At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative finance projects that create transformative outcomes for children globally.
- Company: Join Save the Children UK, a leader in child welfare and innovative finance.
- Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Collaborative team environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape funding solutions that unlock transformational change for children worldwide.
- Qualifications: Experience in innovative finance models and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 € per year.
Save the Children UK is looking for an Innovative Finance Manager to join our Innovation Hive, developing and scaling innovative finance solutions – including impact investment and inclusive insurance – that mobilise capital and drive sustainable impact for children globally. This is a unique opportunity to help shape and deliver new approaches to funding that can unlock transformational change at scale.
About Us
Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.
About the Team
The Innovation Hive is a team focused on delivering transformative, systemic change for children. As ODA funding declines globally, our goal is to expand our toolkit – including mobilising private capital to deliver impact for children at scale. We operate as a surge team supporting SCUK's priorities in innovative and blended finance, including child‑lens investing, carbon credits and inclusive insurance. These approaches complement existing programmatic work, maximising the impact of current and new resources and increasing funding towards our mission. Our purpose is clear: to transform, build and champion new growth opportunities and business models, moving at pace and collaborating inside and outside of our organisation to do this.
About the Role
The Innovative Finance Manager role is central to advancing innovative finance initiatives that create transformative outcomes for children. You will lead the design, shaping and execution of a portfolio of innovative finance projects — such as child‑lens impact investment and inclusive insurance — across the Save the Children Movement, supported by the Innovation Hive. This includes designing and structuring financing mechanisms, developing proposals, and coordinating partners. The role combines strategic leadership, venture development and execution, with a strong emphasis on mobilising capital, building partnerships, and developing scalable solutions that can influence systems and markets. You will play a key role in originating and structuring new opportunities, supporting their progression from early‑stage concept through to implementation and scale, while ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and impact objectives. Working across geographies, with a focus on Latin America and Africa, you will collaborate with cross‑functional teams, internal stakeholders, and external partners to deliver high‑impact programmes. With impact on children as your guiding star, you will also monitor emerging trends and opportunities in innovative finance to inform strategic decision‑making. You will also contribute to strengthening organisational capability in innovative finance, supporting knowledge sharing, mentoring colleagues, and embedding best practice across Save the Children UK.
In this role, you will:
- Lead the origination design and structuring of high‑impact innovative finance projects that advance child‑focused impact, such as blended finance, insurance, carbon finance and impact investment funds.
- Exercise strong judgement and autonomy in prioritising opportunities, shaping initiatives, and influencing decision‑making on programme design, resource allocation, and strategic direction.
- Develop compelling proposals, concept notes and investment cases that unlock funding and advance scalable innovative finance solutions.
- Lead market scanning, research and strategic analysis and originate opportunities in priority areas and across geographies particularly in Latin America and Africa.
- Integrate impact management frameworks into projects you lead, ensuring all initiatives are data‑driven, aligned with Save the Children's impact objectives, and deliver measurable outcomes for children.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of tools, resources, frameworks and support mechanisms that enhance the delivery of innovative finance projects.
- Build and manage strategic partnerships with internal teams, country offices, and external stakeholders including investors, foundations and development finance institutions, to grow pipeline and enable delivery.
- Represent Save the Children in external forums and contribute to thought leadership and insights on innovative finance for children, strengthening the organisation's position in innovative finance.
About You
To be successful, it is important that you have/are:
- Demonstrated experience in leading the design, execution, and management of innovative finance models such as impact investment, carbon credits and inclusive insurance.
- Ability to understand how these can be applied to advance scalable and sustainable impact for children.
- Ability to understand how to integrate IMM frameworks into projects.
- Demonstrated experience in analysing and interpreting data, and presenting information in a compelling way.
- Demonstrated experience in market research and analysis, communicating the potential impact in a clear and compelling way, and applying learnings to drive strategy and project development.
- Experience or ability to work with teams across geographies and sectors, collaborating with internal teams, external partners, and stakeholders from diverse sectors.
