Head Of Innovative Finance Partnerships

Mission to Metrics

The mission of The Ocean Cleanup is to develop and scale technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic.

The Funding and Partnerships team ensures this mission can be achieved by fueling the growth of the organization. Identifying and building the right partnerships that strengthen and complement our organization and identifying the right financing mechanisms to secure funding for our ocean and river operations are the core focus of the team. The team has three focus areas: Innovative Finance, Corporate Partnerships, and Philanthropy. We are currently looking for a new Head of Innovative Finance Partnerships.

The Assignment

The Ocean Cleanup is gearing up to unlock substantial funding opportunities to secure financial readiness for scale-up. To achieve this, the organization has started building a sound portfolio of sustainable income streams from philanthropy and corporate partnerships. With the Global Plastic Treaty coming into place and the political momentum to add government and institutional funding to this, our blue economy funding portfolio is also taking shape. Anticipating this broadening and evolving blue economy environment, it is key for The Ocean Cleanup to also develop innovative finance instruments and partnerships with the public and private sector that can bring in the right combination of resources, investments, and expertise needed to deliver on our goals in line with global objectives and needs.

Responsibilities

• As the head of innovative finance you will add value to our mission through the following responsibilities:
• Lead the design, development, and implementation of innovative financial instruments to accelerate the financial growth of The Ocean Cleanup
  • Build a strategic pipeline of financial instruments and institutions to explore
  • Coordinate and liaise with the different departments within The Ocean Cleanup to ensure effective implementation of both the instruments and the partnerships
• Lead strategic partnerships and institutional relations with private sector partners focused on the financial sector
• Build and manage the innovative finance team that
  • Keeps track of reporting requirements and ensure timely reporting.
  • Key focal point managing the day-to-day relationships.
  • Coordinating due diligence and impact studies underpinning the development of the financial instruments.

Personal Qualifications

• You have a strong intrinsic motivation to join our mission
• You are a go-getter
• Academic level of thinking and communication skills, preferably with a university degree in business administration, economics, finance
• Preferably international experience and associated cultural sensitivity.
• Excellent communication skills
• Accurate and structured
• Fluent in English and preferably multiple languages

Professional Qualifications

Even if you don’t meet every professional qualification listed, we strongly encourage you to apply if you believe you have the right skills, experience, and motivation to contribute to our mission. We recognize that talent and potential come in many forms, and we value diverse perspectives and unconventional career paths. If you’re passionate about the work we do and confident in your ability to make an impact, don’t hesitate to submit your application—we’d love to hear from you.

• >10-year experience as a ‘hands-on’ in business and partnership development and management in an international financial organization or institution. This includes experience in the financial industry and solid knowledge of working areas such as blended finance, impact investments, concessional loans, setting up investments platforms, Multi Donor Trust Funds (MDTF), impact bond development
• Experience in international business development in a corporate financial environment proving an ability to secure large-scale (financial) arrangements, deals or partnerships
• Proven ability and track record in designing and implementing successful (complex) structures to enable different parties to join The Ocean Cleanup’s mission
• Solid understanding of legal and financial partnership structures including governance and the dynamics of risk management
• Solid experience in navigating complex situations, identifying key challenges and risks
• Ability to build and develop relationships with key stakeholders, clients, and sponsors at the most senior levels, preferably with both private and public sectors

• Proven track record in driving operational excellence, enabling teams to deliver on defined goals and creating a winning mindset in a demanding and fast-paced environment
• Successful, significant, and relevant achievements at management level in international organizations
• Leading relevant (project-based) teams to achieve new partnerships and products
• Proven track record of having built, managed, and led programs, projects, and teams, preferably of the size of The Ocean Cleanup or larger
• Experience in managing internal stakeholders teams
• Experience in – and understanding of - technology and innovation-driven challenges and ability to prioritize needs and decisions, often on a daily, operational basis, and to develop team and organization by delegating responsibilities on the appropriate levels
• Experience and comfortable for fast-paced, complex, and dynamic environments