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Lead, Legal Advisor
OVERALL JOB PURPOSE
FSDAi wishes to engage a seasoned legal advisor with in-depth professional expertise in investments transactions who wishes to apply those skills towards a developmental organisation making finance work for Africa. With direct reporting to the CIO, the Lead, Legal Advisor will lead the investment teams in their engagement with external counsel on legal due diligence and transaction documentation. The scope for the legal advisory role will mainly focus on investment transactions for FSDAi but there is additional scope for legal advisory work to FSD Africa for the grant-related transactions across the pillars. This will be a part-time role
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS
Leading on legal structuring with the investment teams
The Lead, legal advisor will identify the legal scope and requirements for each investment transaction working closely with the investment teams. These will be included in the scope of legal due diligence to be carried out by external legal counsel.
Coordinating the appointment of suitable legal advisors on a deal-by-deal basis
The Lead, legal advisor will also be involved in identifying suitable legal counsel, including drafting of TORs, and closely be involved in the procurement process to evaluate bids received from potential legal advisors, including price, deliverable terms etc. This will culminate in the appointment of suitable legal counsel that are fit for purpose at the best possible rate.
Instructing, guiding, overseeing and ensuring efficient delivery of the legal due diligence process, drafting and signing of transaction documentation
The Lead, legal advisor will act as the primary contact between FSDAi and the appointed external legal counsel in:
- Instructing legal requirements of a particular transaction based on the outputs from 1 and 2 above.
- Guiding, overseeing and ensuring efficient delivery of contracted legal due-diligence and drafting work to make sure that TORs are fully satisfied, delivered in reasonable time, within budget and in line with internal standards/templates.
The advisor will also review draft transaction documentation in consultation with deal teams which will culminate in preparing final documents ready for signing. The advisor will be responsible for briefing the CIO and CEO on the transaction documents prior to signing.
Monitoring post-closing compliance with transaction documentation and handling any legal matters post-closing
The Lead, legal advisor will work closely with the deal teams and the Portfolio Risk Manager to ensure compliance of subsequent terms and conditions, adherence to key investment clauses and addressing reserved matters. The advisor will advise on key portfolio investment matters from a legal perspective, especially if these are likely to have a material impact on FSDAi or its shareholders.
Ad-hoc legal matters from FSD Africa and FSDAi
The Lead, legal advisor will be called upon to advise on any other ad-hoc legal matters that relate to FSDAi and FSD Africa from time to time. These could be pillar-specific or grant-specific legal advisory and will involve engagements with FSD Africa pillar heads.
Carry out any other duties or special assignments as assigned by the Management.
PERSON SPECIFICATIONS
Qualifications and Education
- Master’s degree (LLM) and 12 years of experience or Bachelor’s Degree (LLB) and 14 years of experience
- Relevant post-graduate qualification in Law with a practising certificate
- Excellent skills in written and spoken English, including drafting and reporting.
Essential Experience, Knowledge and Skills
- 15-20 years’ experience in corporate finance, in a law firm, with different jurisdictions within Sub-Saharan Africa
- Good understanding of English law and matters that are of legal importance in the UK.
- Desire to apply their commercial expertise for developmental/impact purposes.
- Adequate balance of seniority and capacity to engage intensively with FSDAi’ s Investment Managers, the external legal counsel, the investee’s legal teams during due-diligence and FSDAi’ s signatories during transaction closing.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment
- Previous experience of working in/with aid-funded projects
- Languages: French, local African languages
Principal, Innovative Climate Finance
OVERALL JOB PURPOSE
- This Principal, Innovative Climate Finance role will lead the innovative green and climate finance interventions, with focus on catalysing, supporting innovation and scale up of green and climate finance transactions across Africa.
- The Principal, Innovative Climate Finance will have an opportunity to influence strategy and develop a portfolio of innovative transactions. The role will support transactions in the collaborative initiatives around natural capital and carbon markets with transactions being developed to the point developed at which they are funded by the market (with or without the involvement of FSDAi).
- The role will lead in the identification of Africa market priorities, appreciate market needs and requirements, and determine opportunities for capital markets pillar to contribute to transformational change and improvement. The job holder will be accountable for the development and implementation of projects working directly with implementing partners and consultants in the delivery of the projects and ensuring the successful management of FSD Africa Capital Markets strategic and operational interventions.
- In addition, the role will provide thought leadership in the green/climate finance, providing strategic and tactical advice to partners and external stakeholders and driving the transformation of capital markets through effective influencing, advocacy, and communication. He/she will be responsible for managing complex projects with a team of Senior Specialists and consultants and will be a credible coach for the external stakeholders.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS
Thought Leadership & Strategy Development
- To participate in the development of strategy and programmes for the Capital Markets pillar and support the Risk & Resilience, Digital Innovations and FSDA Investments pillar strategies on innovative climate finance:
- Pipeline & Portfolio Development
Financial management & fundraising
- Ensure sound financial management of Innovative Climate Finance by securing, managing, and safeguarding programme finances; ensuring that the practice achieves optimal financial efficiency, value for money and impact, all the while ensuring compliance with FSD Africa and donor policies.
- influencing & Communicating for Impact
- Drive the transformation of capital markets through effective influencing, advocacy, and communication strategies.
- Implementing partner engagement & capacity building
- Support the Director of Capital Markets in identifying, engaging, and empowering key implementing partners; so that they are equipped to operate effectively and contribute to the development of their respective Capital Markets.
- Team Leadership and Unit Management
- Lead the practice area in effective and efficient planning and management of programs and resources to deliver excellent standards of service delivery.
Qualifications and Education
- Master’s degree and 12 years of experience or Bachelor’s Degree and 14 years of experience in the areas of technical specialism, including at a senior level, in a financial markets’ environment.
- Excellent skills in written and spoken English
Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills
- A deal originator by temperament and experience – 7-10 years of transacting/raising capital/deal origination.
- Having good networks across financial intermediaries and other stakeholders in Africa; well connected to the global DFI community and to mainstream investors.
- Track record of managing relationships and influencing key stakeholders at leadership or specialist level
- A good understanding of how the full spectrum of finance providers relate to, and complement, each other (private sector asset managers at one end through DFIs to donors at the other) – and able to facilitate their involvement.
- Highly collaborative by nature – hungry for success but a committed team player working for the success of his/her colleagues.
- Significant experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative and trusted relationships with investors, investees, implementing partners, private sector players and government counterparts.
- Demonstrated track record of rigorous project management skills and achievement of results – a finisher of tasks, not a process manager.
- Ability to manage project portfolio of significant budget.
- Ability to manage project diversity and complexity
- Ability to manage significant complexity and conceptual sophistication
- Successful track record of delivery of results in the area of technical specialism and the provision of technical assistance
- Understanding of the development world and strategic MRM (preferred)
Desirable
- Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment
- Knowledge of donor policies and procedures
- Previous experience of working in FCDO-funded projects
- Languages: French, local African languages