Associate Director, Private Equity (Lead for the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region)

Purpose of Job

The Associate Director – lead for Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (“SEMED”) will originate, execute, monitor and exit private and listed equity and quasi-equity investments in SEMED. In addition, The Associate Director will be accountable for the overall performance of the SEMED equity portfolio. Subject to the Associate Director’s profile and experience, she / he would also source, execute and exit equity investments in Sub Saharan Africa.

The Associate Director will help to formulate and implement EBRD’s equity investment strategy in SEMED, liaising closely with sector and country teams, and relevant support units.

The Associate Director will lead multi-disciplinary and cross-departmental teams and will need to ensure that that projects are executed, implemented and monitored in line with the procedures, policies and strategies of the Bank.

The role is comparable to a Private Equity Fund Investment Director.

Externally, the Associate Director is one of the Bank’s primary representatives and shall ensure relationships with the Bank’s counterparties, companies, advisors, co-investors are maintained and expanded in keeping with EBRD’s ethical and professional standards.

Background

EBRD Private Equity provides growth capital to privately held and listed enterprises, with EUR 4.5bn AUM, through various instruments including straight equity, mezzanine and convertibles. EBRD deploy up to EUR 1bn a year in 20-25 new transactions and invest in a wide range sectors from manufacturing and services to technology, real estate, financial institutions and infrastructure. As a long-standing Impact Investor, the Bank’s equity investments serve to advance high impact initiatives in areas of climate change, social inclusion, digital transition and corporate governance.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

1. Business Development

• Help formulate the Bank’s equity investment strategy and business development approach in the SEMED countries EBRD operates in.
• Lead the deal generation and screening of deal proposal flow, liaising closely with country and sector colleagues within the Bank, and identify sound and executable investments that meet the investment criteria and mandate of the Bank.

1. Structuring and Execution

• Lead and manage complex transactions and project teams
• Lead structuring, negotiation (including review of legal documentation) and the execution of transactions, working with prospective investee companies, consultants and internal units;
• Manage the resources and the work load of the project teams under the incumbents supervision;
• Oversee the project due diligence process ensuring it meets the Bank’s standards;
• Ensure that all transactions within the Associate Director’s responsibility are completed within the specified time frames to a high standard (including preparation of term sheets and all internal memoranda and Board reports) and in line with the policies, procedures and objectives of the Bank.

1. Portfolio Monitoring, Value Creation and Reporting

• Take responsibility for the overall performance of the SEMED equity portfolio in order to deliver attractive financial returns for EBRD over a medium-term holding period.
• Take responsibility for the performance and monitoring of all investments for which he/she is responsible, including taking the lead in maintaining or supervising the management of investee, co-investor, and counterpart relationships, leading value creation efforts, liaising with nominee directors and other shareholders, delivering high quality monitoring reports; proposing regular valuations, working towards exit; managing and supervising more junior bankers who assist in monitoring etc.;
• Take responsibility for ensuring timely notification of any critical investment issues to the relevant Equity Director and/or other senior management, ensuring availability of adequate data and information for them to be able to take timely decisions.

1. Staff Management

• Assist in recruiting, training, coaching, mentoring, and managing junior investment professionals, involving them in all aspects of the project cycle (business origination, appraisal, execution, implementation, monitoring and exit), ensuring adequate quality of project work and appropriate work load distribution amongst the project team members; contribute to their professional and competency development;
• Develop productive relationships within the organisation to able to work effectively in a country/sector matrix structure and in a multi-cultural working environment.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree. Master’s degree preferred.
• Professional qualification such as ACA, CFA, ACCA, or CIMA desirable.
• Strategic thinking and solid investment judgement.
• Strong quantitative/numerical skills are critical with the ability to interpret financial information and to design and use financial models.
• Stakeholder management skills.
• Coaching, mentoring & leadership skills.
• Relationship management and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work to deadlines and under time pressure.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Strong command of French is an advantage.

Experience & Knowledge:

• Significant relevant private equity experience (10+years), preferably in a major private equity firm or private equity arm of a major investment, commercial or development bank/IFI, asset management firm.
• Relevant PE experience and active business network in SEMED is essential. Previous experience investing in Sub-Saharan Africa is an advantage.
• Practical experience of origination, and leading complex equity transactions through the full project life cycle.

Challenges

• Leading and co-ordinating transaction teams to complete various tasks to tight deadlines.
• Co-operating with diverse stakeholders.
• Managing multiple projects and project teams to meet varying and challenging deadlines.
• Managing additional tasks in addition to project work.
• Completing tasks to a high degree of accuracy. 

What is it like to work at the EBRD? / About EBRD 

Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience! You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, and use your talents to make a real difference to people's lives and help shape the future of the regions we invest in.  

At EBRD, our Values – Inclusiveness, Innovation, Trust, and Responsibility – are at the heart of how we work. We bring these to life through our Workplace Behaviours: listening well and speaking up, collaborating smartly, acting decisively with full commitment, and simplifying to amplify our impact. These principles shape our culture and define our success. We seek individuals who not only share these values but are also committed to embedding them in their daily work, fostering a positive and high-performing environment. 

The EBRD environment provides you with: 

• Varied, stimulating and engaging work that gives you an opportunity to interact with a wide range of experts in the financial, political, public and private sectors across the regions we invest in. 
• A working culture that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity. Our workforce reflects a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, bringing fresh ideas, energy, and innovation and enhancing our ability to serve our clients, shareholders, and counterparties effectively.
• A hybrid workplace that offers flexibility to teams and individuals; that is based on trust, flexibility and connectedness. 
• An environment that places sustainability, equality and digital transformation at the heart of what we do. 
• A workplace that prioritises employee wellbeing and provides a comprehensive suite of competitive benefits. 

Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does.  As such, the EBRD seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment. The EBRD encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of the EBRD member countries to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic background or disability.   

Please note, that due to the high volume of applications received, we regret to inform you that we are unable to provide detailed feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted (for further consideration).