Director, Catalytic Transactions

Job Summary

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JOB PURPOSE

The Director, Catalytic Transactions leads FSD Africa’s initiatives to develop and scale innovative financial products and transactions that unlock capital for key sectors, driving financial sector development to support sustainable economic growth. The role focuses on mobilising investment, designing de-risking mechanisms, and supporting financial product innovation to catalyse transaction flows, increase market participation, and enhance financial resilience.

With a strategic and systems-level approach, the role advances product development, investment facilitation, and transaction structuring, ensuring that interventions mobilise and catalyse more and better capital for sustainable development. It also champions thought leadership and capacity development, ensuring that FSD Africa plays a leading role in shaping innovative financial solutions. Ultimately, this role supports economic transformation, promotes environmental sustainability, and facilitates increased access to finance.

CONTRACT DURATION: 24-month fixed-term, renewable  

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports directly to Chief Financial Markets Officer (CFMO)
• Direct reports: Senior Specialist(s), Catalytic Transactions
• Indirect reports : Associate(s), Catalytic Transactions

Job Details

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

1. Thought Leadership & Strategy Development 

Act as a thought leader on catalytic transactions and financial product innovation, shaping strategy and policy to advance FSD Africa’s purpose of Making Finance Work for Africa’s Future:

• Continuously conduct ecosystem analysis and research to deepen understanding of Africa’s financial markets, identifying systemic barriers to investment and opportunities for transaction innovation.
• Lead the development and continuous refinement of theories of change that shape FSD Africa’s Catalytic Transactions strategies, incorporating insights from past interventions and performance monitoring.
• Engage with policymakers, regulators, development partners, and market stakeholders to conceptualise and advocate for interventions that drive transaction structuring, risk mitigation, and capital mobilisation.
• Act as a thought leader on structured finance, blended finance, and impact investment, providing expert insights on financial innovation and capital mobilisation at global and regional forums.
• Develop and publish high-impact research, market insights, and policy papers to position FSD Africa as a leader in catalytic finance and transaction development, influencing strategy and stakeholder engagement.

2. Programme Development & Implementation 

Lead the development and implementation of FSD Africa's Catalytic Transactions strategy, ensuring the design and delivery of high-impact interventions that drive systemic market change:

• Lead the Pillar team in developing a comprehensive Catalytic Transactions strategy, ensuring alignment with FSD Africa's five-year strategy and responsiveness to emerging market needs, including:
• Designing and structuring innovative financial transactions, including thematic bonds, blended finance vehicles, and aggregation instruments.
• Developing mechanisms to enhance liquidity, mitigate currency risks, and increase private sector participation in key investment sectors.
• Guide Principal-level staff in developing portfolios of interventions that deliver optimal Value for Money in the achievement of strategic outcomes.
• Oversee the design and execution of high-quality programmes, ensuring adherence to best practices in transaction structuring, investment facilitation, and risk mitigation.
• Monitor programme performance and lead the team in adaptive management, ensuring that individual investments and the portfolio as a whole deliver measurable impact and systemic change.
• Foster collaboration across pillars and Centres of Expertise to leverage expertise and amplify outcomes.

3. Financial Management & Fundraising 

Secure and manage financial resources to sustain and expand the Catalytic Transactions pillar, ensuring Value for Money, effective risk management, and compliance.

• With support from the Director Communications, Partnerships & Funding, lead resource mobilisation efforts to secure the funds required to deliver strategy.
• Oversee financial planning, budgeting, and expenditure tracking to ensure optimal resource utilisation.
• Ensure rigorous risk management and due diligence for all transaction-based interventions.
• Maintain strong investor relationships and ensure compliance with financial reporting and accountability requirements.
• Lead the team to scrutinise Value for Money across the programme portfolio, continually innovating in pursuit of enhanced development impact.

4. Influencing, Advocacy & Communication 

Drive the transformation of Africa's investment and capital mobilisation ecosystem through effective influencing, advocacy, and communication:

• Ensure that ecosystem analysis includes identification of key stakeholders, mapping out influential actors and market segments.
• Identify how achieving strategic outcomes depends on influencing mindset and behavioural change among various stakeholder groups and market segments.
• Collaborate with the Strategic Communications team to develop innovative communication, influencing, and advocacy strategies that support systemic change.
• Lead the Pillar team in implementing these strategies, ensuring alignment with FSD Africa’s objectives and market transformation goals.
• Take personal responsibility for delivering any aspects of the influencing and advocacy plan that are assigned, ensuring high-impact engagement with key market actors.

