Summary

​​The Market Development Specialist (Innovative Finance) at UNICEF’s Giga initiative plays a crucial role in the establishment and operation of the Connectivity Credits Marketplace. Tasked with the intricate job of understanding and navigating unconventional asset markets, this position is central to developing a unique marketplace for connectivity credits. The role demands a deep dive into financial modeling, leveraging innovative technologies such as blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi) to build a transparent and efficient trading platform. In this position, the specialist is responsible for tailoring market strategies to diverse regulatory and economic landscapes across various countries. This involves close collaboration with in-country teams to understand local market dynamics and regulatory constraints. The success in this position not only advances Giga’s goal of global connectivity but also bridges the digital divide, enabling enhanced educational and socioeconomic opportunities in underserved communities worldwide.

Your responsibilities will be…

Outline the Connectivity Credits marketplace:

• Conduct thorough market analyses to understand the potential of new commodities like connectivity credits.
• Identify which stakeholders and financial instruments are well suited to buying and trading Connectivity Credits

Financial modeling:

• Utilize a strong financial background to develop frameworks that support the financing, trading, valuation, and redemption of connectivity credits.
• Build the financial business case of Connectivity Credits for major buyers of Credits, such as international financial institutions.

Stakeholder engagement and thought leadership:

• Publish white papers outlining the financial mechanisms behind Connectivity Credits, modelling their impact.
• Collaborate with public and private sector stakeholders related to the financing of Connectivity Credits to promote the concept and model the benefits

Technical support:

• Collaborate closely with the product team in the conceptual design of the marketplace, working through details such as how to price Credits in the marketplace.
• Translate financial models into viable market strategies for the partnerships team to engage buyers of Connectivity Credits.

Risk Management and Innovation:

• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with introducing new commodities in the marketplace.
• Foster a culture of innovation to explore novel approaches for market creation, leveraging knowledge in crypto markets or other modern financial frameworks.

Reporting and Documentation:

• Prepare and present detailed reports on market analyses, structuring strategies, and stakeholder engagements.
• Document the processes, frameworks, and partnerships established, ensuring transparency and continuous learning.

To qualify for this position, you will have…

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s or higher) in business development, economy, computer science or related degree is required. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in finance, commodity trading, or market structuring is required.
• Experience in the Telecom, Media, and Technology (TMT) sectors, with a particular focus on internet connectivity and gigabytes is an asset.
• Experience in the financing of connectivity, particularly in collaboration with international financial institutions is an asset.
• Experience working in emerging markets and understanding their unique challenges and opportunities is an asset.

Skills:

• Familiarity with modern financial frameworks and technologies (e.g., crypto markets).
• Demonstrated ability in analyzing and structuring markets for unconventional or new commodities.
• Proficient in financial modeling, risk assessment, and market analysis.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently, think creatively and embrace innovation in a fast-paced environment.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

About our team

We are a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary team of software engineers, finance specialists, data scientists, policy experts, and much more. Our team is a distributed workforce and plans to remain distributed into the foreseeable future. We are growing fast. Our team has grown by over 400% in the last 6 months as we rapidly scale to meet our stated mission.