Associate, Engagement and Training
Convergence CanadaFull TimeToronto, Ontario Or Washington, DC Hybrid
LOCATION: TORONTO OR WASHINGTON, DC
Convergence is the global network for blended finance. We generate blended finance data, intelligence, and deal flow to increase private sector investment in developing countries. Blended finance is the use of catalytic public or philanthropic capital to increase private sector investment in places that need it most. Convergence’s global membership includes public, private, and philanthropic investors as well as sponsors of transactions and funds. Convergence offers its members a curated, online platform to connect with each other on blended finance transactions in progress, as well as exclusive access to original market intelligence and knowledge products such as case studies, reports, training, and webinars. To accelerate advances in the field, Convergence also provides grants through its Design Funding program, for the design of vehicles that could attract private capital at scale.
Convergence is headquartered in Toronto, but we operate globally and have a presence in Singapore, Kigali, La Paz, Nairobi, and Washington, DC. Over the last nine years, we have built a robust network of over 200 public, private, and philanthropic investors as well as sponsors of transactions and funds. To accelerate advances in the field, Convergence also provides grants through its Design Funding program, which funds the design of new blended finance solutions.
We are small but mighty. Join us if you want to be part of an energetic team with a unique role at the intersection of development and finance. We are passionate about and united around the goal of directing money to where it’s needed most – into developing countries and towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We have built a culture defined by our diversity, inclusivity, and ability to get things done. In this relatively new and growing organization, you can be sure that you’ll have a voice and leave your mark. Finally, we take our team members’ growth and well-being seriously, so we offer opportunities for professional development and team building as well as flexible schedules and generous time off policies.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Convergence is seeking an Associate, Training and Engagement who will report to the Manager, Training and Engagement and support the broader team to deliver high quality and timely services to members. The Associate will play a key role in supporting Convergence’s training offering, which focuses on building the capacity of public, private and philanthropic donors and investors to execute blended finance transactions. In addition, the Associate will play a key role in all aspects of Convergence’s member engagement including developing and managing relationships, planning and executing on trainings, soliciting feedback to continuously improve Convergence’s membership offerings in addition to representing Convergence at meetings and industry events.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The following comprises the core responsibilities of the Training & Engagement Associate. The scope will evolve over time to match the needs of the organization and will be based on the candidate’s level of experience and qualifications:
Training:
- Support and over time manage the execution of virtual and in-person training programs, in close collaboration with the training lead; this includes program structuring, content development & delivery, partner collaboration, and administration.
- Support the business development process for training opportunities through the creation of proposals and other documentation.
- Update and enhance the standard training program and content that Convergence offers to a broad range of stakeholders.
- Support the roll-out and planning of Convergence’s first ever global blended finance forum
- Assist in refining Convergence’s strategy, approach, and business model for delivering training.
- Draft and publish blogs summarizing learnings from conferences, trainings and webinars.
Engagement:
- Identify and cultivate relationships with prospective members and partners across the private, public, and philanthropic sectors that may be active in or have an interest in learning about blended finance, including identifying transactions that may be aligned to and eligible for the Convergence deal platform.
- Manage incoming requests for information and applications for Convergence membership; which may include direct engagement with prospective members, identifying opportunities for collaboration, leading exploratory discussions, converting leads to membership, and on-boarding.
- Manage back-end of Convergence’s platform, including approving new users, reviewing new deals, and trouble shooting technical issues in collaboration with our software developer
- Serve as a relationship manager and main point of contact for assigned Convergence members to ensure they take full advantage of Convergence offerings, including the listing of transactions on Convergence’s deal platform.
- Analyze data and track key metrics to help drive growth and develop new and existing business opportunities.
- Become an expert on Convergence’s platform to be able to support internal and external stakeholders with technical inquiries and lead initiatives to improve members’ experience.
- Represent Convergence at conferences, webinars, and other industry events
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in business, economics, finance, international development, or a related field
- 2-3 years of work experience in financial services, international development, or consulting, with a demonstrated ability to deliver results through independent and collaborative work.
- Experience in account or relationship management, client services, customer success, or business development are highly valuable.
- Comfort in a fast-paced environment working across global time zones; able to embrace ambiguity and is a self-starter.
- Interpersonal skills, including communication, networking, prospect identification, and relationship-building.
- Project management skills and a track record of on-time delivery.
- Ability to adapt to and make effective use of available software and support tools (Salesforce, MS Teams, Google Drive, etc.)
- Analytical skills, including the ability to analyze data, draw conclusions, and develop recommendations.
- Interest in and knowledge of private sector participation/development issues in developing countries, and interest in developing a specialty in a sub-segment of the blended finance market (either sector, type of investor, or region).
- Spanish speaking is an asset
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis, interested and qualified applicants are encouraged to apply early and in advance of the application deadline on February 21, 2025. Please note that you must submit a cover letter that discusses your interest in development, blended finance, and Convergence. Please note that due to the high volume of applications, we will only contact those selected for interviews.
Convergence believes in an inclusive environment. We celebrate the different viewpoints and experiences our diverse team members bring to our organization. Convergence encourages all individuals motivated by our mission and mandate to apply.