Find World Changing Social Impact Jobs Here

About Root Capital

Agriculture is the key to unlocking a better future for billions of people. But while rural families sustain the world, they struggle to sustain themselves. Root Capital is a nonprofit social impact investor that puts its money where others don't – in underserved agricultural businesses.

We provide financing and business training to agricultural enterprises in the “missing middle” - those that are too big for microloans but too small for commercial lenders. As these agricultural businesses succeed and scale, they become engines of impact that help farming families, communities, and economies to flourish.

Founded in 1999, we are the largest social investor in agricultural businesses. As both a lender and a nonprofit, our unique model allows us to go where other financiers don’t and support agricultural enterprises so they can succeed and grow. Our world-class team of experts identifies, partners with, and invests in exceptional agricultural entrepreneurs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Over 23 years, Root Capital has invested $1.9 billion in more than 750 agricultural enterprises, proving these under-served businesses are bankable and investable. We have shown that access to finance helps these enterprises succeed and fuels the economy. Root Capital’s investments and essential business and finance training have impacted 10 million farming families through job creation, financial security, and climate resiliency. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, we currently have offices in Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia, Peru, Ghana, and Kenya.

Position Overview

The Senior Director, Global Risk Management coordinates and oversees global portfolio risk management, including market and counterparty risk management for a portfolio of credits to small and medium sized agricultural businesses in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. S/he is a senior credit approver, responsible for reviewing and approving credit transactions and 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 also provides leadership related to the due diligence and preparatory work related to entry into new segments, including the development of segment specific underwriting guidelines. S/he will also contribute to ongoing policy development in support of the Senior Director, Credit Policy and is a member of the internal Risk Appetite Committee.

Responsibilities

Credit Approvals (estimated time 35%)

• Work proactively with regional lending teams on a designated pipeline of transactions requiring approval at the Global level and provide objective guidance to ensure risks are adequately identified and addressed via sound underwriting and credit structuring.
• Review and approve new loans and modifications to existing loans as a senior, global credit approver to ensure sound credit decisions 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 Segments (estimated time 25%)

• Lead and support the development of new segment readiness work to ensure sound entry into new segments, working with Client Services and Regional Risk Managers.
• Manage and continuously improve the formats and process for new segment readiness.
• Develop underwriting standards and guidelines related to industries, geographies and credit structures, working closely with the Senior Director, Credit Policy, Regional Risk Managers, Lending, Credit Administration, and Client Operations.

Portfolio Risk Management (estimated time 25%)

• Provide leadership around credit risk management to ensure a sound risk culture.
• Develop and maintain market level analysis across industries and geographies to assess risk and identify trends.
• Lead analysis and review of portfolio level risks, including industry, geographic and other macro risks.
• Develop country portfolio reports in close coordination with regional teams and the Portfolio Risk Analyst.
• Prepare and present relevant reports to internal and external committees.
• Participate in lessons learned activities and proactively identify credit areas requiring new or updated policies and procedures.

Counterparty Risk Management (estimated time 15%)

• Work closely with the Counterparty Risk Officer to monitor counterparty risk in the portfolio and maintain regular contact with key buyers.
• Support Risk Management and Lending teams to resolve issues related to counterparty performance in the portfolio.

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor Degree required. Master’s degree, a plus. Finance related studies, including commercial credit training, a plus.
• Minimum of ten years progressively responsible experience in commercial lending or related financial services; experience in SME lending preferred. Agricultural lending experience, a plus.
• Excellent financial analysis and credit structuring skills; prior credit approval experience, a plus.
• 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%).
• Bilingual English/Spanish required. French fluency, a plus.

Applications

More information about Root Capital is available at www.rootcapital.org. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply using the form below as soon as possible, making sure to include a resume and cover letter that describes your interest, qualifications, language abilities, salary requirements, and how you learned of the position. Finalist candidates will be required to provide at least three work-related references.

Root Capital provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, active military or veteran status, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth, and breastfeeding and expressing breast milk), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Root Capital is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that upholds our leadership principles of: empowerment, equity, integrity, service, and transparency.