Job Description

The Investor Engagement Associate role is a mid-level position that offers an exciting opportunity for a motivated individual who's looking to progress their career in impact investing, particularly within gender-lens investing (GLI). Refine your experiences in matchmaking Supivaa's African women-led/owned and feminist small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (WSMEs and FSMEs, respectively) and fund manager clients with funders (e.g., development finance institutions (DFIs), impact funds, family offices, corporate funds, philanthropists, etc.) to help them reach their next stage of growth.

Role Introduction:

The Investor Engagement Associate will play a central role in identifying, selecting, preparing, and positioning high-potential African WSMEs, FSMEs, and fund manager clients for investment. The role requires a strong blend of analytical rigour, financial and investment acumen, relationship management, attention to detail, and strategic communication to ensure African WSME, FSME, and fund manager clients are well-supported throughout their investment readiness and preparedness journey.

This role reports to Supivaa's Managing Director.

This position will ideally be based in our Nairobi office with significant remote work flexibility offered through Supivaa's hybrid (in-person and remote) working model. If based in Kenya, candidates must possess a valid authorization to work in Kenya.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Deal Sourcing

Identify and engage high-potential African WSME, FSME, and fund manager clients through primary networks (e.g., existing relationships with business incubators, accelerators, innovation hubs, impact investment associations, and chambers of commerce, networking at industry events, and participation on digital platforms) and analysis of market and sector reports. Evaluate alignment of prospective clients against Supivaa's investment and impact criteria and other contextual factors. Track results in Supivaa's internal database of prospective clients. Write short briefing papers to persuade senior team members why Supivaa should take on a new African WSME, FSME, or fund manager client.

Investor Outreach

Identify and research prospective funders (DFIs, impact funds, family offices, corporate funds, philanthropists, etc.) with a high focus on investors aligned with African WSME, FSME, and fund manager clients' financing and impact needs. Build and maintain a centralised funder database, capturing funders' details, such as sector focus, ticket size, mandate, geographic scope, and past investment activity. Prepare concise funder briefings and summary notes to support client readiness for outreach and engagement, while guiding and reviewing inputs from junior team members to ensure accuracy, quality, and consistency. Draft and send outreach communications to targeted funders on behalf of clients, ensuring messages are tailored, timely, and professional. Schedule and coordinate meetings between clients and potential funders, managing pre-reads, agendas, and follow-up actions. Track and report on outreach progress, conversion rates, and investor engagement outcomes to inform strategy adjustments.

Relationship Management

Maintain accurate tracking systems to provide transparency on African WSME, FSME, and fund manager clients' and funders' engagement levels. Communicate regularly with African WSME, FSME, and fund manager clients on their fundraising progress, blockers, and next steps with shortlisted prospective funders. Brief senior team members about clients' updates. Keep funders updated on African WSME, FSME, and fund manager clients' status and manage their expectations about recent performance changes. Facilitate effective communication between African WSME, FSME, and fund manager clients and funders to ensure smooth due diligence processes.

Due Diligence

Conduct financial and impact assessments (i.e. ESG, gender, and climate factors) to understand prospective African WSME, FSME, and fund manager clients' level of investment preparedness and readiness. Support internal junior team members (Interns and Analysts) in contributing to the underlying due diligence processes. Prepare evidence-based briefs to demonstrate the potential value of prospective clients to the senior team members. Work with internal senior team members to define and finalise contracting terms for African WSME, FSME, and fund manager clients.

Data Room Management

Support African WSME, FSME, and fund manager clients in compiling and developing funders' required documentation. Organise data rooms to meet funders' specifications. Supervise internal junior team members supporting file preparation, navigation, and management.

Funder Marketing Collateral

Oversee the development of African WSME, FSME, and fund manager clients' marketing materials, including pitch decks, teasers, and social media assets. Manage relations with external and internal junior team members supporting such efforts. Ensure all marketing collateral communicates African WSME, FSME, and fund manager clients' updated financial and impact narratives.

Team Development

Indirectly manage a team of external and junior team members on all phases of business development. Oversee junior team members' enhancement of core research, analysis, written communications, and presentation skills. Help them prepare for an internal weekly investor pitch competition. Support senior team members on proposal development and other business development activities within Supivaa's Advisory division.

Desired Values and Experiences

We are looking for a motivated and dedicated individual who is deeply committed to advancing a gender equality and social inclusion agenda and has many of the following attributes:

Interest and knowledge of impact investing, GLI, and/or development finance in global growth markets, with on-ground experience in African geographies. Established networks with diverse funders (i.e. development finance institutions (DFIs), impact funds, family offices, corporate funds, philanthropists, etc.) with a preference for existing relationships with U.S and/or European-based investors. Skilled in managing multiple funder relationships across all lifestyle stages, from outreach to pitching to due diligence to close. Demonstrated ability to research and synthesise large volumes of financial information into clear, actionable insights, with experience working with financial statements and models. Familiarity with leading impact frameworks, particularly those incorporating GLI metrics, and experience applying them in African WSME, FSME, and/or fund manager settings. Ability to translate complex investment or impact concepts into compelling narratives for diverse audiences (African WSMEs, FSMEs, fund managers, and other ecosystem partners). Curious and adaptable, with a track record of embracing and applying diversity, equity, and inclusion principles across diverse cultural and working environments. High degree of professionalism and discretion when representing clients in external settings. Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills, with demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in small, entrepreneurial teams. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders professionally and effectively across multiple channels. Proficiency in English required. Proficiencies in other languages (i.e. French, Kiswahili, and other local languages) would be an asset. Strong project management skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple workstreams, oversee junior team members, and deliver results under tight timelines. Great time management skills, with the ability to prioritise and also reshuffle tasks as needed to meet deadlines. Willingness to go the extra mile to ensure that Supivaa delivers high value for its African WSMEs, FSMEs, fund manager clients and ecosystem partners. An entrepreneurial mindset that sees challenges or limitations as opportunities and is keen to grow both their position and the team that will support them. Ability to work independently in a hybrid and trust-based environment. Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, G-Suite for Business, Slack, Trello, Asana, and familiarity with CRM and data management tools (e.g., Salesforce, Airtable, or similar platforms).
We especially welcome all candidates who are passionate about impact investing, GLI and development finance and want to play a role in connecting transformative African businesses with the capital and networks they need to thrive.

Salary

We offer compensation that reflects experience and is benchmarked to Kenyan industry standard salary levels, complemented by performance-based bonuses and opportunities for growth as responsibilities expand.

Job Type: Full-time

Language:

English (preferred)
Work Location: Remote