Job Title: Program Manager, Circular Economy
Responsible
for leading AECF’s circular economy investment portfolio, managing investment
due diligence, structuring financing instruments, managing donor reporting,
supporting enterprise investment readiness, and engaging financial
institutions, government agencies, industry associations, and development
partners. Requires a postgraduate qualification in Finance, Investment,
Business Administration, Economics, Development Finance, or a related field, at
least 10 years’ investment or development finance experience. The position is
based in Nairobi, Kenya and requires on-site work.
The Role
The role
holder will provide full-time investment and programme leadership for AECF’s
circular economy portfolio, with primary responsibility for structuring,
appraising and managing investments in private sector enterprises, and
secondary responsibility for ensuring those investment decisions are informed
by sound circular economy principles. Leading a small team and working closely
with the sector head, advisory and programme teams, the Programme Manager will
manage the circular economy investment pipeline, portfolio, work plan, budget
and donor reporting.
The
incumbent will lead investment due diligence and structuring, oversee portfolio
management and results verification under the results-based financing
mechanism, and represent the programme with ecosystem stakeholders to
strengthen circular economy financing and enterprise growth across the
programme countries.
This role
will report to the Associate Director – Energy.
Key Responsibilities
Investment
Leadership and Portfolio Management
- Lead
end-to-end investment due diligence on prospective portfolio companies,
assessing business models, financial viability, commercial scalability,
management capacity and risk, alongside circular economy performance.
- Structure
and recommend appropriate financing instruments — results-based repayable
grants, blended finance and other risk-sharing mechanisms — tailored to
enterprise needs and investment risk.
- Present
investment recommendations to the investment committee and manage the
approval-to-disbursement process.
- Oversee
active portfolio management, including monitoring financial and
operational performance, covenant compliance, and results verification
under the results-based financing mechanism.
Programme
Management and Coordination
- Manage
the planning, budgeting, work planning and reporting of the circular
economy programme.
- Supervise
and provide guidance to programme team members and consultants, including
technical circular economy specialists supporting the portfolio.
- Coordinate
with donors on work plans, deliverables, timelines and reporting
requirements.
- Monitor
programme and portfolio risk, ensuring timely, quality delivery of
investment and programme outputs.
Enterprise
Advisory and Investment Readiness
- Oversee
the design and delivery of technical assistance and investment readiness
support to strengthen portfolio companies’ performance and bankability.
- Work
with technical circular economy specialists and the Advisory team to
ensure enterprises receive appropriate guidance on cleaner production,
eco-design, sustainable packaging, recycling, repair and refurbishment,
reverse logistics, material recovery and resource efficiency.
- Work
closely with the ESG team to support enterprises in improving investment
readiness, operational performance, and ESG practices.
Market
Development and Knowledge Management
- Lead
engagement with financial institutions, industry associations, government
agencies and development partners to strengthen circular economy financing
ecosystems and pipeline development.
- Contribute
to market research, investment case development, knowledge products and
programme learning.
- Oversee
monitoring, evaluation and reporting, developing investment and technical
indicators and validating financial, environmental and circularity
results.
Qualifications and Experience
The
successful candidate should:
- Hold
a postgraduate qualification in Finance, Investment, Business
Administration, Economics, Development Finance or a related discipline; a
background or additional qualification in Circular Economy, Environmental
Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Sustainable Manufacturing or a
related discipline is an added advantage but not a requirement.
- Have
at least ten (10) years’ experience in investment, fund/portfolio
management, private equity, venture capital, blended finance or
development finance, including experience investing in or supporting
private sector enterprises in Africa.
- Have
substantial experience conducting investment due diligence, structuring
financing instruments (grants, results-based financing, guarantees or
similar), and managing an investment portfolio.
- Have
at least three (3) years’ experience in a programme management or team
leadership role, including budget and plan management.
- Prior
knowledge of or exposure to circular economy business models — plastics
and packaging, electronic waste, recycling systems, resource recovery,
eco-design or industrial symbiosis — is preferred but not required;
candidates without direct circular economy experience but with strong
investment credentials and a demonstrated ability to build sector
knowledge quickly are encouraged to apply.
- Experience
working on donor-funded programmes involving blended finance,
results-based financing or challenge funds will be an added advantage.
Required Competencies
The
successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Strong
investment and financial analysis skills, including due diligence, deal
structuring and portfolio management.
- Proven
programme and team management skills, including work planning, budgeting
and donor reporting.
- Good
understanding of blended finance, results-based financing and enterprise
development; working knowledge of circular economy principles and business
models is preferred.
- Excellent
analytical, communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the
ability to translate technical and financial concepts into practical
business solutions and work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
