service providers serving low-income clients in 75 countries, reaching 440 million people. More at https://www.accion.org.

About Accion Advisory

We are a diverse and close-knit global team with one common social purpose: building a financially inclusive world for small businesses and low-income households. The Advisory team is composed of deep technical experts who are passionate about empowering partners in emerging markets to better reach and better serve their end customers. Guided by this ambition, we collaborate with diverse organizations dedicated to meeting the financial needs of low-income communities and businesses, including banks, digital platform providers, FinTech's and others. We provide strategic and operational support to enhance our partners' capabilities and maximize their impact on underserved populations. We connect local ecosystem actors, harnessing philanthropic capital, digital public infrastructure, and the latest technologies to test, improve, and scale responsible financial solutions that enable small business owners and their families to improve their economic well-being.

Position Summary

The VP of Program Management - LATAM position reports to the Managing Director (MD) of Accion's Advisory team and is part of the management team. This position leads a team of technical advisors and is responsible for executing Accion Advisory's strategy in the region, working closely with the MD, global program managers, and other departments. Also responsible for driving business development, building and maintaining strong relationships with our partners, and overseeing our portfolio of engagements in the region. Play an active role representing Accion Advisory in regional industry forums and participating in Advisory thought-leadership efforts.

The person in this position will be based in Bogota, Colombia.

Bilingual English/Spanish is a must.

Position Responsibilities

Business Development

Lead the Accion Advisory LatAm regional strategy to improve financial services for the underbanked by developing partnerships with financial institutions, fintech companies, B2B platforms and others that can leverage Accion's advisory services to better reach and serve small businesses and low-income households.
• Achieve regional revenue targets and propose innovative ideas to implement Accion's strategy.
• Identify and pursue opportunities with partners to deploy advisory support in core areas around data-driven digital products and services, including embedded finance, Agri finance, advanced analytics and risk, women's economic empowerment and AI and data.
• Build relationships with regional vendors and grow Accion's network to attract talent and financial resources.
• Oversee project proposals, scope development, pricing, and negotiation with clients and donors.
• Collaborate with the Resource Development team to secure new funding relationships.
• Support investment officers during due diligence and provide technical insights on potential deals.
• Participate in conferences and forums to promote Accion and be a thought leader in the LatAm region.

Program Management and Advisory Services

• Act as the senior strategic advisor to the Advisory teams' clients and provide advice in the delivery of digitally based, data driven, client centered financial products and services, with the goal of improving efficiency, reducing cost and increasing scale for Accion's partners.
• Advise on the design, modeling, and evaluation of initiatives, facilitating strategic decision-making and high-impact deliverables.
• Ensure projects are staffed, funded, monitored, and controlled for successful completion.
• Share project outputs and learnings across the department.

Leadership and Team Management

• Contribute to the overall strategy and operation of Accion Advisory in the region.
• Coach and manage the LatAm Advisory project teams, setting objectives and monitoring performance.
• Identify development needs and build team capacity, particularly around new technologies and channels.
• Address skill gaps and develop a strategy to fill them, including recruitment and building a roster of regional consultants.
• Support career path development for team members.

Position Qualifications

• 18+ years in financial services, including 10 years in digital technology for financial services. Experience with platform providers is a plus.
• Expertise in leading change management initiatives for financial service providers.
• Strong understanding of supply chain finance, FMCG, embedded finance, e-commerce platforms, and business strategy.
• Proven ability to manage and build relationships at the C-level of key financial service providers.
• Solutions-oriented mindset with experience in ecosystem partnerships.
• Master's degree in a relevant field; MBA preferred.
• Deep understanding of financial technologies and the ability to provide strategic advice on digital and technology decisions.
• Extensive network in the financial services field in Latin America, particularly in Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to influence decisions based on quantitative and qualitative analysis.
• Extensive project management skills and experience in managing and coaching teams.
• Proven business development, sales, and negotiation experience.
• Fluency in Spanish and English (both oral and written), required.

Travel Requirements

• Ability to travel at least 30% regionally and internationally.

Please submit your resume in English to be considered for the role.