Team Leader - Financial Sector Development Programme, Bangladesh

Palladium; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A global consultancy firm is seeking a Team Leader for the Financial Sector Development Programme in Bangladesh. This role involves leading a technical assistance programme funded by the UK FCDO, aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s financial sector through strategic leadership, stakeholder coordination, and compliance management. The ideal candidate will have experience with financial institutions, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Fluency in English required, knowledge of Bengali is a plus.

Qualifications

• Experience leading large-scale donor-funded programmes, preferably in financial sector reform.
• Proven experience with central banks and financial regulators in developing countries.
• Strong understanding of digital finance and regulatory technology.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and quality assurance for programme delivery.
• Build relationships with stakeholders including the FCDO and Bangladesh Bank.
• Oversee capacity building and adaptive management across workstreams.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Team management

Understanding of financial inclusion

Risk management

Education

Advanced degree in economics, finance, or public policy

Job description

Team Leader - Financial Sector Development Programme, Bangladesh

About Palladium :

Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 2, talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.

Palladium is part of GISI’s Consulting Group, which aims to create solutions for the world’s most complex challenges. With annual revenues of $14 billion, GISI’s approximately 15, employees are engaged in projects across countries worldwide providing construction, program / project management, and engineering consulting services.

This Opportunity :

Palladium is seeking an experienced and strategic Team Leader to lead the delivery of a five-year UK FCDO‑funded technical assistance programme aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s financial sector. The programme will support the central bank, government and regulatory authorities to drive transformation, improve financial infrastructure, and enhance regulatory frameworks.

Location :

The position is ideally based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Consideration will be given to applicants who are based elsewhere and willing to spend 50% time in Dhaka.

Reporting Lines :

This role will report into the Palladium Programme Director.

Primary Roles and Responsibilities :

Provide overall strategic leadership, quality assurance and stakeholder coordination for the programme, ensuring high‑impact delivery across all workstreams and full compliance with FCDO requirements.

Strategic Leadership & Oversight

• Provide overall strategic leadership and direction for programme implementation and achievement of outcomes.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with FCDO, Bangladesh Bank, government counterparts and development partners.
• Ensure all workstreams (central bank transformation, financial infrastructure, regulatory / legal reform, financial ecosystem development) are integrated and aligned with programme objectives.

Stakeholder & Partnership Coordination

• Build and maintain high‑level relationships with FCDO, Bangladesh Bank, government ministries, IMF, World Bank, ADB, IFC, private sector bodies and civil society.
• Represent the programme at policy dialogues, donor coordination platforms, steering committees and public forums.
• Proactively manage sensitive political‑economy issues, ensuring effective communication and alignment among stakeholders.

Quality Assurance & Technical Oversight

• Provide senior oversight and quality assurance for deliverables produced by Technical Leads and short‑term experts, ensuring technical soundness, feasibility and alignment with FCDO KPIs.
• Drive adaptive management and learning across workstreams, ensuring lessons learned inform programme adjustments.
• Oversee capacity‑building of Bangladesh Bank and other counterparts, including planning for sustainability and exit strategy.

Compliance, Risk & Value for Money

• Ensure the programme meets all FCDO contract management KPIs, including social value, safeguarding, duty of care, and anti‑fraud measures.
• Oversee risk management, monitoring of fiduciary controls and compliance with FCDO transparency requirements.
• Champion Value for Money principles (economy, efficiency, effectiveness, equity) across all programme activities.

Team Management & Mentoring

• Lead and manage a multidisciplinary team of national and international experts, fostering collaboration, inclusion and performance excellence.
• Mentor senior staff, including the Deputy Team Leader and Technical Leads, to strengthen local leadership capacity.

Essential Criteria

• Experience leading large‑scale donor‑funded programmes, preferably in financial sector reform or economic governance.
• Proven experience working with central banks, financial regulators, and government institutions in developing countries.
• Strong understanding of financial inclusion, digital finance, and regulatory technology.
• Senior‑level experience working with central banks, financial regulators, and government institutions in developing countries.
• Excellent leadership, stakeholder engagement, and team management skills.
• Experience working in South Asia or similar contexts is highly desirable.
• Fluency in English required; knowledge of Bengali is an asset.
• Advanced degree in economics, finance, public policy or related field.
• Proven experience in successfully leading large‑scale institutional transformation of central banks or comparable government bodies, including organisational restructuring, governance reforms, and capacity‑building in complex political‑economic environments.
• Strong understanding of financial inclusion, digital finance, and regulatory technology.
• Demonstrated expertise in high‑level stakeholder coordination, political‑economy navigation and risk management.
• Excellent leadership, team management and communication skills.
• Fluency in English required; knowledge of Bangla an asset.

Desirable Criteria

• Desired : Experience leading large‑scale donor‑funded programmes in financial sector reform or economic governance, or liaising with donors.
• Desired : Strong track record of quality‑assuring complex technical deliverables and achieving results against KPIs.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include (but are not limited to) socio‑economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.