5: Implementing Partner Engagement & Capacity Building 

Develop and oversee strategic partnerships that enhance transaction structuring, investment facilitation, and risk mitigation, supporting the growth of sustainable financial markets:

• Identify and engage high-impact implementing partners capable of making a substantive contribution to the achievement of pillar strategies.
• Lead efforts to reach out to such partners, building relationships and convening strategy-development discussions.
• When selecting partners through a market-wide call for proposals, oversee the development of Terms of Reference (ToRs) that clearly define competency requirements, ensuring alignment with FSD Africa's procurement procedures.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives as required, ensuring that implementing partners are equipped to achieve project outcomes.
• Monitor partner performance, ensuring high standards of execution and long-term sustainability of interventions.

6: Team Leadership & Organisational Development 

Build and lead the Catalytic Transactions pillar team of staff and consultants in a manner that empowers them to add value to FSD Africa and deliver high standards of performance.

• Ensure the Catalytic Transactions team has the necessary expertise through strategic recruitment and consultant procurement.
• Provide team members with clear goals, expectations, and accountability structures.
• Foster a high-performance culture through coaching, professional development, and mentorship.
• Monitor and review performance, ensuring accountability for results and adherence to FSD Africa’s values.
• Deliver an engaging leadership style that motivates team members, fosters collaboration, and promotes FSD Africa’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) principles.

Carry out any other duties or special assignments as assigned by the Management.

COMPETENCIES
Competencies describe the key behaviours that drive success in all of FSD Africa’s roles, regardless of technical specialism. They have been derived from systematic research correlating performance with personal attributes. 

Competency Levels 

• Level 1: Basic
• Level 2: Foundation   
• Level 3: Specialist
• Level 4: Senior Specialist      
• Level 5: Leading Expert          
• Level 6: Executive

This position requires competency at Executive Level for all the competencies listed below:

ESSENTIAL FOUNDATIONS
Commitment & Alignment
Demonstrates commitment to serving our partners and alignment with the values and vision of FSD Africa
Change & Challenge
Has a strong sense of ownership that leads to learning, self-starting, taking initiative, driving change and leading development
 

ACHIEVEMENT COMPETENCIES
Situational Awareness & Thinking
Thinks clearly and intentionally, analysing information objectively, understanding issues, solving problems, and making decisions
Drive for results
Is keenly motivated to achieve goals & act with accountability to deliver quality results
 

PEOPLE COMPETENCIES
Relationships & Collaboration
Discerns and appreciates the values, viewpoints, or abilities of others; effectively reconciles different interests and displays emotional intelligence
Communication & Influencing
Deliberately adjusts behaviour to accommodate others; communicates clearly, confidently, and appropriately to influence others
 

Requirements

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Qualifications and Education

• Master’s degree and 15 years of experience or Bachelor’s degree and 18 years of experience.
• Extensive experience and networks in structured finance, investment banking, blended finance, or transaction advisory.
• At least 7 years in a senior leadership role, with experience managing teams and large-scale programmes.
• Exceptional skills in written and spoken English.

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• Proven track record of leading successful investment transactions and financial product innovation.
• Deep expertise in transaction structuring, risk mitigation, and capital mobilisation.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, securing co-investment, and donors/investors engagement.
• Strong track record of managing complex projects with significant budgets; ensuring effective resource management and Value for Money 
• Experience in regulatory engagement and policy advocacy to drive financial market reforms.
• Proven track record of building and managing relationships with investors, policymakers, and financial institutions.
• Track record of managing and developing high-performing teams.
• Familiarity with major stakeholders in Africa’s capital markets ecosystem.

Desirable

• Strong background in financial engineering, portfolio management, and risk assessment.
• Experience in multi-cultural environments and international capital markets.
• Knowledge of donor policies and FCDO-funded programmes.
   

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity: 

FSDAi is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of equity and inclusivity.  We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: 

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status. We will ensure that all applicants are provided a fair chance to compete for available job opportunities.

About Company

FSD Africa

https://fsdafrica.org/

FSD Africa is a specialist development agency working to help make finance work for Africa’s future. Based in Nairobi, FSD Africa’s team of financial sector experts work alongside governments, business leaders, regulators, and policymakers to design and build ambitious programmes that make financial markets work better for everyone. FSD Africa Investments, provides early-stage, risk-bearing, catalytic and patient capital to inventive commercial organisations in order to stimulate capital flows in support of green economic growth benefiting people and planet. Established in 2012, FSD Africa is incorporated as a non-profit company limited by guarantee in Kenya. It is funded by UK aid from the UK government.