Senior Associate with 5+ years experience. Execute on engagements and drive business development with new clients as related to scaling investments in nature-based solutions across Francophone Africa, with a focus on the Congo Basin. Location - Nairobi, London, Kinshasa or Dakar.

Senior Associate – Natural Capital, Francophone Africa
CrossBoundary Advisory

About the Firm

CrossBoundary Group is a mission-driven investment and advisory firm that unlocks the power of capital for sustainable growth and strong returns in underserved markets. CrossBoundary Advisory provides transaction and investment advisory services, having developed a specialized expertise in unleashing investment across all sectors in these markets. CrossBoundary Advisory has advised on over US$11bn worth of transactions across 75 countries globally, serving our clients from 20 offices spread across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Our advisory clients include governments, development finance institutions, private equity firms, Fortune 100 companies, and research institutions.

Our investment platforms, CrossBoundary Energy, CrossBoundary Energy Access, and CrossBoundary Educational Infrastructure, directly finance projects to bring cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable electricity, as well as education infrastructure, to developing countries. Anchoring the Group’s work in the renewable energy sector, CrossBoundary Energy is currently active in more than 10 African countries and has a portfolio of over US$100 million of renewable energy projects for commercial and industrial clients across the continent. CrossBoundary Energy Access uses blended finance and an innovative project financing structure to unlock capital for mini-grids with a mission to bring electricity for the first time to more than 170,000 people.

CrossBoundary’s Natural Capital practice focuses on unlocking private capital for nature-based solutions that contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and address biodiversity loss, working with companies, investors, governments and development programs. We provide transaction support to companies and investors looking to raise or deploy capital for the protection, restoration and/or sustainable management of landscapes and coastal & marine ecosystems, advise governments on climate and nature finance, and help development programs design and implement investment-focused interventions. We are launching a new fund to invest in nature-based carbon projects in Africa. Learn more at www.crossboundary.com.

Job Description

CrossBoundary Advisory is recruiting a full-time Senior Associate who will execute engagements and support business development across Francophone Africa. We seek candidates with experience across finance, strategy, and understanding of the investment landscape and nature-based solutions (conservation, natural capital, forestry, agriculture, etc.) in emerging markets. This Senior Associate will spend substantial time supporting a long-term program we are implementing related to investments in forests and sustainable land use in the Congo Basin.

As a Senior Associate, you will conduct market and value chain assessments, identify and evaluate investment opportunities, and provide transaction support to both investors and capital seekers. The work in the Congo Basin includes building relationships with governments and nature-based private sector companies and investors to design partnerships and provide transaction support. The role also includes frequent travel within the region including to rural areas to engage with local stakeholders, such as small-holder farmers. You will also support business development, new strategic partnerships and thought leadership.

Who We Are

The CrossBoundary team is a unique group made up of people who are genuinely excited by the opportunity to make a difference in some of the most challenging yet exciting markets in the world. Team members come from diverse backgrounds but share several qualities: curiosity, humility, integrity, a drive for excellence, and a bias for action.

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred (or another relevant advanced degree/professional qualification)

• 5+ years of relevant experience in investment banking, management consulting, private equity, or similar

• Experience living and/or working in underserved markets required; experience in the Central Africa and the Congo Basin highly preferred

• High tolerance for ambiguity; able to operate effectively in a changing context

• Strong quantitative skills and analytical abilities: can think clearly, structure problems logically, and then design and implement solutions that focus on the core issues

• Great at building and maintaining relationships under stress with colleagues and clients in the sector and/or region

• Willing to take on new types of work, even without prior experience or direct supervision

• Experience in project management/leadership roles preferred

• Excellent presentation skills: ability to communicate clearly and effectively with diverse audiences

• Self-starter who is humble and passionate about creating lasting change in underserved markets

• Enthusiastic about working, traveling, and living in sometimes challenging environments

• Fluency in English and French is required

• Experience in in natural capital, conservation, forestry, agriculture, or similar sector strongly preferred

• Knowledge of carbon markets, with experience developing carbon projects preferred

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage multiple projects/deals/workstreams concurrently with various supporting staff configurations

• Independently cultivate and manage relationships with existing and potential investors, clients, companies, and other stakeholders

• Make complex and challenging value-driven decisions

• Manage entire project portfolios

• Support and manage teams in the implementation of complex transactions, projects, and tasks

• Drive workstreams with clients directly and independently

• Conduct and draft analyses, which include market assessments, investment memorandums, as well as macroeconomic, regulatory, and operational assessments

• Development and mentorship of junior staff

• Foster talent across teams and the firm; encourage diversity of people and ideas

• Support recruitment and define inspiring others and building the firm’s culture as a core responsibility

• Advise on carbon project development and deal structuring

Think you have what it takes but not sure you check every box? Research shows that while men apply to roles when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women often only apply when they meet every requirement. If you’re passionate about what we’re building, apply! We want to hear from you.

Locations

The chosen candidate will join our team in either Nairobi, London, Kinshasa or Dakar. This role will involve travel, with the majority of time anticipated to be spent in Congo Basin countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Gabon and Cameroon.

Equal Opportunity Employer

CrossBoundary is an equal opportunity employer. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to our [email protected]