Associate Director, Funds & Programs at Caribou (Remote) - Job of the Day
One interesting job a day.
I created this sub-publication to share roles that might be interesting to my coaching and workshop clients. Mostly one job a day, mostly remote, mostly hiring for other roles as well, and always interesting.
Excerpt:
Caribou is a global, remote-first consultancy working at the intersection of technology, inclusion, and impact. With a team of 50+ people across 20+ countries, we partner with foundations, companies, and governments to reimagine and deliver impact in a digital age.
This Associate Director is a key position within the Funds & Programs area, combining deep expertise in catalytic grant capital with direct responsibility for designing, managing, and delivering complex global funding vehicles.
The role plays a leading part in shaping how Caribou designs, runs and evolves our catalytic grantmaking programs to support early-stage innovators, entrepreneurs, small businesses and their end-users across diverse global contexts. It sits at the intersection of impact, innovation finance, and delivery, bringing in-depth understanding of inclusive and innovative grantmaking within the wider private sector development and impact investment ecosystem, and a strong point of view on how grants interact with other forms of concessional and commercial finance. We are looking for someone who is fluent in how innovative instruments— particularly returnable grants, first-loss guarantees and zero-interest loans— sit within commercial and blended finance ecosystems, and is comfortable designing funding vehicles that go beyond traditional non-returnable grants.
This individual will be personally involved in the operational realities of running funds: pipeline development, funding decisions, contracting, portfolio problem-solving, risk management, and the practical challenges that arise in live global programs. They will also act as a trusted advisor to clients and internal teams, helping to design new funds, navigate ambiguity, and ensure Caribou’s grantmaking practice is rigorous, founder-friendly, and fit for purpose across different donor and market contexts.
This is a senior role for someone who combines strategic thinking with deep operational credibility, who enjoys rolling up their sleeves as much as setting direction, and who stays close enough to delivery to ensure what is designed actually works in practice.
Key Responsibilities
Portfolio & fund management
Own and manage a portfolio of digital impact programming, global innovation funds and concessional finance programs with accountability for delivery quality, outcomes, risk and client relationships.
Remain directly involved in core funding processes, including selection, due diligence, contracting, implementation, portfolio monitoring, and course correction.
Act as a trusted advisor to selected grantees, supporting business model thinking, sustainability planning, and pathways beyond grant funding.
Funding practice & methodology
Contribute to and evolve Caribou’s funding methodologies, standards, and operating practices, grounded in a strong understanding of funding within the wider private sector development and impact investment landscapes.
Actively explore and develop approaches that go beyond traditional philanthropic grant models, such as the potential for Caribou to deploy returnable capital instruments and to manage revolving funds where appropriate for the context and client.
Set clear guidance on fund design, selection, portfolio construction, and founder support that help early-stage innovators and entrepreneurs strengthen business models, governance, and sustainability.
Program operations
Personally engage in funding contracts, amendments, and restructures where senior attention is required, particularly in complex, ambiguous, or high-risk delivery contexts.
Ensure disciplined, audit-ready operational practice across portfolios, while remaining pragmatic and delivery-focused.
Strengthen systems and workflows to raise consistency, visibility, and delivery standards across Caribou’s grant and funding based initiatives.
Commercial & organizational contributions
Shape and cost new funds and delivery models, including contributing to or writing budgets where required.
Identify opportunities to deepen existing client work or extend Caribou’s funds & programs offer where it adds genuine value.
Support business development activities by identifying new clients and fostering relationships, promoting Caribou’s capabilities within senior client conversations, and bringing delivery-grounded credibility to proposal development.
People, values & ways of working
Coach and develop Managers working on funds and grant portfolios while managing upwards and downwards with clarity and consistency.
Improve others’ effectiveness through people leadership, technical leadership, and shared judgement.
Actively improve how teams work together by giving clear feedback, unblocking issues, and strengthening shared ways of working.
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