Job Description
Job details
Job title: Investments Director Line Manager title: Chief Executive Officer
Grade: JG3
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Who we are
Trade Catalyst Africa (TCA) is a US$25 million commercial facility funded by USAID through TradeMark Africa
(TMA) that aims to address the challenge of access to finance for trade infrastructure and trade finance. TCA
will address this through blended finance to de-risk commercial investments in trade projects. It will specifically
focus on investments in trade infrastructure, both hard and soft infrastructure such as industrial parks, digital
systems, and providing better access to trade finance related to export value chains, particularly in agribusiness
and the Cotton, Textiles and Garments value chain.
TCA is structured as an evergreen revolving fund that will look to de-risk investments in commercially viable
projects by providing ‘first loss’ capital that will help leverage other development finance investments, thereby
amplifying impacts. Some potential projects include innovative funding of industrial parks, one stop border
posts, scanners, digital cross-border trade platforms and supply chain finance. TCA will work closely with TMA
and other potential financial partners, including commercial banks, development finance institutions and
FinTechs, to develop a pipeline of commercially viable projects that will unlock trade. TCA is looking to create
6,000 – 10,000 jobs in the next couple of years and significantly cut the time and cost of trade in Africa.
TCA is in the formative stage of its development. We have defined a strategy which outlines areas of investment
focus, potential pipeline for investments is being identified and investment and operational elements related
to setup are being executed upon. TCA will have the ability to make investments through a range of instruments
like debt, equity, and quasi-equity investments in both physical and digital trade infrastructure, and innovative
trade finance platforms.
Job summary
The Investment Director will operate as a member of TCA’s Core Team and will lead in the conversion of TCA
objectives to investment strategy and eventually execute this to construct an investment portfolio which
delivers those objectives. The Investment Director will lead on preliminary financial feasibilities, undertake deal
due diligence, and execute approved transactions whilst concurrently managing internal and external
stakeholder relationships including governments, banking and other financial institutions, legal
partners. Reporting to the CEO, the Investment Director will support in fundraising and managing investors
who have made commitments to TCA will be an important deliverable for the position.
Roles and responsibilities
Investing in Trade Infrastructure and Trade Finance
Translate TCA’s Investment Strategy into a balanced portfolio of high performing investments by:
• Designing and implementing a working investment process for TCA and ensuring each investment
supports TCA objectives – at the company and portfolio level.
• Conduct technical analysis or research to help in identification of investments opportunities.
• Leading in deal origination, diligence, structuring and closing investments.
• Leading the Investment Committee meetings to review, structure and approve prospective investments,
report on investment progress and discuss investment strategy.
• Designing and evaluating key metrics to measure the social, environmental, and financial returns on
investments as well as compliance with appropriate local regulations.
• Developing long-term relationships with external stakeholders including funders, advisors, thought
leaders, governance resources, peer-to-peer networks, sector and technical specialists to provide
business development and strategic post-investment management across TCA’s investment portfolio.
Investor Management
• Leveraging on TMA for its experience in the sector and region.
• Developing and managing relations with key governmental bodies for positive regulatory environments
and support.
• Supporting the process of fundraising for TCA including generating prospects, developing materials for
discussion, working through diligence by potential investors, closing commitments and documentation.
• Providing investors with materials and discussions which allow them visibility into TCA’s progress and an
assessment of achievement vs. their objectives in committing to TCA.
Academic and professional qualifications
• Undergraduate or Master’s degree preferably in Economics, Development Studies, International Trade,
Planning, Finance or Management.
• CFA qualification is an added advantage.
Work experience
We are seeking an Investment Director who brings:
• Best-in-class investing experience in impact investing, venture capital or private equity. Minimum of
three years’ experience as an Investment Director (or equivalent), with at least 7 years in impact
investing, private equity, or venture capital, preferably in emerging markets, including successful exits
and a demonstrable record of commercial returns.
• A deep commitment to addressing challenges facing SMEs. Impact on SMEs is a key deliverable.
Therefore, the impact target and goals will serve as a north star for strategic decisions.
• Exceptional people leadership, relationship-building, and collaboration skills. The Investment Director
will forge new partnerships, manage stakeholders with varied (and sometimes competing) priorities, and
bring together wide-ranging actors in service of TCA’s mission. To do this requires someone who can
build trust quickly, and who has the history to prove it.
Technical skills and behavioural competencies
• A willingness to roll up your sleeves, to do the work that needs to be done.
• Ambition and curiosity; tenaciously pursuing goals, relentlessly seeking to better understand.
• An adaptive mindset, open to learning, shifting one’s point of view or approach.
• A global outlook, comfortable working in a cross-cultural, collaborative environment.
• Impeccable integrity, an individual others can trust without reservation, who chooses to do what is
right, not what is easy.