Senior Technical Advisor, Commercial Lending Partnerships

About the role

The Senior Technical Advisor (STA) leads commercial lending partnerships to expand capital access for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in water‑smart agriculture, drinking water and sanitation across Central America. This remote position works closely with CRS’s global innovative finance unit, regional teams and commercial banks to design and scale financing solutions.

Key responsibilities

• Lead CRS strategy for strengthening commercial lending partnerships as mechanisms for inclusive SME financing.
• Develop and oversee strategic relationships with leading commercial banks and financial institutions in the region.
• Serve as CRS’s technical lead on lending solutions such as guarantees, first‑loss structures, subordinated loans and technical assistance.
• Develop and document approaches, tools and guidance adaptable across CRS regions and country programs.
• Lead readiness and capacity‑strengthening efforts for regional and country teams to engage financial institutions.
• Promote cross‑regional learning and knowledge exchange related to commercial lending partnerships.
• Support initiatives like Azure, Isidro Fund and Blue Harvest to unlock local lending from commercial banks.
• Provide technical leadership in proposal development, project design and program management.
• Contribute to CRS’s knowledge‑management and learning agenda for innovative finance.

Required profile

• Proven experience in commercial lending, SME finance, or innovative finance.
• Strong understanding of banking priorities, risk appetite, lending restrictions and operational incentives.
• Experience working with development programs and multi‑country contexts.
• Ability to design, document and adapt financing structures and guidance.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and capacity‑building skills.

Required skills