Program Manager, Circular Economy

Role Overview

This position owns AECF's circular economy investment portfolio end to end — sourcing and appraising private enterprises, shaping the financing packages they receive, and staying close to their performance once capital is deployed. Reporting to the Associate Director – Energy, the Programme Manager pairs investment judgement with programme delivery, running a small team alongside the portfolio's work plan, budget and donor reporting obligations. The role sits at the point where development funding becomes financeable business: every deal recommended, structured and monitored here determines whether circular economy enterprises across the programme countries actually grow, and whether reported results hold up to scrutiny.

Key Responsibilities

• Investment appraisal and structuring. Run full due diligence on candidate enterprises — pressure-testing business models, financial viability, scalability, management strength and downside risk — and recommend financing instruments such as results-based repayable grants, blended structures and risk-sharing arrangements matched to each enterprise's needs and risk profile.
• Investment committee and disbursement. Take recommendations through the investment committee, respond to challenge, and manage the journey from approval to disbursement without slippage.
• Active portfolio management. Track financial and operational results of investee companies, monitor covenant compliance, and verify results delivered under the results-based financing mechanism.
• Programme planning and budget control. Own the circular economy programme's work planning, budgeting and reporting cycle, keeping delivery on schedule and within agreed parameters.
• Team and consultant supervision. Guide programme staff and contracted specialists, including the technical circular economy advisers who backstop the portfolio.
• Donor coordination and risk oversight. Interface with donors on deliverables, timelines and reporting, while watching programme and portfolio risk and flagging issues early enough to act on them.
• Investment readiness and technical assistance. Commission and oversee support that strengthens portfolio companies — cleaner production, eco-design, sustainable packaging, recycling, repair and refurbishment, reverse logistics, material recovery and resource efficiency — working with circular economy specialists, the Advisory team and the ESG team on operational performance, ESG practice and bankability.
• Market development and learning. Build relationships with financial institutions, industry bodies, government agencies and development partners to deepen circular economy financing and strengthen deal flow; contribute to market research, investment cases and knowledge products; and oversee monitoring, evaluation and reporting, including development of investment and technical indicators and validation of financial, environmental and circularity results.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A postgraduate qualification in Finance, Investment, Business Administration, Economics, Development Finance or a comparable discipline. Additional training or background in Circular Economy, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences or Sustainable Manufacturing is helpful but not required.
• At least ten years in investment, fund or portfolio management, private equity, venture capital, blended finance or development finance, including direct experience investing in or supporting private sector enterprises in Africa.
• Substantial hands-on track record in investment due diligence, structuring financing instruments (grants, results-based financing, guarantees or similar) and managing a live investment portfolio.
• A minimum of three years in a programme management or team leadership capacity, with responsibility for budgets and work plans.
• Familiarity with circular economy business models — plastics and packaging, electronic waste, recycling systems, resource recovery, eco-design or industrial symbiosis — is preferred. Candidates with strong investment credentials and a demonstrated ability to absorb a new sector quickly are encouraged to apply.
• Experience on donor-funded programmes involving blended finance, results-based financing or challenge funds is an advantage.
• Strong financial and investment analysis skills, proven programme and team management, and solid grounding in blended finance, results-based financing and enterprise development.
• Excellent analytical, written and stakeholder engagement abilities, with the capacity to translate technical and financial concepts into practical business solutions and to work productively across multidisciplinary teams.