Open Positions

We have has several openings for leadership positions on the Core Council and a number of general volunteer positions to help with projects on an as-needed basis. Read on for details about our organization and position descriptions.

ABOUT THE TEAM
The Kiva New York Lending Team is looking for a few good men and women to join its Core Council and lead our organization into the next phase of its success, building on the momentum we have built to date. Several of our key members are departing for uncharted waters to pursue MBAs, new careers, and the elusive but not illusive goal of eradicating world poverty. As a team, we:

  • Are 2,140 members strong
  • Have raised more than $13,000 toward microfinance loans across the world
  • Have collectively loaned $657,075 to entrepreneurs in developing countries
  • Are active in educating and networking the New York-area community interested in microfinance and economic development

ABOUT KIVA
Kiva is a non-profit organization that connects lenders all over the world with entrepreneurs through local Microfinance Institutions (MFIs). Lenders can lend $25 or more to help entrepreneurs start or expand their businesses, ranging from buying a cow to opening a gym.

WHO WE ARE
We are a team of volunteers and lenders based out of the New York area. We organize events to raise money for Kiva and introduce the Kiva concept to more New Yorkers. In the past several years, we have raised more than $13,000 to fund loans and organized exciting events such as wine tastings, the Kiva 5K Run, and the Microfinance Matters Speaker Series. We also actively work to build relationships with like-minded organizations in the area, such as Acumen Fund and ACCION.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
If you have experience with organizing events, fundraising, and leading teams, we want you. Familiarity with the KIVA lending structure is a plus but not required. Above all, if you are interested in economic development, believe in the Kiva mission, microfinance in general, and are looking for a great opportunity to volunteer with a first-in-class organization that at the same time affords you the flexibility to develop your own goals, grow the team, and write your own ticket, this is for you. We are looking for leaders who can start on day one.

These are unpaid, volunteer positions. Depending on the goals of the team and the initiatives we launch together, the Kiva New York Lending Team requires no more than 10-15 hours per month commitment for at at least six months.

POSITION DESCRIPTIONS

  • Team Captain (Open) - Currently Valbona Bushi, Outgoing
    • The Team Captain sets the overall strategy for accomplishing the Kiva New York Lending Team’s mission goals. He or she is present at all monthly planning meetings, drafts the agenda, and ensures that team initiatives are accomplished. Responsibilities include setting up our monthly meetings, managing relationships with partners as needed, and checking in with the rest of the team to make sure other Captains are well resourced and projects are pacing according to plan. This position is ideal for individuals who are well organized, masters of time management, and natural team leaders. If you love to motivate and have leadership experience, this position is perfect for you.
  • Team Co-Captain (Open) - Currently Anastasia Uglova, Outgoing
    • The Team Co-Captain serves as the primary support resource for other Captains of the team and works closely with the Team Captain to ensure that team initiatives pace according to plan. In the event that the Team Captain is unavailable, the Team Co-Captain serves in his or her absence to set up monthly meetings, manage relationships, and check in with the rest of the team. In addition to being well organized, mastering time management, and motivating the team, you are a natural sounding board, enjoy acting as consigliere, and are eager to assist and advise.
  • Communications Captain (Open) - Currently Valbona Bushi, Outgoing
    • The Communications Captain is responsible for the monthly newsletter, updating the lending team at large through Kiva.org, and managing site and blog content.  He or she is also the main contact on our team Gmail account, answering emails, engaging other members of the team when necessary, reaching out to current Kiva lenders to join our team, and welcoming new lenders who have joined. In addition to possessing great writing and organization skills, you communicate ideas clearly, are quick to reply to emails, and can keep pace with a steady flow of inquiries, messages, and blog comments.
  • Marketing Captain (Open) - Currently Anastasia Uglova, Outgoing
    • The Marketing Captain curates the team’s branding and voice, develops relationships with partner organizations through active outreach, and grows our social media presence. The ideal candidate is an avid Twitter user, will keep our Facebook page updated, and will manage our social media accounts across the various networks, including LinkedIn, Meetup, and other properties as needed. This position is great for anyone who is a social media maven with a flair for writing and an infectious sense of humor that comes through in the written word. If you are naturally social, enjoy growing organizations, and love coming up with new initiatives, this position is for you.
  • Technology Captain (Filled) - Vijay Raghuraman
    • The Technology Captain maintains the team website, tracks and analyzes data, writes custom scripts, interfaces with the tech and product teams at Kiva HQ, and serves as an indispensible resource for anything the team requires from a technology standpoint. Key to this position is the ability to review web analytics and increase traffic to our website. If you are an accomplished coder, readily crunch numbers and come up with custom hacks, and love tinkering with web technology, welcome to the team!
  • Finance Captains (Filled) - Kevin Mihelic and Craig Budzynski
    • The Finance Captains manage the team’s budgets and finances, know our fundraising goals and numbers, and interface with legal advisers and financial contacts. An important part of your role is organizing the Kiva New York Lending Team’s efforts toward becoming a 501(c)3 organization and doing the necessary research, paperwork, and due diligence to meet that goal. You are a numbers ninja, perform complicated calculations in your head, and have an uncanny knowledge of financial and tax arcana that baffles most people.
  • Event Planning Captains (by Event)
    • The Event Planning Captains collaborate to organize the Kiva New York Lending Team’s fundraising events and social calendar. This involves working with outside vendors, managing budgets, and running the events. Initiatives include the Kiva 5K Run, Wine Tasting fundraisers, happy hours, and other events as they come up. This person is meticulously organized, enjoys talking to others and planning fun events, and knows how to get the best deal in town.
      • Event: Wine Tasting – Peter Janki and Mike Manese
      • Event: Run4Kiva - Kevin Mihelic, Christina Gavin, Andrea Koleck
      • Event: 6 Microfinance Matters Speaker Series - Anastasia Uglova (outgoing)
      • Event: 6 informal social hours - Mike Manese
  • Team Leads (Rolling) - Stephanie Peng (outgoing), Christina Gavin, Andrea Koleck, Mary Bustin, Nate Folkert
    • Team Leads take on a variety of roles as needed based on the initiatives and commitments that Captains and members set as a team. You may be asked to help organize an event, do outreach, crunch numbers, help with marketing materials, or write for our team website. These positions can be as large or as small as you want them to be, and afford you the flexibility to rise quickly within the Core Council to take on increasing responsibilities. If you are interested in Kiva, microfinance, economic development, or are simply looking for an opportunity to volunteer for a good cause with great people, join our team!

CORE COUNCIL APPLICATION
If you are interested in any of the above positions, please fill out the brief application below and email kivanewyork@gmail.com by May 15, 2012. We will have an orientation session on Saturday, May 19, 2012. Decisions will be made shortly thereafter. All are welcome!

Please list your desired Core Council positions in order of preference.

Please list any microfinance-related involvements that you would like to share. You can include conferences you attended, seminars and/or classes taken, school clubs, and other professional circles.

What do you love? Anything from peanut butter to space flight are perfectly legitimate answers.

Please answer the below questions in approximately 200 words.

1. Why are you interested in the position, and what strengths can you bring?

2. Good time management is an essential skill. How many hours do you believe you can commit realistically (please provide range assuming worst- and best-case scenarios) and how do you envision balancing this extracurricular commitment with your professional and/or academic engagements?