Senior Investment Officer

International Finance Corporation

dakar, Senegal

Experience: Above 10 Years

Skill Required: Finance and Accounts

IFC sees private equity and venture capital as making a valuable contribution to development by providing capital and know-how to fast growing companies that are leading drivers of job creation in the emerging markets. In addition to its more traditional business, IFC supports these companies through its Disruptive Technologies Group, which invests directly in early and late-stage venture companies as well as in early-stage venture capital funds.

IFC is seeking a Senior Investment Officer to lead IFC’s venture capital investment activities across Francophone Africa, French-speaking North Africa, Madagascar and Mauritius.  In addition to the regional specific coverage, the candidate will provide leadership and oversight responsibilities for the broader Africa region on 1) IFC’s VC funds program; and 2) developing relevant corporate initiatives, partnerships and upstream engagements to enhance IFC’s strategic positioning in the region, working closely with the broader IFC and World Bank teams on building entrepreneurship ecosystems. Finally, the candidate will seek to become involved in, and leverage, European start-ups that are developing unique technology solutions applicable to the African region and beyond.

S/he will be based in Dakar, Senegal and will report to the Chief of Technology Investment and Global Portfolio Manager for the Disruptive Technologies and Venture Capital team (CDFDT).

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Establish, butification of and develop of upstream and market creation initiatives to foster tech innovation and related venture ecosystem building in relevant emerging markets in alignment with country and sector strategies;
  • Represent IFC’s disruptive technologies team in internal and external events, develop relevant corporate initiatives, partnerships and engagement on tech related business to enhance IFC’s strategic positioning in the disruptive technology space across all relevant industry verticals.

Selection Criteria:

  • At least 10-12 years of work experience of which at least 5-8 years of venture capital or private equity experience, ideally with some emerging markets transaction experience.  Prior experience in, investment banking or business/corporate development will be considered;
  • Significant transaction experience in and analytical knowledge of venture investing across relevant sectors such as e-ecommerce, ed-tech, agri-tech, digital transformation (B2B/B2C) and healthtech.
  • Experience in lead negotiating and structuring complex venture equity transactions;
  • Existing and relevant network amongst research institutions, private companies, and financial and strategic investors who are active in the tech ecosystem, broadly defined, globally;
  • Experience in portfolio management, including facilitation of exits.  Having prior experience as an investee company board director or operational experience at a venture-backed company is a plus;
  • Advanced degreeild, and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders in Francophone Africa venture ecosystems including early and late-stage start-ups, VCs, corporate and strategic investors and development partners.
  • Develop strong relationships with leading industry strategics across relevant industry verticals (i.e. energy, financial institutions, manufacturing, healthcare, agribusiness and logistics) to facilitate connections with portfolio companies for commercial and strategic partnerships
  • Develop and make strategic direct venture investments, VC fund investments, and co-investments for relevant investment themes in target sectors based on rigorous due diligence of prospective early growth stage ventures, strong technology analysis, business model and financial valuation.
  • Manage portfolio of direct investments, co-investments and lead Africa VC funds program; helping investees leverage on the resources and expertise of IFC and the broader World Bank Group. Portfolio responsibilities would include representing IFC on boards of portfolio companies and LPACs with a focus on driving value creation;
  • Lead business development, due diligence, negotiation and transaction structuring of new business opportunities and liaise extensively with colleagues across the regions and industry verticals;
  • Support the iden required, MBA from leading international institutions preferred.
  • Written competency and spoken language fluency in French and English.
  • Excellent financial and analytical skills.