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Manager, Innovative Financial Services, Center for Financial Services Innovation
Position: Manager, Innovative Financial Services
Functional Area:
Organization: Center for Financial Services Innovation
Location: Chicago or New York City
Metro Region:
Overview:
The Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI) is the nation’s leading authority on financial services for underbanked consumers. CFSI’s programs are based on the belief that addressing the needs of underbanked consumers as a market will deliver broad, long-term change throughout the financial services landscape by creating mutual benefit for both the underbanked and the companies serving them. Therefore, CFSI works with leaders and innovators in the business, government and non-profit sectors to transform the financial services landscape with programs focused on informing, connecting and investing – gathering enhanced intelligence, brokering and supporting productive industry relationships and fostering best-in-class products and strategies. CFSI seeks to improve the quality and quantity of financial products and services, better shape them to the needs and desires of underbanked customers, and expand effective savings and asset acquisition opportunities. The organization spurs innovation to bridge the gaps that remain in creating a path to prosperity for underbanked consumers by:
• Developing market intelligence;
• Assessing existing products, services and strategies;
• Promoting and facilitating marketplace partnerships;
• Influencing public policy;
• Investing in promising innovations and encouraging others to do so as well
Much of the work of CFSI centers on research focused on identified core drivers of effective change: improved understanding of consumer needs, identification and support of best practices solutions, dissemination and increased awareness of what works, and the development of innovations around what missing links remain. In particular, CFSI focuses on how to increase the opportunities that underbanked consumers have to save, access credit and conduct transactions via innovative products and technologies such as prepaid cards or mobile financial services.
CFSI is a non-profit affiliate of ShoreBank Corporation, America’s first and leading community development and environmental banking corporation. For more on CFSI, go to http://www.cfsinnovation.com. For more on ShoreBank, go to http://www.shorebankcorp.com.
Position:
CFSI is currently seeking a talented and entrepreneurial Manager, Innovative Financial Services to work directly with the Innovation Director to develop strategies for expanding the quantity and quality of financial products, services and strategies for underbanked consumers. A critical component of this work will be conducting research, writing reports and producing content for CFSI dissemination. Much of this research will be conducted in partnership with others, requiring strong interpersonal skills, project management capability and leadership ability. In addition, the Manager, Innovative Financial Services will work directly with internal and external stakeholders to help CFSI advance the identified strategic priorities across the organization with the goal of changing the financial services experience of underbanked customers.
Responsibilities:
• Work with the Innovation Director and CFSI team to develop and implement a strategy to achieve the CFSI vision for each innovation area (such as savings, credit or prepaid cards), taking a leadership role for a sub-set of the innovation areas
• Conceive of and execute multi-method research projects (usually conducted with partners), such as consumer research studies, analyses of industry economics, development of financial models or implementation of in-market pilots; partner with Networks team to vet, develop and manage research partnerships
• Research and write white papers, best practice studies, policy briefs and trend analyses on a variety of financial services topics related to the underbanked; manage consultants, vendors, partnerships and interns to produce reports, research analysis and other deliverables
• Keep current on financial services trends and happenings, creating tools to communicate trends both to internal staff and to the wider financial services industry
• Create effective presentations and content, and as necessary, present this information at Center events or industry conferences
• Manage the Center’s research archives and knowledge management tools, including its growing resource library, and increase the organization’s quantitative and industry research capacity
• Serve as a resource to external Center stakeholders, providing advice and information to both for-profits and non-profits; interface with industry experts and leaders on innovation areas and ensure that pertinent information is filtered to Center staff
• Work collaboratively with other team members on the full range of Center activities; serve as a resource for other ShoreBank companies
Qualifications:
• At least 5 years of work experience in financial services, community development or research; financial modeling and/or experience in a strategic role a plus
• Demonstrated skills in both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and analysis
• Superior written and oral communications skills
• An entrepreneurial spirit, comfortable working independently and in a highly collaborative environment
• Strong desire to be engaged in mission-related work and a commitment to the work of CFSI
• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred
To Apply:
Please upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter, addressed to Rachel Schneider and outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position and stating how you heard about this opportunity, both in Word format, at http://jobs.cgcareers.org/application.aspx?id=1602. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
CFSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CFSI strives to reflect the diverse community it serves. Applicants who contribute to this diversity are strongly encouraged to apply
