The Managing Director provides strategic direction and thought leadership on innovative financing and new private sector initiatives, and will also provide overall management of Gavi’s Innovative Partnerships and Development Finance Department.

In the context of Gavi preparation for its next replenishment for 2026 – 20230, the Managing Director plays a critical role in driving the organisation to develop and strengthen innovative financial instruments and partnerships that will help deliver against the SDGs, improve access to surge funding for pandemic response and preparedness, and contribute to the new PPR Global Architecture, including in the context of G7 and G20 discussions. Financial instruments under the Department are also designed to leverage additional funding from donors to meet Gavi’s financial needs for routine immunisation in a resource-constrained and competitive environment for ODA resources. New prospects include instruments that could accelerate Gavi’s contribution to climate adaptation and mitigation.

As part of Gavi’s approach to Pandemic Preparedness and Response, the Managing Director will support the Department’s efforts to design and launch the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA). This new instrument aims to use Gavi’s market shaping and innovative financing capacity in supporting the expansion of sustainable regional manufacturing in Africa. It is being developed in closed collaboration with partners, including the African CDC. The Managing Director will also oversee the Department’s management of IFFIm, including oversight of donor contributions and preparation of IFFIm Board and donor meetings, and will lead the Gavi Secretariat on IFFIm strategic orientation.

In a more diverse political environment with a broadened and evolving donor base (roughly 100 sovereign and private sector donors), the Managing director will also help strengthen and consolidate a coherent engagement and partnership strategy with IFIs and MDBs, mobilising private sector support and managing relationships with private sector leadership. The MD will support the Department’s leading role in developing and implementing a strategic and political engagement strategy with MDBs and private sector stakeholders, with the objective to increase the number and depth of joint and collaborative initiatives and to implement innovative financial instruments. He or she will also leverage these partnerships to solicit private sector expertise to solve challenges in the immunisation landscape. In this regard, a key focus of the Department is to accelerate access to innovation for Gavi countries through private sector partnerships. The launch of INFUSE 2.0 is at the core of this strategy.

In the context of the above, the Innovative Partnerships and Development Finance Department works closely with the Donor Relations and Fundraising Department to secure support from donors for innovative finance instruments and partnerships, as well as to adapt and develop instruments meeting donors’ needs and appetite. The Managing Director also collaborates with the Director for Emerging Markets and with the Director for Replenishments to develop partnerships in Africa, Middle East, Asia and Latin America.

Lead the Innovative Partnerships and Development Finance Department and contribute to Gavi’s strategic direction as part of the Gavi Leadership Team

• Provide leadership, strategic direction and overall management to the Innovative Partnerships and Finance department, and to ensure the successful delivery of the department’s objectives.
• Share overall management and decision-making as a member the Gavi Leadership Team, to ensure the successful operation of the Gavi Secretariat, and its role in supporting the broader Alliance in its delivery of Gavi’s strategic plan;
• Ensure that Gavi remains a key player in the global innovative finance health landscape by contributing both strategically and operationally, across the organisation;
• Manage and develop an engaged and motivated workforce across the department, creating a strategic vision and the right culture and environment to inspire others to succeed by drawing the best out of staff and empowering them.
• Represent Gavi in global gatherings and meetings (MDBs, IFIs, private sector gatherings)

Lead the design, development and implementation of innovative financial instruments to accelerate Gavi’s mission

• Lead the development of financial instruments and partnerships that could contribute to Gavi’s objectives and increase resources available in the next strategic cycle.
• Guide the Department into the design of the instrument from the strategic concept to the implementation.
• Nurture relationships with leadership in private sector and international financial institutions to collaborate on innovative finance instruments.
• Build support from donors and trigger financial contributions through new instruments and partnerships.
• Oversee the management and strategic orientation of IFFIm.

Lead strategic partnerships and external institutional relations with private sector partners and financial institutions

• Manage and oversee external relationships and partnerships including promoting GAVI’s profile in innovative development finance arena (MDBs, IFIs) and private sector platforms around the world.
• Sustain relationships with innovators and develop Gavi’s role in identifying and scaling up innovations for immunisation.
• Provide guidance to implement the MDBs strategy, effectively accelerating partnerships with IFIs and MDBs in preparation of Gavi replenishment.
• Proactively share learning and promote coordination and complementarity with other funds.

Location
The position will be based in Washington, DC or Geneva, Switzerland.

The Managing Director Innovative Partnerships and Development Finance will be someone of unimpeachable personal integrity.

Key experience, knowledge, and technical skills

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Substantial experience in innovative finance and private sector partnerships,
• Experience of leading the design and development of innovative financial instruments and mechanisms,
• Established leadership experience in managing relationships with multilateral development banks, private sector and governments,
• Experience managing complex projects in multi-stakeholder environments;
• Understanding of global health and of the mission of Gavi,
• A successful track record of negotiation and influencing within complex and challenging environments;
• Excellent team leadership credentials, developing high-performing, cross-cultural teams, and creating a compelling vision and culture across the organisation;
• Sophisticated understanding of operating within a complex, multi-stakeholder governance environment;
• Successful leadership experience in a multilateral development bank or international organisation is an added asset.
• Excellent diplomatic and relationship management skills

Relationships and influence

• Highly developed interpersonal skills and a demonstrable ability to inspire, collaborate and influence a wide range of different institutions – MDBs, private sector companies, governments, CSOs, interest groups – to drive impact and change;
• The ability to present credibility and confidence to leadership in international organisations and private sector companies;
• An ability to inspire trust and followership in others through compelling influence, powerful charisma, passion in their beliefs, and determination;
• Highly proficient manager of stakeholders of wide-ranging seniorities; adept builder of enduring relationships, able to work through difficulties to establish and achieve shared goals within complex environments and at pace;
• Political sensitivity; strong oral, written and interpersonal skills, with the ability to relate and work effectively and strategically with colleagues and partners at all levels.

Executing for results

• The ability to set clear corporate goals, priorities and their measurement while committing teams to improved performance; tenacious and accountable in driving results;
• The ability to successfully drive and anchor change in a complex, evolving organisation by demonstrating agility and stimulating creativity and innovation;
• Comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty; demonstrates the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations;
• Highly driven and focused on organisational and individual performance and managing for results; demonstrates strong operational skills and superior judgment in evaluating opportunities and risks;
• The ability to act in a transparent and consistent manner, while serving the best interests of the organisation;
• The ability to persevere in the face of challenges, and exhibit a steadfast resolve and relentless commitment to higher standards, which commands respect from followers.

Leading teams

• Outstanding organisational and leadership abilities; strategic, results-oriented, with a strong commitment to Gavi’s cause;
• Proven ability to identify, motivate, develop and retain a highly professional multicultural staff by fostering a culture of feedback and development; collaborative leadership style;
• Leads others to formulate solutions to complex problems, promotes agility, and empowers teams to respond nimbly in a fast-changing world;
• Creates a sense of purpose/meaning for the team that generates followership beyond their own personality and engages others to the greater purpose for the organisation as a whole;
• A leader who is self-reflective and aware of their own limitations; leads by example and drives the organisation’s performance with an attitude of continuous improvement by being open to feedback and self-improvement.

Expertise in innovative finance

• Deep familiarity with trends in innovative financing mechanisms and their applications to social impact contexts (economic development, global health, etc.);
• Comfort overseeing new or developing financial approaches to social problems;
• Deep knowledge of the finance ecosystem and its various players, from public sector actors to multilateral development banks to commercial financial institutions to start-ups;
• An ability to communicate complex financial concepts to audiences with varying degrees of familiarity in the space.

• Gavi operates in an English language environment, consequently fluency in spoken and written English is essential;
• A second language is desirable, preferably French.

• Advanced university degree in Finance, Business Administration, Management, International Relations or Law desirable and at least 15 years of relevant professional experience

To view the position specification, please visit: www.rraresponses.com. Please send your applications to [email protected] by 24th October 2023.

Location: Geneva, Switzerland or Washington DC

Competitive compensation and benefits will be offered

Gavi is committed to fostering a just, equitable and diverse culture free from racism and discrimination in which all staff, partners and stakeholders feel empowered, safe, and heard.