Latin America Director

We are looking for a dynamic entrepreneurial professional to lead Acumen Latin America through a new chapter. You are an entrepreneurial leader who is unafraid to take risks. You boldly pursue opportunities for social impact. You are unwavering in your commitment to serve people living in poverty.  This role is based on Bogota, Colombia. 

About Acumen  

Acumen is changing the way the world tackles poverty by investing in companies, leaders and ideas. We invest patient capital in businesses whose products and services are enabling the poor to transform their lives. To date, Acumen has positively impacted more than 500 million lives by investing $164M in 167 innovative, early-stage companies in Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and the United States. But investment isn’t only about capital–we’ve been investing in innovators for years, connecting with emerging leaders around the world and engaging them in collective dialogue, moral inquiry, and skill building.

Acumen Latin America

Acumen Latin America (ALA) started operations in 2013 and has a team based in Bogota focusing on Colombia and Peru. To date, ALA has made 19 investments totaling $11.2 million in agribusiness companies that seek to impact the livelihood of smallholder farmers principally in Colombia. Other sectors of interest are education and energy.

In 2018, ALA launched the Acumen Fellows program in Colombia.  Since then, we have selected 145 Fellows across 6 cohorts.  We have also adapted our online content to the context, language and channels best suited for the Latin American audience, through WhatsApp Courses.  Finally, we launched a Regional Leadership Program for rural and grassroots leaders.

Click here for more information on Acumens’ work in Latin America.

About the role

The Director will partner with leaders across Acumen to define the strategic direction of Acumen Latin America, with a strong focus on Colombia: the role of investment in creating meaningful change for people living in poverty; the role of measuring impact to understand whether we are moving the needle; the role of our Fellows program in developing moral leaders. To succeed, the Director should see a vision for the region, develop significant partnerships—with institutions, policy makers, corporations, donors, and business and development leaders—raise funds, manage the investment portfolio, aid in the expansion of our Fellows program, and lead and develop the Bogota team. 

Responsibilities include:

Direct investments, impact measurement, and the Fellows program to positively impact the lives of people living in poverty. Prove the power of patient capital and social entrepreneurship as tools to tackle poverty in Latin America.

• Define Latin America’s strategic direction. In collaboration with Acumen leaders clarify how Acumen’s philanthropic capital can best be put to use.
• Determine a path to financial sustainability for Acumen Latin America portfolio; identify and secure new funding sources to support investing.
• Lead the expansion of the portfolio to propose new investments and ensure that the screening, diligence, structuring, and deal execution are consistent with Acumen investment standards.
• Direct and oversee the management of the existing portfolio—review portfolio company performance, problem solve challenge areas with investment managers, and lead efforts to prepare for, negotiate, and execute exits.
• Directly advise portfolio company CEOs in key business areas, including but not limited to, governance, strategic finance, and social impact measurement.
• Ensure that portfolio companies accurately track and report social, financial, and operational metrics through our annual review process.
• Systematically capture and share lessons and insights from the companies with support from our Impact and Marketing teams.

Clarify and share Acumen’s voice in Latin America, to elevate social impact-first capital and the moral leaders we are cultivating:

• Build strategic relationships and partnerships with policy makers, lead corporations, business and development leaders, universities, and media, to strengthen patient capital’s growth in the region.
• Explore and build large-scale institutional funding partnerships.
• Build key donor relationships within and outside Latin America, in partnership with the global business development team.
• Oversee different community engagement activities, including work with advisors and other initiatives.

Help grow the Latin America Fellows program: 

• Provide guidance and support for the expansion of the Acumen Fellows program in Latin America, in partnership with the local and global Leadership team.
• Engage with funders and strategic supporters of the Acumen Latin America Fellows program.

Maintain an operationally self-reliant country office with a strong talent bench and sound management systems.

• Develop the annual goals and budget in partnership with Acumen global finance team. Ensure expenditures are within approved budgets.
• Mentor and develop the Acumen Latin America team, provide guidance on their individual responsibilities, and develop a professional development program for team members
• Ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and global policies.

Qualifications

• Post Graduate degree in related disciplines (e.g. Engineering, Sales/Marketing, Business Admin) and an MBA.
• 15 years of experience in strategy, operations, finance, business development. Individuals with a background in private equity or venture capital will be preferred.  Understanding of the Colombian commercial and financial markets and regulatory environment is a plus.
• Entrepreneurial prowess; proven ability to identify opportunities, develop strategy, mobilize resources and execute, iterate, and adapt.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills; ability to manage relationships with investees, advisors, funders and internal stakeholders.
• Fundraising skills and willingness to fundraise.
• Demonstrated accomplishment in building, managing, and motivating teams, especially through periods of change or uncertainty.
• Very strong financial and business analysis skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to present arguments and analysis in a succinct manner to Acumen management, partners, and investees.
• Fluency in English and Spanish.

Additional characteristics we seek for all roles at Acumen:  

• Commitment to and enthusiasm for the organization’s mission to change the way the world tackles poverty and respect for our core values: generosity, accountability, humility, audacity, listening, leadership, integrity, and respect
• Ability to thrive in ambiguity, remain cool-headed when there are curve balls, and withstand the tests of a changing environment with resilience and resolve
• A sense of humor (really). 

Location

Candidates must have the right to work in Colombia and will be based in Bogota.  Employment will be via a local employment contract with statutory Colombian benefits.

Join Acumen

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