IDB3382 – Lead Islamic Finance Specialist

Job Purpose:

Under the supervision of the Center’s Head:

• To serve as the lead expert of the Center in Islamic Economy and Finance and shape the Center’s strategy on Islamic Finance in Malaysia and other MCs.
• Lead the work around regulatory frameworks, Shariah governance/compliance issues, digitalization efforts, and innovative product development as well as providing advisory, research, and dissemination of knowledge and expertise via training and conducting sessions in conferences and seminars.
• To Advise and facilitate efforts undertaken to develop and enhance the Islamic finance ecosystem in Malaysia and other IsDB Member Countries and Non-Member Countries.
• To lead market analysis, including identifying gaps either in the ecosystem, industry, or Islamic financial products aspects and offer viable solutions to fill in those gaps including via recommendation of strategic measures and capacity building.
• To lead the complete cycle of the Center’s Islamic Finance Portfolio, from identification to closure and evaluation,
• To guide the use of Islamic Finance solutions in various sectors such as social finance, financial inclusion, climate action, health, or other real economic sector development in Malaysia and other IsDB Member Countries.
• To lead the development of the Center’s Islamic Finance initiatives within the approved costs, timelines, and quality to ensure efficient delivery of the Center’s mandate.
• To contribute to the Center’s policies and guidelines as well as to the knowledge management agenda.
• To contribute to strengthening the KLCoE partnerships, mobilize financial and human resources for the initiatives of KLCoE, and facilitate collaboration with other GPP departments.

Key Accountabilities:

Strategic and Operational Planning:

• Lead the development and effective implementation of the KLCoE and Malaysia Realigned Strategy.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the Country Engagement Framework for Malaysia
• Lead the development/improvement and implementation of the Center’s Mandate and initiatives in Islamic Finance to raise awareness and increase the visibility of partnership and interagency coordination work both internally and externally.
• Provide inputs to the development of the annual work plans and budget allocation for the Center.
• Provide expert-level inputs in the development of strategic objectives and annual business plan for the Islamic Finance Ecosystem pillar of the center.

Islamic Finance Leadership and Product Development:

• Coordinate the facilitation of collaborative initiatives between KLCoE with Malaysian stakeholders as well as Member Countries to develop pioneering Islamic finance solutions for socio-economic progress.
• Lead the conduct of sectoral analyses to identify Islamic finance ecosystem development avenues in Malaysia and other Member Countries.
• Lead the management of the full cycle of the Center’s initiative portfolios; starting from concept development, concept review and appraisal, implementation, monitoring success, lessons learned, improvements identified, and reporting.
• In coordination with the concerned departments within IsDB, contribute to policy dialogues with the Member Countries for the development of Islamic Finance within the scope of the Center’s mandate.
• Support the development of Islamic banking, Islamic capital markets, Islamic insurance, Islamic microfinance, Islamic social finance, Islamic fintech, Digital Banking, and Digital Takaful and undertake activities required to create an enabling environment for the development of these sectors.
• Undertake surveys and studies of the various products and services being offered in the Islamic Financial Industry as well as the Conventional Financing Industry to develop strategies and processes for the new Islamic Financial Products (IFPs) and Instruments.
• Drive the development of new IFPs by keeping track of the latest industry trends and advancements including Islamic Fintech and Artificial Intelligence.
• Assess the existing IFPs and instruments offered in the Islamic Finance Industry for their sustained performance and to suggest improvements.
• Lead in the development of innovative IFPs, services, and solutions for regulatory and supervisory authorities, Islamic Financial Institutions, other public or private sector entities in Malaysia and other IsDB Member Countries.

Promotion:

• In coordination with the concerned departments within IsDB, contribute to policy dialogues with Malaysia and other Member Countries for the development of Islamic Finance and promoting intra-regional Islamic financial integration.
• Support in the development of Islamic capital markets and undertake activities required to create an enabling environment for the development of Islamic capital markets.

Research, Innovation and Knowledge Sharing:

Undertake innovative analytical work individually or in collaboration with partners within the Islamic Finance sector.

Develop tools and systems to monitor Islamic finance industry developments.

Lead the development of knowledge products, reviews, briefs, and updates related to Islamic Finance and the initiatives undertaken by the Center, independently and in coordination with other entities of IsDB.

Conceptualize innovative Islamic Finance instruments, products, and services based on the market and stakeholders’ needs, at multilateral, national, institutional, or organizational level.

Provide advice and technical inputs to peers and colleagues in Islamic Finance related issues.

Contribute to the development and delivery of training programs on Islamic Economics, Banking and Finance to relevant people both within and outside IsDB.

Partnership Development and Execution / Stakeholders’ relationship management:

• Expand and deepen partnerships with the Malaysian organizations, international institutions, and intergovernmental organizations, as well as regional and to deliver new delivery channels for developmental activities.
• Build a network of collaborative alliances with public and private entities to tap their technical and financial resources for the achievement of the common objectives in member countries.
• Market partnership opportunities with existing as well as prospective development partners, regional and thematic operations and programs in-order to support the development and implementation of the Center’s initiatives.
• Prepare and negotiate Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with international institutions, intergovernmental organizations, as well as regional and local organizations and NGOs and developmental organizations and companies in MC and non-MCs with close co-ordination with the concerned units within IsDB Group.
• Lead and closely monitor the implementation of the MOUs signed by the Center and IsDB with international institutions and other strategic partnership arrangements (e.g., Cooperation MoUs, Co-financing Agreements, Implementation Agreements) to ensure mainstreaming into daily operations.
• Lead the development and dissemination of partner intelligence reports and inventory of best practices in the area of partnerships in-order to research and conceptualize latest trends in partnership activities and initiatives.
• Supervise and coordinate the relationships with the external stakeholders to ensure timely and proactive coordination, monitoring, and facilitation of the Center’s Islamic finance initiatives.
• Act as direct entry point for potential partners and build institutional relationships.
• Lead the development and implementation of a system and measurable metrices to gauge the satisfaction level of the stakeholders.

Academic and Professional Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Islamic Finance, or related fields.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in Islamic Finance advisory/product development.
• 3 years of managerial/supervisory experience.

Skills & Necessary Knowledge:

• Advanced and Proven knowledge Islamic finance, product development, and sharia knowledge.
• Experience in Climate Action and Fintech is desirable
• Ability to undertake and lead major research initiative
• Well versed in econometrics and statistical methods
• Strong Quantitative and Analytical thinking
• Attention to details, Accurate and methodical
• Knowledge of IDB’s products and services.
• Strong Communication skills
• Ability to connect and Build Relationships
• Passion for Excellence
• Problem Solving

Languages:

• English – Mandatory
• Arabic – Preferred
• French – Preferred