Head, Centre of Excellence (Public Finance)

Position Summary

The Head, Centre of Excellence (Public Finance) will lead the development and implementation of financial mechanisms that support disaster resilience. This includes engaging with public finance systems, piloting innovative financing solutions, and ensuring the successful translation of financial models into scalable field implementations. The role requires a deep understanding of public finance, risk financing, resilience bonds, and blended finance models to support long-term sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership and Strategic Direction
  • Develop and execute a strategic vision for the Centre of Excellence, ensuring alignment with the partner organization broader resilience agenda.
  • Lead research and thought leadership on public finance innovations for disaster resilience.
  • Establish the Centre as a knowledge and innovation hub for financing sustainable community resilience solutions.
• Policy Engagement and Advocacy
  • Engage with government agencies, financial institutions, and multilateral bodies to influence policies supporting resilient finance.
  • Advocate for innovative financing mechanisms, such as index insurance and resilience bonds, to be integrated into public financial frameworks.
  • Provide technical inputs to national and regional disaster risk financing strategies.
• Financial Innovation and Solution Development
  • Design and test new financial instruments that enhance disaster preparedness and response.
  • Develop scalable financial models for community-owned resilience solutions.
  • Explore blended finance approaches, social impact investments, and microfinance solutions to enhance the financial sustainability of resilience programs.
• Facilitation and Field Implementation Support
  • Provide technical guidance to field teams on implementing financial solutions within community resilience projects.
  • Support prototyping, solution orientation, testing, and piloting financial innovations through field projects.
  • Work closely with program teams to adapt and scale successful models in different geographies.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships
  • Build and maintain relationships with donors, investors, policymakers, and implementation partners.
  • Foster public-private collaborations to leverage resources and expertise for financing resilience solutions.
  • Work with the field teams to ensure financial solutions meet the needs of vulnerable communities.
• Impact Measurement and Knowledge Dissemination
  •  Develop metrics to assess the effectiveness of financial solutions in disaster resilience.
  • Oversee documentation, research publications, and case studies on financing mechanisms.
  • Organize workshops, capacity-building sessions, and knowledge-sharing events.

Required Qualifications and Experience 

• Educational Background
  • Masters degree in Public Finance, Economics, Development Studies, Climate Finance, or a related field. 
• Professional Experience
  • Minimum of 10 years of experience in public finance, climate finance, or disaster risk financing.
  • Proven track record in designing and implementing innovative financial mechanisms.
  • Experience working with government agencies, financial institutions, and multilateral organizations.
  • Strong background in scaling financial solutions through field implementation. 
• Skills and Competencies
  • Expertise in public finance management, budgeting, and compliance with donor regulations.
  • Strong understanding of risk financing instruments, resilience bonds, and impact investments.
  • Ability to develop and manage strategic partnerships across sectors.
  • Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
  • Solution-oriented approach to designing and implementing financial interventions.
  • Proficiency in data analysis, impact measurement, and financial modeling. 
• Language Proficiency
  • Fluent in English (both written and spoken); knowledge of Hindi or other regional languages will be an advantage.