East Africa Portfolio Manager at Acumen

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.

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

Desired Skills and Experience

• 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)

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