West Africa Regional Director

Acumen is looking for a Regional Director to lead our West African team and operations. We’re looking for someone with at least 15+ years of experience in general management, investing, partnerships, and fundraising with a commitment to tackling poverty. This role is based in Lagos and reports directly to the President of Acumen. Although we invest philanthropic capital, Acumen comes from the non-profit sector and our compensation reflects that. 

About Acumen
At Acumen, we’re working to solve problems of poverty and build a world based on dignity. We invest patient capital in businesses whose products and services help people living in poverty to transform their lives. With $260 million invested in 201 early-stage companies across Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and the US, Acumen has positively impacted over 650 million lives. The organization focuses on entrepreneurs who possess the vision, resilience, and experience needed to build groundbreaking companies that break the cycle of poverty. The Acumen team in Lagos is growing, currently comprising nine members. Acumen also has nine active portfolio companies with over $15 million in cumulative invested capital. Through these investments, the team has impacted over 50 million lives. Acumen also runs the highly successful West Africa Fellows Program, which brings together approximately 20 fellows per cohort each year.

The Vision

Acumen is working toward a world where every individual can live with dignity. Founded by Jacqueline Novogratz in 2001, Acumen believes in the power of markets and resolute leaders combined with patient capital to solve big problems of poverty. Acumen manages a growing investment portfolio, combining impact funds and philanthropically backed patient capital.

About the role 
This role will lead our efforts in West Africa and report directly to the President in New York City. This role will collaborate with the East Africa Director, and coordinate with the leaders of “Hardest to Reach”, Kawisafi, and ARAF. Success in the role depends upon it. It’s not about “territories”, it’s about working together to grow our shared impact. 

Oversee Acumen’s Portfolio of Investments and Fellows Program

• Execute the investment strategy for West Africa
• Lead the effective implementation of Acumen’s global investment structures and processes, in collaboration with the Associate Directors of investing.
• Oversee West Africa Portfolio team’s regular investment reports and reviews, including quantitative and qualitative portfolio and social impact studies.
• Continually direct focus toward social returns, ethical, legal, and financial diligence.
• Oversee the Fellows Program team
• Lead all operations

Partnerships and fundraising

• Developing partnerships, funding relationships, and closing funds to support our both our investing work and our African Fellows Program.

General Management

• Ensure audit-ready controls, processes, and documentation for all West Africa grant funding pools are in place, and team is aware and in compliance. Acumen has received different kinds of capital to fund different kinds of work. This role helps ensure the Acumen team can track and deliver against our commitments and track and document our spend and pass high-scrutiny audits from global funders.
• Operational self reliance (e.g., an understanding of local payroll and benefits, systems of compliance). A Finance and HR team are already in place. 
• Develop goals and budget YOY
• Develop the Acumen West Africa team
• Ensure compliance with Nigerian law and Acumen policy

Skills and Qualifications:

• +15 years of experience in general management, investing for process oversight, such as financial services and or legal advisory related to investment transactions, any type of fund administration or investment administration. Graduate degree preferred.
• Experience developing, closing, and maintaining funders and partnerships that deliver mutual value, including capital, preferably for mission-driven organizations
• An ability to grasp the entirety of our activities in Africa, including Acumen East Africa, Acumen West Africa, Kawisafi, ARAF, and our newly emerging initiative, "Hardest to Reach". An ability to coordinate and collaborate with the leaders of these ventures toward a common goal: serving people living below, at, or slightly above the poverty level.
• Mission driven: interested in products, services, and education for people living in poverty.
• Ability to deliver on commitments and all they entail (results, their measurement, their reporting, and shifts in subsequent interventions based on learning)
• An understanding of the numbers and their implications (toplines, bottom lines, ratios, flows… and the implications).
• An understanding of the "impact" field, an understanding of ESG, and why it's essential to our funders.
• An ability to “take the lead”, rather than waiting to receive the lead, and still collaborate. An ability to speak up when disagreeing. We hire knowledge workers. If you don't share your knowledge and perspective, what is the point?
• Enjoys managing teams toward outcomes that matter. Enjoys developing a team. Leads with clarity and trust.
• Self-reflective, aligned with Acumen values, leads with values
• Authorized to work in Nigeria

Join Acumen

Join a global, talented, and passionate organization working to impact millions of lives.

Shortlist Search is the exclusive recruitment partner for this role. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is closed, though early applications are strongly encouraged.

To learn more about this opportunity, please contact:
Uday Broca Managing Partner, Shortlist Search
Nairobi uday@shortlist.net

and

Weh’yee Barkon Principal Consultant, Shortlist Search
Dakar
wehyee@shortlist.net