Director of Portfolio and Risk Management

Job Description

WaterEquity is seeking a Director of Portfolio and Risk Management for an emerging markets investment portfolio. The portfolio is comprised of two principal types of investments:

1. Loans to a variety of different types of financial institutions (e.g., microfinance institutions, banks) to support lending to households and small and medium enterprises for water and sanitation; and

2. Private equity and mezzanine investments in operating companies and projects in municipal and industrial water and sanitation infrastructure.

In this newly created position, the Director will be responsible for strengthening and overseeing WaterEquity’s framework for portfolio monitoring, as well as managing risk at the individual investment and portfolio levels. This includes refining and expanding existing policies, procedures, and systems to monitor, report, and manage risks. The Director will recruit and lead a small team, initially comprised of a Portfolio Manager and Risk Manager, and will coordinate with the larger investment management team of 15 people. The ideal candidate will bring a blend of leadership and willingness to play a hands-on role. S/he will have a vision for risk management within a small asset manager, and a track record of building effective frameworks and systems for risk management.

Job Responsibilities

The Director of Portfolio and Risk Management reports to the Chief Investment Officer and is a senior leader within the 15-person Investment Management team.

Strategy, Policies, and Systems

• Lead monitoring, analysis, and reporting of global water and sanitation investment portfolio
• Building upon existing framework, refine and strengthen policies, procedures, and systems for portfolio monitoring and risk management
• Improve inter-connectivity and streamline IT solutions, e.g., Salesforce, e-front, Refinitiv.
• Lead approaches for managing risk within existing and potential investment vehicles

Monitoring and Measurement

• Oversee collection of quarterly and annual reports from investees including financial and impact data
• Manage investee database including consolidation and analysis of data, with a particular focus on maximizing automation
• Monitor and analyze investee and portfolio health and performance, as well as a variety of risks such as credit, market, foreign currency, and impact

Portfolio Management

• Oversee modeling of portfolio and fund performance
• Perform scenario analysis and stress testing of risks to identify opportunities for improved portfolio management, asset allocation, and investment policies
• Evaluate risk profiles of individual investments during screening, due diligence, and during the investment period
• Identify financial changes and covenant violations among investees, propose strategies for resolution
• In coordination with Director of Investment Compliance and Regional Directors, implement workout strategies for problem investments

Reporting

• Lead preparation of reports on performance, trends, and risks for internal and external audiences
• Ensure documentation and reporting of problem loans and associated actions that facilitate oversight, accountability, monitoring, and risk management.

Skills and Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have a track record of portfolio and risk management for an investment fund manager, as well as a demonstrated passion for social and environmental impact. The following qualifications are necessary:

• Master’s degree in relevant field, or equivalent professional experience
• Minimum twelve (12) years of experience in asset management in emerging markets, preferably with private debt in the financial institution sector
• At least five (5) years of experience in portfolio monitoring and risk management
• Experience with credit risk scoring and track record establishing or strengthening risk management frameworks and systems
• Experience managing a database and producing concise reports on an investment portfolio
• Demonstrated track record automating tasks and processes
• Record of successfully managing distressed assets or problem investments to desirable outcomes
• Familiarity with risks associated with investments in the following areas preferred: emerging markets financial institutions, infrastructure projects, foreign currencies
• Clear, concise communications and ability to present information in a succinct manner
• Experience managing a team and strong leadership skills
• Demonstrated commitment to social and environmental impact
• Analytic rigor and objectivity with acute attention to detail
• Fluency in additional languages is an advantage, particularly Spanish and French

Location

Flexible within United States Central or Eastern Time Zones. Preference for Washington, DC or Kansas City, MO.

No relocation benefits will be offered.

Compensation and Benefits

Overall compensation will be commensurate with education and experience and structured to reflect a competitive package for a full-time senior-level team member.

About the Organization

WaterEquity is the first-ever impact investment manager dedicated to mobilizing private sector investments to accelerate universal access to water and sanitation in emerging markets. Since 2016, WaterEquity has raised three funds with total investor commitments of $200m and over $145m invested in 35 companies in ten countries. WaterEquity is a purpose-driven company with a culture of innovation. WaterEquity is launching additional funds and expects to rapidly scale up assets under management over the next few years. Additional information about WaterEquity is available at www.waterequity.org.

WaterEquity is an equal opportunity employer.

WaterEquity recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.

At WaterEquity, we are on an intentional journey to determine how we can champion diversity, equity, and inclusion not only within our organization, but also within our industry. We are committed to creating a diverse work environment that is characterized by engagement, a sense of connection, and respect for the differences and contributions of all our professionals.

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