FSD Kenya New Ventures Investment Specialist Job Vacancy

FSD Kenya (Financial Sector Deepening)
 
Retail Innovations Initiative
 
Investment Specialist, New Ventures
 

Following successes from innovations such as M-PESA and M-Shwari, East Africa is considered a potential hub for financial inclusion innovation. 

A number of new gathering spots and incubator / accelerator programs have sprung up, adding to the energy but not yet demonstrably adding to success stories. 

Despite a large volume of ideas, these have rarely promised breakthrough success and teams rarely have the mix of skills and experience necessary to prove the ideas and take them to scale. 

It is for this reason that FSD Kenya and its ecosystem partner, Accion Venture Lab, have been in discussions about where start-ups can fit and succeed in the financial services landscape and how the two can support such innovation. 

Ultimately, we believe that promising early-stage start-ups are in need of support that extends beyond financial investment to mentorship, business model advice, access to potential partnerships among others. 

We are now seeking to recruit an investment specialist who shares our passion for innovation in the financial inclusion space. 

You will serve as a direct communication link between FSD Kenya and Accion Venture Lab to formalise this partnership. 

You will work with Venture Lab to engage ecosystem players to source financial inclusion related start-ups including support on analyses, due diligence and deal execution processes. 

You will in addition spearhead FSD Kenya’s direct engagement with the start-ups once they are selected. 

You will be responsible for delivering a demanding set of outputs and will therefore need to be self-driven and able to deliver a range of tasks simultaneously.

At a minimum you will have:

• A first degree in a relevant field (masters preferably)
• Practical hands-on experience in business innovations
• First class business analysis skills
• Experience working in or with start-ups or growth-stage enterprises in emerging markets
• Outstanding relationship management skills
• ƒAdvanced computer/web skills
• Excellent spoken and written English

Proposals are sought from qualified consultants. 

How to Apply 

Click here to download detailed Terms of Reference and application criteria

Applications should thereafter be submitted to info@fsdkenya.org. 

Please put “Investment Specialist” in the subject line. 

Closing date: 4 pm Friday 10th October, 2014.

FSD Kenya operates as an independent Trust registered in Kenya under the supervision of professional trustees, with policy guidance from its programme investment committee. Finance is provided by a number of leading development agencies including the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation together with the Government of Kenya. Further information can be obtained from our website: www.fsdkenya.org