CMF REQUIRES DIRECTOR

Centre for Micro Finance

Requires 

Executive Director

The IFMR Centre for Micro Finance (CMF) in Chennai, India is seeking a dynamic Executive Director to lead and oversee all operations of the Centre.  CMF has quickly grown since its inception in 2005 to become one of the largest organizations in the world dedicated to research on financial services for the poor. CMF's mission is to improve access to and quality of financial services for the poor through rigorous research, knowledge dissemination and evidence-based policy outreach. Visit us online at www.ifmr.ac.in/cmf.

Duties and Responsibilities 

The CMF Executive Director is the public face of the organization, overseeing more than 40 research projects and relationships with financial institutions, including microfinance institutions, cooperative banks, rural finance institutions, self-help-group promoters, and the Reserve Bank of India; universities such as the IIMs, Harvard, Yale, MIT, LSE; and funders including the World Bank, Ford Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNDP and others.  The Executive Director will:

• Work with IFMR faculty and external principal investigators to support research related to microfinance.
• Lead the development of the Centre's research strategy.
• Manage and develop key partnerships with financial institutions, development organizations, universities, and donors.
• Oversee all operations of the Centre, including a team of 35 full-time staff and roughly 150 full-time equivalent contractors throughout India.
• Integrate learnings into the IFMR curriculum.
• Develop new research projects.
• Raise funds for new projects and operations.
• Represent the organization in India and abroad.
  
  

Qualifications and Skills

• At least eight years of professional management experience in international development or related fields. At least three years of this experience should relate to research on financial services for the poor.  Experience in India and/or South Asia is preferred.
• A graduate degree (Ph.D. preferred) in economics, finance, international development or related fields.
• Demonstrated quantitative analytical skills and a solid understanding of quantitative research methodology.
• Experience with field experiments in development and managing primary data collection.
• Experience writing/managing grant applications and raising funds for projects.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Indian language skill is preferred.
• Candidates should be comfortable and effective interacting with government officials, media, academics, and industry leaders.

Compensation is internationally competitive and at the top of local ranges. Excellent fringe benefits include housing deposit assistance, medical insurance, relocation assistance (where applicable), and leave.
To apply, please e-mail CV and cover letter including contact information for two people willing to provide references to: [email protected].