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PORTFOLIO MANAGER
Acumen East Africa seeks a committed Portfolio Manager to help manage and build an investment portfolio of game-changing enterprises that provide goods and services to poor in East Africa.
Acumen
Acumen started as an idea. Fourteen years later we have a proven model that combines the best of charity and markets to change the way the world tackles poverty.
Acumen is a non-profit venture fund with a vision to help build a world beyond poverty through investing in companies that deliver critical goods and services in water, health, housing, energy, agriculture, and education; leaders who are paving the way for new approaches to fighting poverty; and the spread of ideas that will give the world the knowledge and the understanding to create a world beyond poverty.
Passion, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to tackling the issue of global poverty are just a few of the things that the staff at Acumen have in common. What we aim to accomplish with our work is no easy task, and we need dedicated, high-caliber people to reach our goals.
Acumen has invested more than $88 million of patient capital in 80 mission-driven businesses in South Asia, Latin America, East Africa and West Africa that have collectively served more than 100 million customers. We have teams on the ground in India, Pakistan, Kenya, Ghana, Bogotá, London and New York, and we aim to build strong local structures that are deeply interconnected, with shared goals and values, to the global organization.
East Africa
Acumen’s commitment to East Africa began in 2004. Today, we have over $23M in approved investments in 22 portfolio companies across healthcare, energy, water & sanitation, agricultural and education. Portfolio companies like M-Kopa, Juhudi Kilimo, and Sanergy are revolutionizing their sectors and pioneering new development paradigms. The office is staffed with a full-time team of professionals from diverse backgrounds including investment banking, venture capital, management consulting, social enterprise, law, and accounting.
Acumen East Africa is well-resourced, has a strong foundation, and is ready to take our mission to the next level. Core to our success is the ability to identify, resource, and build a world class portfolio that demonstrates the power of patient capital to solve the problems of poverty in East Africa and the world more broadly. Equally important is to leverage our experience into insights that compel this ecosystem of funders, operators, and policy makers to catalyze a broader paradigm shift in the battle against poverty.
In addition to its local focus on investing in companies, leaders and ideas, Acumen East Africa serves as a hub of global Acumen activity, a location where we often bring together partners, investees, team members and Fellows for a variety of events.
Responsibilities
As Portfolio Manager, you will play a key role in the success, development and impact of Acumen’s portfolio in East Africa. As part of your core function, you will grow our portfolio by identifying and developing a strong pipeline of investment opportunities and provide management support to existing portfolio companies by building relationships, identifying key challenges and mobilizing resources. In addition, you will play a critical role shaping Acumen’s portfolio strategy, management process, team and influence in East Africa. The Portfolio Manager reports to the East Africa Director.
More Specifically, You Will
Identify, cultivate and execute a pipeline of fresh investment opportunities providing critical services to the poor
Identify pipeline: Build an exhaustive network of relationships (including corporate, entrepreneur, NGO, academic, investor, advisory) to identify new pipeline opportunities for Acumen
Conduct Investment Processes: Develop attractive opportunities by building relationships with promoters; conducting evaluations and analyses; thorough due diligence; and structure and execute investments
Investment documentation: Prepare, present, and maintain detailed and compelling investment documentation for Acumen’s Investment Committee, and Board of Directors
Develop and implement a post-investment management strategy to add significant value to investee companies
Assess portfolio company needs related to post investment support; design and implement post-investment management interventions in partnership with Global Post Investment Manager
Serve in a senior relationship capacity for Acumen East Africa, developing close contact with portfolio company promoters, including representing Acumen on portfolio company Boards
Design and evaluate key metrics to measure the social and financial returns on investments
Develop long-term relationships with external stakeholders including funders, advisors, thought leaders, sector and functional experts to provide business development and strategic post-investment management across the East Africa Portfolio
Team Leadership
Manage 1-2 junior team members; coach and support them in developing investing skills related to financial modeling, relationship management, deal negotiation and post investment support
Work in close partnership with the Associate Director of Portfolio and East Africa Director and across the global portfolio team to support sector-specific initiatives and share learning
Qualifications & Characteristics
Bachelor’s Degree is required; MBA preferable
Strong financial, modeling and business analysis skills as demonstrated by prior experience is required
Ideal candidates will demonstrate accomplishment through some of the following experiences:
7-10 years of principal investing experience, including financial and operational due diligence of private companies. Understanding of early stage businesses and entrepreneurs is a plus OR
7-10 years of management consulting or operational experience with a proven track record of delivering operational and management support to companies or internal units
Significant commitment or experience with the social enterprise sector in East Africa
Solid operational skills including problem solving and project management skills, including ability to work and deliver projects independently, proactively and under pressure
Superior team management skills; demonstrated success as a supervisor and coach to junior team members
Strong communication skills and ability to be a “storyteller” of our work
Familiarity with the social enterprise and impact investing sectors
Additional Characteristics We’re Looking For In All Roles At Acumen
Commitment to, and enthusiasm for, the organization’s mission and business model, and respect for our core values: generosity, accountability, humility, audacity, listening, leadership, integrity, respect
Moral Imagination: The humility to see the world as it is, and the audacity to imagine the world as it could be. It also includes but is not limited to the following:
Displaying high level of empathy in all relationships and encounters
Possessing deep self-awareness and ability to identify own strengths and weaknesses
Actively listening and focusing on hearing what others are saying
Good understanding of financial concepts and our investing model
Solid operational skills including problem solving and project management skills, including ability to work and deliver projects independently, proactively and under pressure
Effectively collaborates with and across teams, seeks and provides constructive feedback
Exceptional relationship and interpersonal skills: courtesy, tact, patience and strong team orientation
Strong communication skills and ability to be a “storyteller” of our work
Ability to thrive when there is ambiguity, remain cool-headed when there are curve balls, and withstand the tests of a rapidly changing environment with resilience and resolve
Curious – always questioning, always probing, and never blindly accepting
A sense of humor (really)
Compensation
Acumen offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, including full benefits
Location
Nairobi, Kenya
Application Requirements
Please submit a resume and responses to the our questionnaire via our applicant tracking system
Deadline
The deadline for this position is August 3; however, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, candidates are encouraged to apply early.
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