Financial Transaction Advisor (FTA) - USAID Economic Foundation for Resilient Armenia (EFRA)

WSP is currently initiating a search for Financial Transaction Advisor (FTA) for the upcoming USAID Economic Foundation for Resilient Armenia (EFRA).

USAID EFRA will enhance Armenia’s economic security and ability to take advantage of periods of economic growth and navigate economic downturns. It will strengthen key economic actors within both the public and private sector to exercise economic stewardship and ultimately build a resilient Armenian economy.  The FTA will play a lead role in managing the activities related to Component 3 of the EFRA and provide expert advice in his/her technical area.

The FTA must have experience and proven abilities in development finance, investment mobilization, financial sector advisory, and transaction origination.  The FTA will be based in Yerevan, Armenia with frequent in-country trips.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement an integrated Investment Mobilization Platform to unlock private capital and catalyze investment in tourism, agriculture, and high-tech sectors.  The Platform will catalyze investment flows to high growth enterprises (anchor firms and other SMEs) and promising start-ups with high growth and job creation potentials.
• Lead the design and conducting of an investment landscape analysis to map key stakeholders for attracting investment, assess the local advisory services availability.
• Identify and engage a broad array of finance providers (banks, PE, VC, diaspora) interested in opportunities in the target sectors, collaborate with them in development of new financial products (e.g., blended finance instruments) to better meet market needs.
• Lead the design and deployment of catalytic funding mechanisms that incentivize finance providers to extend capital to businesses in the target sectors by using USAID-provided funding (grants) and leveraging other catalytic fund sources, such as impact/patient capital, DFIs, MDFI’s and other donor funding.
• Lead the engagement with and capacity building of local transaction advisors (BASPs) and intermediaries to generate a pipeline of investment deals using performance-based grants and technical assistance. 
• Lead the design and structuring of innovative financial transactions and support firms’ investment readiness in the capital raise process through developing investment materials, project design and development, due diligence and other assessments, financial and budgeting review, and technical partnerships.
• Work effectively with national governments, private sector entities, and industry/sectoral associations/community stakeholders and manage complex activities involving coordination with multiple partner institutions.

Required Qualifications:

• Combined experience in the public or private sectors attracting investment, facilitating business linkages and partnerships, and/or working on impactful economic development programs.
• Preference will be given to the breadth and depth of experience with evidence of achieving measurable results and the ability to tap existing networks of contacts for engagement and results.
• Demonstrated ability to engage businesses and private sector stakeholders and lead innovative and market-led approaches to development issues.
• Exceptional communication, relationship building, networking and interpersonal skills.
• An advanced degree in economics, business administration, finance or investment, international development, or another relevant field. A combination of Ph.D. degree and 8 years of experience, or master’s degree and 12 years of relevant experience required. At least 15 years of experiences is required for candidate with BS/BA degree. Candidates with less than BS/BA degree must possess a minimum of 20 years of direct relevant experiences.
• Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in Armenian is desirable, but not required.
• Prior service with USAID funded projects of comparable scale and complexity strongly preferred.
• This position is contingent upon WSP being selected for a contract or program we are currently pursuing as well as contingent upon client approval.

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the transportation, buildings, energy, water and environment sectors. With nearly 9,500 people in 150 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper. www.wsp.com/usa

WSP USA (and all of its US companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status