Senior /Principal Investment Officer - Telecom, Media and Technology- Nairobi, Kenya

Job #:	112404
Title:	Senior /Principal Investment Officer - Telecom, Media and Technology
Job Stream:	Investment
Location:	Nairobi, Kenya
Closing Date:	01/15/2012
Background / General description:
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group, is one of the leading investors and lenders in emerging markets. The mission of IFC is to promote sustainable private sector investment in developing countries, helping to reduce poverty and improve people's lives. IFC finances private sector investments in the developing world, mobilizes capital in the international financial markets, helps clients improve social and environmental sustainability, and provides technical assistance and advice to governments and businesses. IFC’s African Telecom, Media and Technology (TMT) group invests in private sector businesses in various TMT sub-sectors across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We have a track record of successful investments in mobile telephony companies, submarine cables, V-sat operators, shared infrastructure projects such as broadband networks, towers and data centers and IT-enabled Services companies. We provide project financing, private equity and venture capital for TMT companies in SSA. We are unique for our regional and global prospective on the TMT space, our long-term approach to investments, our ability to leverage the resources of the entire World Bank Group, as well as our commitment to maximizing the value of our portfolio companies through sustained assistance. To expand our venture/ growth capital investments in SSA, IFC seeks an experienced investment professional, to be based in Nairobi, Kenya, with the following requirements:
Duties and Accountabilities:
The responsibilities of the Senior/Principal Investment Officer include but are not limited to: •Promote IFC’s investments in the TMT sector in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), primarily focused on venture capital and private equity. •Build a strong pipeline of potential investee companies and work both with IFC’s global TMT investment team to appraise, structure, and negotiate transactions. •Build and maintain a network of co-investors – both sector focused and regionally focused venture and private equity funds that would participate alongside IFC in its TMT sector investments. •Establish and maintain relationships with relevant local investors and TMT industry operators in SSA. Assist IFC’s global TMT investment team to establish and maintain relationships with relevant global strategic investors active in SSA. •As needed, work on transactions for later stage TMT companies, applying IFC’s full range of financial instruments, including senior and mezzanine loans and quasi-equity. •Manage IFC’s African TMT portfolio companies. Represent IFC as a shareholder and support investee companies’ growth plans using industry network and sector experience. Identify potential exit opportunities and execute or oversee the structuring and negotiations of exit transactions. •Establish investment strategies for various TMT sub-sectors, including identifying how changes in the industry, local economies and regulatory frameworks will open up opportunities for investment in such sub-sectors in various SSA countries. Identify how IFC could assist private sector participants to enter these new markets. •Develop new initiatives for investments in the TMT sector in SSA. Identify how to use the Work Bank Group’s expertise and assets to accelerate development of the sector. •Work closely with IFC’s SSA regional departments to deliver IFC’s investment targets and development impact.
Selection Criteria:
•At least 8-12 years of telecom/media/technology experience, preferably venture capital, private equity or investment banking. •Advanced degree required. An MBA from a leading international education institution is preferred. •Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) investment experience. •Experience in leading negotiations and structuring complex equity transactions. •Existing and relevant network amongst SSA focused venture capitalists, private equity funds, investment advisors and strategic investors. •Experience in portfolio management, including facilitation of exits. Having prior experience as an investee company board director is a positive. •Successful candidates should have the ability to oversee small, multi-country teams, to actively drive multiple projects and to mentor junior staff. •Excellent financial and analytical skills. •Written and spoken language fluency in English essential; native writing and speaking capabilities in French an added advantage.
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