Senior Investment Associate

Job Description

Purpose / Role Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Investment Associate to join our Investments team, based in Nairobi. You will play a leading role in originating, structuring, and fundraising for new projects across multiple African markets, helping to transform the African power sector through scalable, bankable investments.

In this role you will;

• Lead the development of complex financial models and investment cases at both corporate and project level.
• Drive debt and equity fundraising (local currency and USD), including managing due diligence and negotiations.
• Coordinate commercial and legal structuring, and manage key external stakeholders including lenders, investors, governments, and donors.
• Oversee projects through the development cycle (including internal Investment Committee approval gates) and support implementation and asset management teams with ongoing portfolio management and investment decision-making.
• This is an excellent opportunity for candidates with a strong project finance background and a passion for the African energy sector to take on more ownership, leadership, and deal accountability.

Key Responsibilities;

1. Deal Origination & Structuring

• Identify, screen, and prioritize new project and platform investment opportunities in target markets.
• Lead the commercial and financial structuring of transactions, including equity, mezzanine, and debt instruments.
• Design and refine project structures (SPVs, concession models, PPPs) that meet investor, lender, and regulatory requirements.
• Assess bankability risks and propose mitigation strategies to strengthen project risk/return profiles.

2. Financial Modelling & Investment Analysis

• Own and develop complex project finance and corporate financial models, including scenario analysis and sensitivity testing.
• Prepare valuation analyses (DCF, comparable transactions, benchmarking) and recommend pricing/terms.
• Analyze project economics, capital structures, and risk allocation, providing clear recommendations to senior management.
• Ensure all models and analyses meet internal quality standards and withstand external due diligence.

3. Fundraising & Transaction Execution

• Lead (or co-lead) equity and debt fundraising processes with DFIs, commercial banks, funds, and strategic partners.
• Coordinate and respond to investor, lender, donor and partner due diligence (commercial, technical, financial, legal, ESG).
• Support/lead negotiations on key transaction documents (term sheets, financing agreements, shareholder agreements, PPAs, EPC/O&M, concessions).
• Prepare high-quality investment materials, including Information Memoranda, pitch decks, and Investment Committee papers.

4. Stakeholder, Government & Donor Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with investors, lenders, and development finance institutions.
• Engage with governments, regulators, and utilities on project-related issues.
• Manage relationships with donors, grant providers, and technical assistance partners.
• Represent the company in investor calls, conferences, and sector fora as needed.
• Contribute to policy and regulatory discussions where relevant to project development and financing.

5. Portfolio Management & Asset Support

• Support the implementation and asset management teams with financial and commercial expertise.
• Monitor portfolio performance against investment cases, covenants, and KPIs; recommend corrective actions where needed.
• Assist with refinancings, restructurings, and follow-on capital raises.

6. Internal Process, Governance & Team Development

• Lead the preparation and presentation of materials for Internal Investment Committee and senior leadership approvals.
• Help strengthen internal investment processes, tools, templates, and documentation standards.
• Mentor and coach junior team members in financial modelling, deal execution, and stakeholder management.
• Contribute to market and competitor intelligence, sector research, and thought leadership on financing trends in African infrastructure.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Transaction Delivery: Number and value of projects reaching financial close and/or major development milestones.
• Capital Raised: Volume and quality (terms, tenor, risk profile) of debt and equity capital mobilised.
• Bankability & Structuring Quality: Strength of project structures and risk allocation as assessed by lenders, investors, and IC.
• Portfolio Performance: Alignment of realized project returns with approved investment cases; covenant compliance.
• Stakeholder Satisfaction: Feedback from investors, lenders, partners, and internal stakeholders on responsiveness, quality, and reliability.
• Team Contribution: Effectiveness in mentoring junior staff and improving team tools, processes, and knowledge base.

Qualifications

Qualifications, Experience & Competencies

Experience

• 5–7 years of relevant experience in project development, investment, and/or project finance in the power or infrastructure sector, ideally within:
    - Utility / concessions company
    - Project finance / infrastructure department of an international investment bank
    - Infrastructure department of a Development Finance Institution (DFI)
    - Transaction/financial advisory firm focused on infrastructure / PPPs
    - Infrastructure or energy-focused private equity fund with early/mid-stage project development exposure
• Demonstrated track record leading or co-leading transactions to successful close.
• Hands-on project management experience managing multi-stakeholder, multi-country workstreams.

Technical Knowledge

• Strong understanding of project finance, PPP structures, and concession models.
• Knowledge of concession agreements, PPAs, EPC and O&M contracts, and related risk allocation.
• Familiarity with infrastructure financing instruments (senior debt, mezzanine, blended finance, guarantees, etc.).
• Understanding of policy, regulatory, and market issues affecting energy and infrastructure in Africa.
• Advanced financial modelling skills in Excel (or similar) and strong quantitative analysis abilities.

Sector & Regional Fit

• Deep interest and preferably experience in the African power sector.
• Strong connection to Africa and intention to build an Africa-focused career.
• Prior living/working experience in emerging markets is a strong plus.

Skills & Behavioural Competencies

• Strong business development and client relationship skills; proven ability to understand and respond to client/investor needs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; French or other regional languages are a plus.
• High level of integrity, ownership and accountability; strong initiative and bias toward action.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across cultures and disciplines.
• Highly organized, able to manage multiple projects and deadlines in parallel.
• Curiosity, resilience, and a positive, solutions-oriented mindset.

Location & Travel

Location: Nairobi, Kenya (regional hub for Africa operations).

Travel: Up to ~25–40% travel within Africa and internationally, depending on project requirements.

Additional Information

Benefits and Compensation:

A competitive package including annual compensation, performance bonuses, health insurance, professional development and team building events. And you'll be working with a dynamic team of people passionate about electrifying East  and West Africa!