Head Of Innovative Finance & Partnerships, Latin America & The Caribbean

The Head of Innovative Finance & Partnership, Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC) will play a pivotal market-building role, focused on originating, shaping and converting innovative finance opportunities for Save the Children's global charity across Latin America and the Caribbean in areas such as Nature-based solutions (NbS) and carbon credits, impact investment, blended finance, pre-arranged finance, outcome contracts, and more.

The position will provide strategic regional leadership in analysing the existing market, identifying, prioritizing, and advancing a robust pipeline of innovative financing opportunities across Latin America and the Caribbean, shaping strategy for Save the Children to inform regional decision-making and engagement strategies with key funders in close coordination with its Country Offices, LAC Regional Director, and relevant global teams, and positioning Save the Children as a credible and investable partner to mobilise high-impact funding.

The role is primarily focused on shaping new business development and fundraising strategies around innovative finance, rather than on technical financial structuring, although a solid foundational understanding of innovative finance concepts and mechanisms is required. Responsibility for detailed financial structuring and transaction execution will remain with specialised technical teams and partners.

Acting as a trusted, external-facing representative of Save the Children, the consultant will cultivate and steward relationships with funders, translate the organization’s programmatic strengths into compelling and fundable value propositions, and connect external capital providers with internal programme, proposal, and technical teams.

I. Objectives:

Market & Opportunity Development - To analyse the existing market in LAC, draft a strategy for Save The Children and establish and maintain a well-prioritised and balanced regional pipeline of innovative finance opportunities by proactively mapping, analysing and developing short- and long-term prospects aligned with Save the Children’s strategic priorities, country readiness, and emerging funder trends.

Funder Engagement & Relationship Management - To build and steward high-value relationships with DFIs, corporates, impact investors, institutional funders and foundations, positioning Save the Children as a credible and trusted innovative finance partner across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Pipeline Building, Proposals & Conversion - To convert funder interest into tangible funding opportunities by leading the coordination and development of high-quality, funder-facing materials and ensuring effective internal collaboration that strengthens conversion rates from early engagement to funded initiatives.

Internal Coordination & Delivery Enablement - To strengthen internal alignment, governance and accountability for innovative finance across the region by coordinating with country offices, regional leadership and global teams, and translating strategic commitments into actionable plans with clear roles and timelines.

Strategic Contribution & Market Positioning - To enhance Save the Children’s market positioning and strategic direction in innovative finance by feeding market intelligence, funder insights and lessons learned into regional strategy, organisational learning and product development.

II. Activities:

***Market & Opportunity Development ***

• Proactively map, prioritise and develop innovative finance opportunities across Latin America and the Caribbean aligned with SC’s Innovative Finance offering and country-level readiness, strategic priorities and delivery capacity.
• Track and analyse emerging funder interests, policy signals, thematic priorities and financing instruments relevant to children’s outcomes.
• Identify ‘low-hanging fruit’ opportunities alongside longer-term, scalable propositions, building a balanced regional pipeline.
• Draft a medium-term penetration strategy for Save the Children in LAC

***Funder Engagement & Relationship Management ***

• Proactively source, engage and steward relationships with DFIs, corporates and impact investors, as well as institutional funders and philanthropic foundations who are active or interested in the region.
• Act as a credible and confident interlocutor with funders, able to articulate Save the Children's innovative finance value proposition and financial concepts in language that resonates with both finance professionals and non-specialists.
• Represent Save the Children in relevant regional and global forums, networks and bilateral engagements.

***Pipeline Building, Proposals & Conversion ***

• Translate funder interest into live opportunities by connecting external partners with internal programme, technical, finance and proposal teams.
• Lead and coordinate the development of high-quality funder-facing materials, including concept notes, teasers, pitch decks and RFP/EOI submissions ensuring coherence, quality and timely submission, and advising on go / no-go decisions based on feasibility, risk and readiness.
• Work closely with proposal teams to ensure coherence, quality and timely submission, improving conversion from initial interest to funded or advanced-stage opportunities

***Internal Coordination & Delivery Enablement ***

• Coordinate closely with SCGV’s innovative finance team, Save the Children regional colleagues and internal focus groups to ensure alignment and clarity of roles.
• Support the activation of regional innovative finance governance, including country focal points and working groups where relevant.
• Ensure commitments from the regional workshop are translated into practical actions, timelines and ownership.

***Strategic Contribution & Market Positioning ***

• Contribute to strengthening Save the Children’s visibility, credibility and positioning as a leading innovative finance partner in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Feed market intelligence, funder feedback and lessons learned into Save the Children’s strategy, product development and prioritisation.
• Support broader organisational learning by sharing insights on funder behaviour, market trends and effective approaches to mobilisation.

III. Deliverables

#1: Detailed Workplan for the 12-month assignment, including methodology, coordination approach, timeline and key milestones (by Month 1).

#2: Inception Report including regional market analysis, penetration strategy, priority funder mapping, pipeline framework, prioritisation criteria, and engagement strategy (by end of Month 2).

#3: Operational Regional Innovative Finance Pipeline Tracker and Quarterly Progress Reports, including prioritised opportunities, go/no-go assessments, funder engagements, and pipeline advancement status. (Initial version by Month 3; quarterly updates in Months 6, 9, 12).

#4: Development and coordination of high-quality funder-facing materials (concept notes, pitch decks, EOIs/RFP submissions) for priority opportunities. (Ongoing; consolidated reporting at Months 6 and 12).

Experience & Skills:

• Five years or more experience in business development, fundraising or partnerships within innovative finance, blended finance, impact investing or adjacent fields.
• Demonstrated track record of originating and converting funding opportunities with DFIs, corporates or impact investors.
• Strong understanding of innovative and blended finance concepts, sufficient to engage credibly with sophisticated funders (without being a technical structurer).
• Experience working with or alongside international NGOs, DFIs, foundations, advisory firms or investment platforms.
• Experience working in Latin America (preferably in Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, Guatemala or The Dominican Republic).
• Fluency in Spanish and English.
• Ability to confidently represent an organisation externally and build trust-based relationships with senior funders.
• Strong commercial and strategic judgement, with the ability to prioritise opportunities and manage a dynamic pipeline.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex programme and finance concepts into clear, compelling narratives.
• Highly collaborative working style, comfortable coordinating across multiple internal teams and senior stakeholders.

Mindset & Attributes:

• Externally oriented, opportunity-driven and relational, with a strong bias towards action and conversion.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and early-stage market-building environments.
• Strategic thinker with a pragmatic, delivery-focused approach.
• Strong alignment with Save the Children’s mission and a commitment to mobilising capital in service of children’s outcomes.

Indicators of Success:

• A robust and prioritised regional pipeline of innovative finance opportunities.
• Strong, active relationships with a portfolio of priority funders across the region.
• Improved conversion of funder interest into funded or advanced-stage opportunities.
• Clear progress against regional innovative finance commitments and agreed action plans.
• Enhanced visibility and credibility of Save the Children with external funders in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Improved internal readiness and clarity across LAC country offices to engage in innovative finance opportunities.

Save the Children is the world's largest independent pro-child organization. We work in 115+ countries rescuing children's lives, fighting for their rights and helping them to fulfil their full potential. Together with our partners, we work to drive progress in the way the world treats children, and to make immediate and lasting change in their lives.