INVESTMENT DIRECTOR (Gender Lens)

The Global Innovation Fund (www.globalinnovation.fund) (GIF) is a non-profit, social-first investment vehicle established as a ‘VC for fragile places’ to find, fund, and scale-up cost-effective, evidence-based innovations that have the potential to measurably improve the lives of millions of people living on $5 a day or less. GIF was founded to invest in innovations in the public or private sector that will inspire fresh thinking and create better solutions in developing countries.

GIF is focused on doing more with less to turn ideas into impact. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the development community needs to draw on the resources of the private sector. GIF’s commitment to being part of the bridge between entrepreneurs and development finance challenges us to be creative and to seek the partnerships that drive creativity, dynamism, and collaboration. GIF’s unique hybrid model, as both a UK registered charity/US 501(c)3 and an investor, reflects our dual mission: to invest in innovations that improve the lives of the poor, and to demonstrate how bringing evidence and the power of the private sector to bear can create new solutions to persistent development problems.  

GIF offers grants, loans and equity-type investments ranging from $230,000 USD to $15 million USD to support a range of innovations with strong potential for social impact at a large scale. We support innovators at different phases of development, ranging from early start-up and pilot-testing to rigorous experiments and larger scale implementation. The innovations GIF supports can be located in any developing country and may focus on any sector relevant to international development.

POSITION SUMMARY

The gender-smart investing field is evolving, expanding and adapting every day and growing in size and impact, with US$4.5 billion deployed through structured vehicles with a gender lens mandate.

GIF finds and funds innovations that have the potential to measurably improve the lives of the world’s poorest people.  One area where we see enormous potential for impact is in investments that have the potential to enhance the agency of women and girls living under $5 (and preferably, under $2) a day in developing countries.  GIF applies a gender-lens to all of its investments but we also seek to invest in innovations that target gender equality outcomes and, in particular, enhancement in the agency of women and girls.

GIF seeks to hire an Investment Director with expertise in gender-lens investing. The Investment Director (Gender Lens) will be involved in finding, evaluating, executing and managing funding opportunities that align with GIF’s goal of scaling promising social innovations through the private sector. The Investment Director will report to a Senior Managing Director and will provide strategic advice and support:

a.      the application of a gender-lens across GIF’s risk capital portfolio;

b.     sourcing and structuring and closing on investments for gender equality outcomes in line with GIF’s evolving gender strategy

Further, The Investment Director’s responsibilities will include:

• Finding and evaluating equity and debt investment opportunities to make significant improvements in the lives and opportunities of millions of people living in the developing world

o Sourcing and developing opportunities to pilot, test or scale promising private sector social innovations, including from social enterprises, large companies, start-ups and individuals 

o Screening proposals and applications submitted through GIF’s open application platform, including conducting due diligence on the proposed innovation’s evidence base, social impact, management quality, and ability to scale.

o Conducting due diligence, research and social impact analysis, and making funding recommendations

o Engaging with and building relationships with external partners and applicants during the investment process to optimise impact 

o Negotiating investment terms and preparing investment memoranda for the most promising companies o Providing or helping source strategic support for GIF’s portfolio

o Directing portfolio companies’ reporting to GIF on both financial and social metrics

o Identifying opportunities for follow-on funding for GIF’s most successful innovators, including with impact investors, commercial venture capitalists and philanthropic donors 

• As an active participant of GIF’s gender working group and in collaboration with the senior managing director, shaping, refining and strengthening GIF’s investment process in particular with respect to the application of a gender-lens.

REQUIRED SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, AND ATTRIBUTES

A minimum of 5-7 years equity investment experience, with a strong preference for candidates that have executed early stage social enterprise deals in emerging markets with some focus on gender lens investing

• Professional experience working in the developing world (South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, or Latin America) a must; experience working in the field a plus   

   Work experience in a developing country context with a local company, investment firm or

start-up where gender lens investing was a focus and/or consideration

• Proven capacity of financing, support and scaling commercially viable institutions (e.g., as an impact investor or emerging markets venture capitalist) 

• Deep familiarity with company evaluation, financial analysis and executing equity transactions is a prerequisite 

• Commitment to evidence-based decision-making and social impact evaluation

• Advanced degree (masters or PhD) in finance, business administration or similarly relevant field preferred

• Strong network of people and organizations with whom GIF can partner to achieve transformative change

• Top tier analytic, strategic thinking and project management skills 

• Comfort with ambiguity and proven experience thriving in uncharted waters.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and an aptitude for relationship building

• High energy and an entrepreneurial mindset; self-motivated and excited by high growth environments

• Passion, humility, integrity, team player, proven self-direction and a spirited sense of humour 

• A strong commitment to international development and social innovation

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This role will be based in our Washington D.C, or London office. Applicants with the right to work in Kenya will be considered also. Any job offer made will be subject to the successful candidate having the unrestricted authorization to work in the USA, Kenya or UK prior to commencing work at GIF.

HOW TO APPLY

The applicants are urged to follow the instructions available on https://app.beapplied.com/apply/jrszydtraz. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application and in accordance to the evaluation criteria of the job opening. The application process will close on the 18th December 2019.

Global Innovation Fund is committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment.

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