Senior Director, Consumer Protection

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Oversee CFI’s consumer protection research initiatives that analyze new business models, market incentives, provider practices, fraud, and scams impacting low-income consumers.

• Convert research insights into informative products, actionable recommendations, and sustainable pilot solutions.

• Provide technical expertise for CFI’s strategic gatherings and industry collaborations.

• Align research agendas with the themes of convenings, expert involvement, and subsequent opportunities.

• Act as CFI’s main technical authority on consumer protection matters.

• Formulate and execute CFI’s consumer protection strategy.

• Identify new challenges and opportunities in consumer financial protection to shape policy and industry standards.

• Supervise team members and consultants who produce research and knowledge materials.

• Manage research methodologies, ensure quality control, conduct ethical reviews, and guarantee timely completion.

• Engage with consumer protection stakeholders and represent CFI at key industry events.

• Collaborate with Accion’s partnerships and growth team on research funding, proposal development, donor engagement, and reporting.

• Foster interdepartmental relationships within Accion to align research and learning efforts.

• Set the technical agenda for consumer protection gatherings, including the Responsible Finance Forum and PROTECT Talk series.

• Create evidence-based themes and session content while involving subject matter experts.

• Utilize participant feedback and follow-up engagement to evaluate relevance and guide future programming.

• Establish and maintain relationships with global policy organizations such as the G20, GPFI, and UN.

• Travel is expected to be around 25% of the time.

• Report directly to CFI’s Deputy Managing Director.

⛳️ Requirements

• A minimum of 12 years of relevant experience in consumer protection, financial-sector policy, applied research, or similar fields.

• Proven leadership in research projects and stakeholder engagement.

• An advanced degree in a pertinent technical or functional area is preferred.

• Experience in project management, including overseeing multiple concurrent workstreams, managing timelines and resources, and tracking deliverables.

• Capability to guide research from initial conception through to dissemination and implementation.

• Proficiency in identifying business, legal, ethical, and reputational risks and coordinating risk mitigation strategies.

• Strong foundation in applied policy research and analysis.

• Extensive knowledge in financial consumer protection, financial-sector policy, or related domains.

• Experience in designing and conducting policy research, including comparative analyses of regulatory frameworks and market practices.

• Expertise in either quantitative or qualitative research methodologies, or both.

• A proven history of research in financial services or consumer protection, ideally in both areas, demonstrated through publications, knowledge products, or verified contributions.

• Experience in managing Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals.

• Certification in Human Subjects Research, or progress towards it.

• Ability to inspire and lead teams of staff and consultants.

• Skill in translating complex research into clear strategic guidance for C-suite executives and senior decision-makers.

• Track record of developing organizational and industry initiatives and cultivating collaborative relationships.

• Dedication to mentoring colleagues through coaching, constructive feedback, delegation, and providing leadership opportunities.

• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

• Must not require employer-sponsored work visas or other forms of employment authorization.

🏝️ Benefits

• Discretionary merit-based bonus.

• Health insurance with 90% employer funding.

• Life and disability insurance.

• Retirement plans with up to 7.5% employer match.

• Paid holidays.

• Paid time off for vacation, personal days, and sick leave.

• Reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities.