Principal, SME F&D Grants Unit in City of Westminster

The Principal is responsible for assisting with the fundraising activity of the Unit, overseeing new product development initiatives, managing selected donor relationships, with a focus on the EU, to mobilise funding, and ensure timely reporting. In addition, the Principal plays a key role in enabling the SME F&D Grants team to achieve annual targets by undertaking a range of activities, such as developing strategies to cover the different aspects of the group's work and the necessary funding, reviewing market and product development activities and business development, conducting quality assurance, contributing to the internal approval procedures for the use of grants resources from the Grants Review Unit (GRU), and planning, designing, procuring, facilitating implementation, monitoring and reporting on TC- or Bank-funded consultancy assignments and on non-TC grants.

Responsibilities

• Supervise day-to-day SME F&D Grants activities to ensure team objectives are achieved.
• Oversee the successful development of programmes and products that involve key stakeholders from across the bank, donors, and the related fundraising activities.
• Establish and sustain good relations with selected donors, with a particular specialisation on the EU, and other stakeholders to develop funding proposals.
• Manage timely production of reports on programmes to inform funding donors on progress and impact.
• Work with country teams to design and review new products, new programmes or multi-country initiatives to maximise the transition impact and sustainability of TC and non-TC projects.
• Conduct quality assurance and due diligence to ensure effective management and delivery of TC and non-TC project portfolio, especially in view of the EFSD+.
• Manage delivery of special initiatives such as thematic or regional programmes that require coordination between SME F&D country teams and regions and/or partnership with other teams in the Bank.
• Assist and coordinate the internal approval process procedures for the use of grants resources from the Grants Review Unit (GRU).
• Contribute to the development of global communication and visibility material to promote SME F&D activities to internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Strong academic background with relevant Master's degree (Economics, MBA, MPA, International Development etc.) from a leading university in the country of education.
• Relevant professional experience, preferably gained from an IFI, the EU, development organisation, commercial management consultancy or bank, donor organisation, or international support programme.
• Knowledge of donor funded work, donor organisations and experience in donor fund mobilisation desirable, particularly specialised knowledge of the EU.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to think creatively; ability to multi-task and react quickly.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to draw insightful conclusions.
• Strong numerical skills, experience in impact measurement and assessments or similar (econometric analysis); experience working with databases desirable.
• Strong writing skills; experience in writing reports and donor proposals desirable.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to interface with multi-country teams.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal.
• Fluency in Russian, French, as well as other languages of countries of operations would be an advantage.
• Computer literate: excellent knowledge of Excel, PowerPoint and SAP; knowledge of STATA or similar systems desirable, ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Business/financial analytical skills, with the ability to interpret accounts and understanding of local accounting principles and practice of company financial analysis desirable.
• A developing track record in managing processes and different teams in order to successfully bring programmes and products from the drawing board to the market.

About the Organization and Values

Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the EBRD mandate, and be passionate about private sector development. Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment. Our agile and innovative approach is a hallmark of life at the EBRD; you will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, using your talents to make a difference. The EBRD values – Inclusiveness, Innovation, Trust, and Responsibility – guide how we work and are embedded in our Workplace Behaviours: listening well and speaking up, collaborating smartly, acting decisively with full commitment, and simplifying to amplify our impact.

Environment and Benefits

We offer varied, stimulating, and engaging work with opportunities to interact with experts across regions. We maintain a working culture that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity. A hybrid workplace offering flexibility to teams and individuals based on trust, flexibility, and connectedness. An environment that places sustainability, equality, and digital transformation at the heart of our work. A workplace that prioritises employee wellbeing and provides a comprehensive suite of competitive benefits.