- Confidence presenting to partners, donors or investors.
- A team player, someone who is open and who is able and willing to deliver beyond their personal brief.
- Resilience, enthusiasm, energy and drive with a commitment to Save the Children's vision and values.
- A commercial and entrepreneurial mindset.
- Comfortable with ambiguity and able to navigate uncertainty and complexity, remaining organised and focused in fast‑changing environments.
- Fluent in Spanish (ideally but not essential).
- Ideally experience or understanding of human‑centred design, agile and lean methodologies, in order to deliver impactful innovations that meet user needs.
- Ideally experience or ability to manage knowledge systems that support innovation projects.
Please note: To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.
Location & Ways of Working
The majority of our roles can be performed remotely in the UK, but at times you will be required to come to your contracted office (usually between 2–4 days per month, depending on the needs of your role, team, or service). For many roles, this is likely to be the minimum required to deliver impact. This will be discussed and agreed with your manager / team and we encourage candidates to discuss our ways of working in more detail at interview stage. Please note: travel costs to your contracted office will be at your own expense.
Flexible Working
We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce and we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where all employees have a sense of belonging and feel that they can be "Free to Be Me". We are not looking for just one type of person – we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, or challenge that disrupts the risk of group think. We are especially interested in people whose childhood experiences – of life on a low income, of migration, of being in a racialised community, of the care system, of being LGBT+ or in an LGBT+ family or living with (or with someone with) a disability – help us to see things we might otherwise miss. Whatever your story is we want to hear it because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world. This is the reason why we are all here.
Innovative Finance Manager employer: Save the Children
Save the Children UK is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to work within the Innovation Hive, where you can lead transformative finance initiatives that create sustainable impact for children globally. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, flexible working options, and a culture that champions collaboration and innovation, employees are empowered to grow and make a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable children. The role not only provides the chance to develop impactful solutions but also fosters professional development through knowledge sharing and mentorship within a supportive team environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Innovative Finance Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the finance and non-profit sectors, especially those connected to Save the Children. Attend events, webinars, or even casual meet-ups to make connections that could lead to job opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for innovative finance! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your ideas on how to mobilise capital for children's causes. This will demonstrate your commitment and creativity in the field.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching current trends in impact investment and inclusive insurance. Be ready to discuss how these can be applied to Save the Children's mission. We want to see that you’re not just knowledgeable but also enthusiastic about making a difference!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and contributing to our mission of transforming lives for children globally.
We think you need these skills to ace Innovative Finance Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Innovative Finance Manager role. Highlight your experience in innovative finance models and how they can drive sustainable impact for children. We want to see how your skills align with our mission!
Showcase Your Passion:Let your enthusiasm for making a difference shine through in your application. Share specific examples of how you've contributed to impactful projects in the past. We love candidates who are genuinely committed to transforming lives!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your achievements and how they relate to the role. We appreciate clarity and want to understand your journey without any fluff!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure it gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our organisation there.
How to prepare for a job interview at Save the Children
✨Know Your Impact Finance
Make sure you brush up on innovative finance models like impact investment and inclusive insurance. Be ready to discuss how these can be applied to create sustainable outcomes for children. Familiarise yourself with recent trends in the sector, especially in Latin America and Africa, as this will show your commitment and understanding of the role.
✨Craft Compelling Proposals
Prepare to showcase your ability to develop compelling proposals and investment cases. Think about examples from your past experiences where you've successfully unlocked funding or advanced scalable solutions. This is your chance to demonstrate your strategic thinking and creativity!
✨Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit
This role requires working with diverse teams and stakeholders. Be ready to share examples of how you've collaborated across geographies and sectors. Highlight your experience in building partnerships and how you’ve navigated challenges in team settings.
✨Embrace the Challenge
The world of innovative finance can be complex and fast-changing. Show your resilience and enthusiasm by discussing how you've tackled ambiguity in previous roles. Share specific instances where you've remained organised and focused despite uncertainty, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
