Innovative Finance Manager

World Food Programme; United States; Remote; USD 90,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

World Food Programme is seeking a Change Management and Business Innovation Consultant to lead innovative finance initiatives for a 6‑month period. The role can be based in Rome, Italy or remotely, with responsibilities spanning design, evaluation, and implementation of new financing instruments and partnerships.

The candidate will bring deep expertise in finance, investment structures, and risk governance, and will advise senior leadership while coordinating with internal teams and external

Qualifications

• Degree in finance, economics, business administration, public policy, or related field.
• 7+ years in innovative finance, impact investing, development finance, or related fields.
• Experience with multilateral organizations, development banks, or philanthropic investors is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Deliver end‑to‑end projects in innovative finance, including design and implementation of financing instruments.
• Engage with donors, investors, and partners to co‑develop financing structures.
• Develop investment theses, business cases, and financial models for new instruments.
• Support knowledge management, capacity building, and junior staff guidance.
• Prepare high‑quality reports and briefing materials for internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Financial modeling

Innovative finance

Stakeholder engagement

Team leadership

Analytical thinking

Education

Finance/Economics/Business Administration/Public Policy

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

15 November 2026-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome)

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of extreme weather shocks.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP’s values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP?

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.
• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.
• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

JOB TITLE: Change Management and Business Innovation - Innovative Finance Manager

DUTY STATION (City, Country):Rome, Italy or Remote

DURATION: 6 months

LEVEL: Consultant

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

Over the past years the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has responded to an unprecedented level of emergencies, while maintaining ongoing operations. This increased demand stretches the organization which means WFP has to find new approaches and ways of working to ensure we are channeling every available resource to the people we serve.

The Change Management and Business Innovation Unit (BIU) was established in 2015 to manage change and to promote innovation as part of WFP’s Innovation division:

• BIU acts as the “advisory arm” of WFP
• BIU is composed of staff with top-tier management consulting backgrounds as well as UN experience

We execute projects on behalf of Executive Directors, Assistant Secretary Generals, and Directors across the UN system, and have become a trusted advisor to WFP and other entities (e.g. UN Women, UNFPA, Business Innovation Group). Our focus is on end-to-end solutions, including problem assessment, data analysis, operational model design, change plan and implementation monitoring.The United Nations entities are scaling up their efforts to mobilize innovative financing solutions to meet growing humanitarian and development needs. As part of the Change Management and Business Innovation Unit (BIU), this consultancy will focus on designing and implementing cutting‑edge financing instruments that can unlock new funding flows, alternative to traditional Official Development Assistance (ODA), for our partners.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Execution of Business Innovation projects in Innovative Finance
2. Additional activities and needs

DELIVERABLES:

Depending on the time of joining, the candidate’s specific experience and current corporate priorities, the candidate will be responsible for the full delivery of a project work stream. Specifically, such workstream could be part of initiatives aimed at the definition of innovative financing strategies, the design and launch of innovative financing instruments such as blended finance instruments, impact investment funds, fundraising platforms, results-based financing, etc., or other similar initiatives.

Examples of specific deliverables are:

• Execution of Business Innovation Projects in Innovative Finance

• As part of a BIU team, support the design and structuring of innovative financing mechanisms aligned with our partners’ strategic priorities.

• Support the development of innovative financing strategies

• Conduct landscape reviews of existing and emerging financing models across the UN system and development finance ecosystem.

• Develop investment theses, business cases, and financial models for new instruments.

• Engage with donors, investors, and implementing partners to co-develop and validate financing structures.

• Support the operationalization of selected mechanisms, including legal, governance, and risk frameworks.

• Provide strategic advisory support to senior leadership on financing innovation.

• Prepare high-quality reports, presentations, and briefing materials for internal and external stakeholders.

Additional activities and needs

• Contribute to internal capacity-building efforts on innovative finance
• Support knowledge management reviews and best practices sharing
• Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with more complex analysis and queries
• Additional project support based on pipeline and new projects contracted during time of contract, as required

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Preference for a degree in finance, economics, business administration, public policy, or related field.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of relevant work experience in innovative finance, impact investing, development finance, investment banking, or related fields.
• Experience in a top tier management consulting firm or investment bank
• Experience working with multilateral organizations, development banks, or philanthropic investors is highly desirable

Knowledge & Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing innovative financing instruments such as blended finance mechanisms, results-based financing, social impact bonds, impact investment funds, digital fundraising platforms in the development or humanitarian context.
• Strong financial modeling and structuring capabilities, with the ability to develop investment theses, business cases, and risk-return frameworks for such instruments.
• Deep understanding of resource mobilization tools and strategies.
• Ability and experience leading and overseeing the work of a team of more junior resources (e.g., consultants) to deliver complex projects, analytical workstreams, and financial transactions end‑to‑end.
• Good analytical abilities, both quantitative and qualitative: strong financial modeling and structuring capabilities, with the ability to develop investment theses, business cases, and risk-return frameworks for innovative finance instruments; ability to produce high-quality written materials, including powerpoint presentations as well as text documents.
• Good stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Collaborative spirit to engage effectively with internal teams and external partners across diverse cultural and institutional settings.
• Time management skills with an ability to plan ahead, anticipate requirements, problems and obstacles, and an ability to juggle competing priorities successfully, and to work on tight deadlines.
• Self‑motivated and able to work with a certain degree of autonomy and/ or in team.
• Fully committed and motivated to achieve the aims of the UN World Food Programme.

Languages:

In addition to a high proficiency in written and spoken English, knowledge of a second UN language is a plus.

Visa:

WFP supports Visa applications and the position is based in Rome, Italy.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact: [e-mail]

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.