City Finance Lead

Position: City Finance Lead

Location: New York City preferred, remote candidates (U.S. or Global) considered

Status: Full-time fixed-term employment for 12 months with potential for renewal 

Compensation: $100,000 - $120,000/annum, commensurate with qualifications

BACKGROUND

The Mayors Migration Council (MMC) is a mayor-led coalition that accelerates ambitious global action on migration and displacement. With most of the world’s migrants and displaced people living in cities, our mission is to use the power of city diplomacy and city practice to create a world where urban migrants, displaced people, and receiving communities can thrive. 

To achieve our mission, we provide mayors with advocacy, coordination, and communications support to influence policy decisions at the national and international level, and connect city governments to the knowledge, technical, and financial resources they need to accelerate and scale local solutions.

Created by mayors for mayors, we are a nimble team of political advisors and urban practitioners guided by a Leadership Board of global city leaders, including the Mayors of Amman, Bogotá Freetown, Kampala, Kuala Lumpur, Milan, Montréal, San Antonio, and Zürich.  We are managed as a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and operate with the institutional support of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the IKEA Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and the Robert Bosch Stiftung, in addition to other donors.

The City Practice Portfolio

Our City Practice program supports mayors and city governments in implementing and accelerating local actions for migrant, displaced, and diaspora communities. To achieve this, we produce practical research, offer technical assistance, and drive financial resources to cities—either directly through our Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees or indirectly by connecting cities with donors, financial institutions, or investors. 

By showcasing city leadership in action, we build evidence of effective city-led solutions. This evidence strengthens our advocacy, enabling us to influence decision-makers and address systemic policy and financial barriers, helping mayors scale local solutions and accelerate global responses.

THE POSITION

The City Finance Lead will drive the MMC’s efforts to unlock funding and financing for cities addressing the needs of migrants and refugees. This role involves designing and executing the MMC’s municipal finance strategy to improve city access to funding and financing for migrants and refugees. This includes developing innovative programs for cities and forging strategic partnerships with financial institutions, donors, and investors,

Reporting to the Director of City Practice with a dotted line to the Director of Policy and Advocacy, the City Finance Lead will serve as the MMC’s primary liaison with multilateral development banks and other financing and funding institutions. The role also includes providing technical advice to cities and donors, leading advocacy and research to address financial barriers, facilitating knowledge sharing, and shaping the global narrative on city finance for migrants and refugees.

The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial and strategic thinker with a proven track record in securing funding or financing for local governments. They will bring expertise in engaging with  financing and funding institutions (e.g., philanthropies, government donors, multilateral development banks, private sector), strong project management and communication skills, and a solid understanding of global urban migration and displacement policy.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy and Program Development

• Design and implement the MMC’s municipal finance strategy to improve city access to funding and financing for migrants and refugees.
• Develop and manage targeted programs, including support for Leadership Board cities and Global Cities Fund grantees, to strengthen cities’ capacity to secure financial resources.
• Pilot innovative tools, mechanisms, and matchmaking approaches to connect city needs with donors, financial institutions, and investors.

Technical Assistance and Capacity Building

• Provide tailored guidance to city governments on proposal development, fundraising, and navigating financial opportunities.
• Develop tools, resources, and trainings to enhance city governments’ capacity to access funding and financing.
• Advise donors, financial institutions, and investors on directly funding city-led solutions for migrants and refugees.

Partnerships and Engagement

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with multilateral development banks, donors, philanthropies, investors, and financial institutions to unlock resources for cities.
• Serve as the MMC’s primary liaison to financial institutions and global funding mechanisms, advocating for city-focused finance solutions.
• Convene city governments, donors, and financing partners to foster collaboration and mobilize direct support for migrant- and refugee-focused initiatives.

Advocacy

• Influence global financing frameworks by shaping advocacy statements and contributions that promote accessible funding and financing mechanisms for cities.
• Secure MMC representation on advisory committees and governance platforms to influence the design and delivery of external funding instruments.
• Represent the MMC in global forums, working groups, and high-level convenings to elevate city leadership on migration and displacement finance.

Research and Knowledge Sharing

• Lead research to identify financial barriers and opportunities for cities, ensuring the MMC remains at the forefront of municipal finance trends and solutions.
• Produce evidence-based content, including case studies, reports, and success stories, to showcase effective municipal finance approaches.
• Facilitate peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange among cities, donors, and partners to share innovations and best practices in municipal finance.

Special Projects and Executive Support

• Lead special projects and events that advance the City Practice portfolio and MMC’s overall mission.
• Support MMC leadership by preparing high-quality briefing materials for decision-making, media engagement, and global events.
• Contribute to monitoring and evaluation efforts to measure MMC’s impact on unlocking funding and financing for migration and displacement initiatives.

Requirements

• Post-graduate degree in public administration, municipal finance, economics, international development, or a related field.

• At least seven to ten years of relevant, full-time experience in the humanitarian and/or development sector, with a proven track record of securing funding and/or financing for local governments.
• Experience engaging with multilateral development banks, donors, philanthropies, and private sector investors.
• Strong knowledge of municipal finance tools, funding mechanisms, and innovative financing approaches (e.g., grants, loans, blended finance).
• Working knowledge of development bank operations, such as sovereign guarantees, feasibility studies, technical assistance models, etc. 
• Proven ability to influence global, national, or institutional financing frameworks and advocate for city-led solutions.
• Experience representing organizations in high-level forums, working groups, or governance platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to design, manage, and implement programs and initiatives that deliver measurable outcomes.
• Outstanding written, verbal, and analytical skills including editing, presentation development, and fast and effective research capabilities.
• Ability to influence and motivate others to achieve objectives and solve problems creatively.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills and intercultural knowledge and appreciation.
• Genuine passion for urban innovation and commitment to the protection, inclusion, and equity of migrants and displaced populations worldwide.
• Ability to work independently with a decentralized team while maintaining a collegial, team- oriented working style.
• Comfort managing simultaneous projects in fast-paced environments and a demonstrated ability to meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Fluency in English, fluency in Spanish or French preferred.

Benefits

Pay Range: For New York City, the compensation is $100,000-$120,000, with commensurate options for other global locations. The range listed is one component of the total compensation package for employees.

We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, including health coverage, retirement benefits, paid sick leave, vacation and holidays, and access to professional development resources.

APPLICATION PROCESS

In order to be considered, all applications must include a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications and your resume. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and are due no later than Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 9:00AM ET.

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is an equal opportunity employer.

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors celebrates the uniqueness of our staff, our partners, and the communities we serve. We are committed to inclusion with the goal of cultivating a culture of belonging and acceptance. We strive to embed this value in our philanthropic work to advance a more just, equitable and sustainable world.