DIRECTOR, ESG
DIRECTOR, ESG
Purpose of role
To develop and lead a strategic approach to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) within CDC by developing, managing and implementing CDC's Code for Responsible Investment (ESG) policies across CDC's entire portfolio of investments including fund of funds, direct equity, infrastructure, debt products and financial institutions.
Key Responsibilities:
* Development and implementation of CDC's ESG policy in relation to direct equity, infrastructure and debt projects within the markets in which CDC operates.
* Developing CDC's approach to managing ESG, particularly in the newer areas of direct equity, infrastructure, financial institutions and debt in line with the international standards on which CDC's Code of Responsible Investing is based and CDC's desire to focus on implementation, management systems and value creation.
* Managing due diligence of ESG issues including a) establishing suitable policies and procedures; b) identifying, hiring and managing external consultants where necessary; c) training team members in proper due diligence practices; d) ensuring quality control of due diligence.
* Overseeing ESG portfolio management including a) establishing suitable policies and procedures; b) identifying, hiring and managing external consultants where necessary; c) training team members in proper portfolio management practices; d) ensuring quality control of portfolio management.
* Arranging and participating in training of CDC, ESG and investment professionals on best ESG practice.
* Liaising with all stakeholders, including CDC's Shareholder, on all ESG issues.
* Analysing CDC's track record on ESG to inform new investment proposals and developments.
* Contribute to CDC's evaluation work from the ESG perspective.
* Participating as a thought leader in discussions on ESG issues with other international financial institutions, impact investors, private equity investors and financial institutions.
* Ad hoc projects such as case study and "lessons learnt" analysis, analysis of trends in assessing development impact particularly with relation to ESG matters
Qualifications, skills and experience:
· Advanced university degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in a relevant discipline, preferably environmental studies; development studies / development finance or similar.
· At least eight years managerial experience, preferably within a development finance institution or the private equity / fund-of-funds investment industry.
· Extensive demonstrated professional experience in ESG / SRI / sustainability matters, in particular within the fields of due diligence and portfolio management of fund of funds, direct equity investments, infrastructure, debt products and financial institutions.
· Experience with ESG/SRI/sustainability issues in Africa and/or South Asia
· Strong communication skills (both oral and written), interpersonal skills and the desire/ability to work in a multicultural environment. The ability to develop strong relationships internally and externally.
· Ability and willingness to travel extensively to developing countries, with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia.
· Experience in impact investing is desirable
Purpose of role
To develop and lead a strategic approach to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) within CDC by developing, managing and implementing CDC's Code for Responsible Investment (ESG) policies across CDC's entire portfolio of investments including fund of funds, direct equity, infrastructure, debt products and financial institutions.
Key Responsibilities:
* Development and implementation of CDC's ESG policy in relation to direct equity, infrastructure and debt projects within the markets in which CDC operates.
* Developing CDC's approach to managing ESG, particularly in the newer areas of direct equity, infrastructure, financial institutions and debt in line with the international standards on which CDC's Code of Responsible Investing is based and CDC's desire to focus on implementation, management systems and value creation.
* Managing due diligence of ESG issues including a) establishing suitable policies and procedures; b) identifying, hiring and managing external consultants where necessary; c) training team members in proper due diligence practices; d) ensuring quality control of due diligence.
* Overseeing ESG portfolio management including a) establishing suitable policies and procedures; b) identifying, hiring and managing external consultants where necessary; c) training team members in proper portfolio management practices; d) ensuring quality control of portfolio management.
* Arranging and participating in training of CDC, ESG and investment professionals on best ESG practice.
* Liaising with all stakeholders, including CDC's Shareholder, on all ESG issues.
* Analysing CDC's track record on ESG to inform new investment proposals and developments.
* Contribute to CDC's evaluation work from the ESG perspective.
* Participating as a thought leader in discussions on ESG issues with other international financial institutions, impact investors, private equity investors and financial institutions.
* Ad hoc projects such as case study and "lessons learnt" analysis, analysis of trends in assessing development impact particularly with relation to ESG matters
Qualifications, skills and experience:
· Advanced university degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in a relevant discipline, preferably environmental studies; development studies / development finance or similar.
· At least eight years managerial experience, preferably within a development finance institution or the private equity / fund-of-funds investment industry.
· Extensive demonstrated professional experience in ESG / SRI / sustainability matters, in particular within the fields of due diligence and portfolio management of fund of funds, direct equity investments, infrastructure, debt products and financial institutions.
· Experience with ESG/SRI/sustainability issues in Africa and/or South Asia
· Strong communication skills (both oral and written), interpersonal skills and the desire/ability to work in a multicultural environment. The ability to develop strong relationships internally and externally.
· Ability and willingness to travel extensively to developing countries, with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia.
· Experience in impact investing is desirable
Background to CDC
CDC is the world's oldest development finance institution and has a proud heritage in supporting the building of successful businesses across poor and emerging markets. Having had a focused strategy over the past 8 years as an investor (LP) in private equity funds (GPs) in emerging markets, it is going through an exciting transformation that will extend the range of its activities to include direct equity investing and direct lending alongside its fund selection business. The mission of CDC is to:-
To support the building of businesses and creation of jobs in the world's poorest countries across Africa and South Asia, making a lasting difference to people's lives.
CDC takes a wholly commercial approach to its investing and lending activities, but, as a DFI, doesn't look for fully risk adjusted returns, so that its capital can be employed both to support enterprises and business building that might be considered too risky by purely commercial funders. It is also able to take a longer view - up to and beyond 10 years if that is necessary.
CDC is wholly owned by the UK government's Department for International Development (DFID), and plays a key role in DFID's strategy to help build a thriving private sector in the developing world. It is a measure of CDC's high quality investment processes that despite investing in regions of the world that are typically considered very high risk, it has received no fresh investment from government since 1995 and has returned a profit (which has been reinvested) of £1.8bn since 2004.
CDC invests in a number of ways:
- placing capital with expert fund managers (GPs) who then use their local knowledge and expertise to find promising businesses in which to invest;
- making direct investments or co-investing in specific businesses, largely alongside local GPs ; and
- making loans, guarantees and offering micro-finance support
Following the change in strategic direction in 2011/12, CDC is looking to build its team and, in particular, attract high quality investment professionals who are motivated to use their skills to develop the private sector in Africa and South Asia.
For further information, see www.cdcgroup.com
If you are interested in applying for the position, please send a CV, covering letter and full details of your current compensation to recruitment@cdcgroup.com with Director, ESG as the subject by 31 March.
Post a Comment