Director, Investment Portfolio at Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF)

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities;

• Oversee and direct the overall strategic direction of the AECF investment portfolio across AECF operations;
• Provides technical expertise to assure alignment of the AECF’s portfolio with evolving sector development policies, government development objectives, other donor programs, and foreign policy priorities;
• Continued development of business practices and investment analysis within AECF;
• Ongoing support and oversight for the development of progress and social impact indicators for portfolio investments and for the organization itself;
• Lead and guide the development of policies and processes for investment, investee reporting, risk analysis, portfolio analysis and management, investor reporting and compliance;
• Provide technical and organizational leadership on the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of investment portfolio management activities from program design, competition, selection and contracting, portfolio management, learning and knowledge development activities;
• Develop the business case, strategy, capitalization and operating structures and systems for new financial instruments for AECF;
• Redesign AECF alternative services product (Technical Assistance, Connect and Exchange) strategy and formulation, with emphasis on significantly improving the performance of portfolio companies, enhancing investor readiness for seed and early growth stage investees and facilitating B2B knowledge sharing and learning among portfolio companies;
• Alongside the Impact team oversee the development of progress and social impact indicators for portfolio investment and ensure best-in-class financial and social impact monitoring of portfolio companies;
• Coordinate efforts and strategies with other departments, multilateral and bilateral donor agencies, investors and international development organizations around social impact and the performance of our investment;
• Build a high performing and engaged investment portfolio team and ensure AECF has in place the right team skills and competencies to manage the investments portfolio.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Investment or related relevant areas required;
• 10 -15 plus years of experience working with private sector businesses in a development context, including experience with one or more of the following: grant and debt investments, provision of financial guarantees; delivery of business development services, private equity or venture capital, and development impact assessment in private sector impact investments preferably in emerging markets;
• Experience in directly engaging with early and growth stage business in the agribusiness or renewable energy sectors, including as an entrepreneur or business manager, funding and fund raising;
• Background managing portfolios and multiple programs of more than $10 million each;
• Strong financial and business analysis skills as demonstrated by prior experience;
• Demonstrated track record of strong collaborative and ethical leadership in a global environment. Having achieved remarkable outputs in effective ways, working well to develop and motivate staff to achieve superior results. They must have the ability to coach, mentor, inspire and grow the teams;
• 5+ years of senior leadership working experience in sub-Saharan Africa which includes a solid track record of leading teams of 10+ people, including leading geographically dispersed teams;
• Strong well-established networks of trusted professional colleagues to enable the due diligence process and to facilitate business development conversations for our investees;
• Able to bring creative new approaches and diverse solutions. Willing to take calculated risks to influence the adoption of fresh ideas and approaches;
• Interpersonal skills as demonstrated by an ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and partners in multi-cultural, multi-institutional and high-pressure settings;
• Commitment to and enthusiasm for AECF’s mission and business model and respect for the organization’s core values; and
• Advanced working competence in the English language essential. French and/or Portuguese will be an added advantage.