Job Description
The Portfolio Director will oversee the management and risk assessment of the impact debt fund's portfolio in the off-grid solar sector in Sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring high-quality asset management, stakeholder engagement, and team leadership to support early-stage investments in frontier markets.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage the Portfolio Management team to ensure high-quality portfolio oversight and risk mitigation.
- Conduct regular asset management reviews and monitor portfolio performance against financial and environmental/social objectives.
- Identify potential issues within the portfolio and implement pre-emptive actions to maintain asset quality.
- Oversee the Early Warning List and Watch List, ensuring proper monitoring and controls.
- Prepare and deliver timely, accurate portfolio reports to stakeholders.
- Coordinate with the Risk Director to enhance risk management practices and strategic planning.
- Monitor fund transactions for covenant compliance and stakeholder performance.
- Engage with obligors, project teams, co-investors, and stakeholders through visits and ongoing communication.
- Oversee handling of waivers and amendments to facilities.
- Support the Investment team in bringing opportunities to financial close.
- Present portfolio performance updates to Investment Committees.
- Lead, develop, and manage the Portfolio Management team, including recruiting, coaching, and performance evaluations.
- Develop training plans for team members and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
- Ensure effective allocation of analyst resources and promote timely, risk-based reporting.
Requirements
- Minimum of 10 years of transactional experience in venture debt or private credit funds in emerging markets.
- Experience of conducting due diligence on complex cash flow based financings.
- Experience of working with various sources of risk mitigation.
- A bachelor’s degree in a finance related field.
- Experience working in a major financial institution, accountancy firm, financial advisory firm, Debt Fund, ideally focused on SME financing, Off-Grid solar sector, or Energy-access companies for at least 5 years, preferably including a focus on frontier markets.
- Management of a small developing team.
- Evidence of ability to deal proactively with issues.
- Expertise in the management of receivable based transactions.
- Strong corporate credit risk skills.
- Good knowledge of transaction legal documentation.
- Track record of delivering a strong client-focused service.
- Knowledge and experience of restructuring problem assets.
- Familiarity with issues relating to distributors financing in Emerging and Frontier Markets.
- Evidence of enhancing value of portfolio assets.
- Ability to demonstrate understanding of lending and fixed income products.
- Solid understanding of frontier markets, ideally in Africa.
- Must be authorized to work in Kenya.
- Available to work in Nairobi.
- Willingness to travel extensively.
- Ability to get up to speed quickly in a technical area of work, and to understand and navigate complex issues.
- High integrity, strong ethical principles, and ability to command respect at all levels.
- Commitment to good governance and ethical business practices.
- Self-starter, able to collaborate closely with colleagues.
- Organized and able to manage competing priorities.
- Proactive and solutions-orientated.
- Resilient, not put off by setbacks.
- Demonstrable cultural awareness, ideally with experience of working in an international environment.
- Passion to make a difference in frontier markets.
Benefits & Perks
Compensation/salary range not specified
Work in Nairobi, Kenya
Willingness to travel extensively
Opportunities to work in frontier markets and impact underserved communities
Collaborative work environment with a focus on ethical business practices
Development opportunities through team management and training
Engagement in impactful projects aimed at increasing energy access in Africa
Ready to Apply?
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