JOB PURPOSE

The Regional Manager, Pacific will lead strategic engagement and implement regional initiatives for AFI members, prospective members, partners, and prospective partners in the Pacific region, to deliver AFI knowledge products or services, and meet financial inclusion objectives in the region and globally. The role is to be based in the Pacific region to ensure continuous and meaningful engagement with stakeholders.

ACCOUNTABILITIES / KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement short- to long-term approach strategies to drive engagement with members, prospective members, and partners in the Pacific region.
• Evaluate, design, test, implement, and scale high-quality tailored membership services in the Pacific region, including virtual peer advisory services, capacity building programs, knowledge content and other innovative approaches that enhance AFI’s values to members.
• Maintain, systematically update, and leverage data on each member’s financial inclusion policy priorities in the portfolio; to deliver values and align AFI offerings with members’ evolving interests and priorities.
• Lead projects and coordinate across multiple AFI units or other internal stakeholders to serve members’ needs and priorities as well as to implement initiatives or programmes in the Pacific region.
• Develop periodic engagement & research reports and present regional needs, trends & specific member priorities to the Executive Team and other senior management team members, for effective implementation initiatives or programmes in the Pacific region.
• Develop a pipeline of prospective members and focus on member acquisition to expand membership network in the Pacific region.
• Secure and support high-level engagement or In-Country Implementation (ICI) missions for the Executive Team and other senior management team members with leaders of members, prospective members, and partners in the Pacific region.
• Monitor and forecast geopolitical developments that may impact members in the Pacific region or AFI Management Unit’s engagement with members, with a view to both opportunities and risks.
• Provide technical and secretariat support to members and partners in the Pacific region to ensure implementation of the Pacific Island Regional Initiative (PIRI) annual programmes.
• Work closely with Policy Programs & Implementation and Donor Relations & Global Partnerships teams to adopt broader ecosystem-wide approach in member engagement and donor support to capture partnership opportunities in the Pacific region, to enhance AFI offerings, secure funding and elevate AFI’s brand positioning. Works involved include design of regional projects for submission to potential funders.
• Prepare budget and financial estimates as well as monitoring expenditures for member engagement, retention, and acquisitions, as well as Regional Initiative activities.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• A postgraduate degree preferably Masters in the areas of finance, business, management, economics, law, communication, international trade & development, or public sector policy & administration.
• Minimum fifteen (15) years of working experience including five (5) years of managerial experience in financial regulation or development policy, financial inclusion policy or related field, preferably in financial policymaking / regulatory institutions or international / development organizations.
• Experience in member engagement / client relationships including high-level stakeholder management for member-based organizations / institutions.
• Extensive knowledge of financial inclusion landscape in the Pacific and wider region.
• Experience living and working in the Pacific region.

COMPETENCIES / SKILLS

• Excellent project, program, and portfolio management skills
• Able to maintain technical / professional currency with sound understanding of financial inclusion policy and regulatory environment, knowledge of regional issues and contexts affecting AFI and members
• Able to capture technical needs of members and ensure appropriate technical supports provided through the AFI Management Unit
• Creative & innovative decision maker with strategic thinking and analytical skills
• Appropriately inquisitive, proactive, self-driven and resourceful
• Result- and solution-oriented with good time management (deadline-sensitive)
• Excellent interpersonal (including diplomacy, negotiation, and influencing ability), presentation, and writing skills
• Strong customer focus or stakeholder management / client relationship skills
• Flexible and adaptive team player while able to multi-task and build collaborative partnerships
• Strong attention to detail and quality
• Proficiency of English is essentially required
• Culturally sensitive and intelligent

KEY CHALLENGES

• Assessing member needs and matching them with AFI’s mandate, scope, technical capabilities within the realm of topics / issues related to financial inclusion.
• Managing internal stakeholders’ expectations and requirements in line with the member context, needs, priorities, and expectations.
• Close monitoring of annual membership fees related duties, including support AFI in engaging members on such matters.

Interested candidates are invited to apply together with the latest CV and cover letter in English.