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Risk Manager

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: 
Root Capital is a nonprofit social investment fund that is pioneering finance for grassroots businesses in rural areas of developing countries. It provides capital, financial education, and market connections to small and growing businesses that build sustainable livelihoods and transform rural communities in poor environmentally vulnerable places. Root Capital's clients include associations and private businesses that help create sustainable livelihoods. It is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts and has associated offices in Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, and Kenya.
ABOUT THE JOB: 
Root Capital is seeking a Risk Manager. S/he will be responsible for reviewing and approving credit transactions for a designated portfolio of credits to small and medium sized businesses, primarily engaged in agriculture, in Latin America and Africa. S/he will work to ensure adequate underwriting, structuring, and compliance with credit policy in order to maintain a healthy portfolio that reflects the organization’s risk appetite. S/he will work closely and proactively with loan officers, regional directors of lending, and regional risk managers to review transactions in the pipeline to provide underwriting guidance, review credit requests, and provide credit decisions.  
Tasks and Responsibilities:
  • Underwriting guidance:
    • Work proactively with regional lending teams on a pipeline of transactions requiring approval at the global level;
    • Provide objective guidance to ensure risks are adequately identified and addressed via sound underwriting and credit structuring.
  • Credit approvals:
    • Review and approve new loans and modifications to existing loans as a senior credit approver to ensure sound credit decisions that are in compliance with credit policies and procedures;
    • Ensure timeliness and quality of review and approval to achieve sound risk management while also delivering high quality customer service.
  • Portfolio management:
    • Work closely with regional risk managers to oversee borrower performance monitoring to ensure timely identification of potential problems and accurate risk ratings;
    • Actively participate in ongoing reviews of problem loan portfolio.
  • Credit policy and procedures:
    • Participate in the department’s ongoing work of continuous improvement to credit policy and procedures;
    • Proactively identify credit areas requiring new or updated policies and procedures.
  • Lending staff training:
    • Work with the chief credit officer, regional risk managers, and SVP lending to develop and deliver relevant credit and risk management training as needed to regional lending staff to ensure sound underwriting and compliance with policies and procedures.
  • Leadership:
    • Provide leadership around credit risk management to ensure a sound risk culture;
    • Participate in related meetings and initiatives.
Qualifications:
  • Bachelor degree required. Finance related studies, including commercial credit training, a plus;
  • Minimum 5 years progressively responsible experience in commercial lending or related financial services. Experience in SME lending preferred. Agricultural lending experience a plus;
  • Outstanding financial analysis skills;
  • Detail oriented;
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with a variety of stakeholders across multiple geographies;
  • Excellent communication and organizational skills;
  • Strong training and mentoring skills;
  • Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed (currently estimated at about 10%-20%);
  • Spanish oral and written fluency required.  French fluency a plus;
  • Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.
HOW TO APPLY: 
Interested candidates can send their resume and cover letter to jobs+riskmglobal@rootcapital.org
Please mention “Risk Mgr. Global” followed by name (Last, First)  in the subject line.