Responsibilities
The Senior Director will spearhead CHAI’s Private Sector Engagement and Private Finance initiatives, overseeing strategic development, partnership cultivation, implementation, and team building efforts. This role involves close collaboration with CHAI’s country teams, Health Systems Strengthening leadership, and external stakeholders, including governmental bodies, donors, development finance institutions (Dais), multilateral development banks (MDBs), commercial banks, impact investors, private equity firms, venture capital groups, and healthcare enterprises.
Set strategic direction and develop a platform oriented toward deal execution.
To gain a comprehensive, grassroots-level insight into the health investment landscape of key markets, conduct thorough analyses of critical stakeholders spanning capital providers, health enterprises, regulatory bodies, and intermediary organizations. Identify systemic inefficiencies and strategic opportunities where CHAI’s unique expertise can drive meaningful impact.
Collaborate with stakeholders to craft CHAI’s strategic approach to engaging the private sector and mobilizing private finance for health initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa, delineating key focus areas, priority subsectors—such as primary care, wholesale distribution systems, retail pharmacy, diagnostics, oncology, oxygen, supply chains, energy, and digital health—and clarifying CHAI’s role within the broader health ecosystem.
Develop comprehensive operating models, robust impact measurement frameworks, and structured work plans, while establishing the operational infrastructure necessary for a fully functional deal platform. This includes designing systems for deal scouting, cultivating deal flow, managing pipelines, implementing due diligence frameworks, creating institutional deal memory, and standardizing repeatable playbooks, as well as refining impact measurement methodologies.
Treat the strategy as a dynamic document, incorporating scheduled review intervals to evaluate progress and enabling decisive actions to reinforce successful approaches or pivot as indicated by the evidence.
Deploy capital and cultivate strategic alliances across the entire capital ecosystem.
Develop and oversee strategic partnerships with senior leadership across multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, philanthropic foundations, impact-driven debt and equity funds, private equity and venture capital firms, local commercial banks, and microfinance institutions.
Explore potential synergies between CHAI’s health priorities and capital providers, developing tangible partnerships and co-investment strategies.
Where applicable, establish collaborations with global firms—such as those specializing in medical equipment, digital health solutions, or supply chain technologies—to enhance African health service delivery platforms, aligning with donor priorities that emphasize the integration of trade and aid initiatives.
Strategically represent CHAI at high-impact forums, focusing on opportunities that catalyze deal origination or enhance strategic positioning. The emphasis is on meaningful engagements that yield tangible outcomes, rather than participating in a routine conference circuit.
Design innovative financing mechanisms and successfully execute associated transactions to achieve strategic objectives.
Design and execute innovative blended finance and risk-sharing mechanisms—such as first-loss facilities, portfolio guarantees, subordinated capital, and results-linked incentives—to facilitate access to competitively priced financing for health-focused SMEs and service providers. Develop and validate practical execution plans that define clear roles and responsibilities for all partners involved.
Partner with stakeholders to facilitate transactions from inception to completion, overseeing alignment, term sheet negotiations, structuring, documentation, and execution oversight. Address the intricacies of local currency financing, tenor considerations, foreign exchange risk management, and compliance with diverse regulatory frameworks across African markets.
Develop and implement systems to track and demonstrate measurable health outcomes and financial performance, utilizing practical monitoring and reporting methodologies.
Collaborate closely with leading health-focused enterprises to drive strategic expansion and accelerate scalable growth initiatives.
Provide targeted support to health businesses by delivering hands-on commercial and financial advisory services, enhancing governance frameworks, clarifying unit economics, and preparing investment-ready materials. Evaluate financing requirements and connect companies with suitable sources of capital.
Develop a structured methodology for originating deals and managing the pipeline, transitioning from isolated transactions to scalable, repeatable processes.
Develop and implement scalable pathways by establishing partnerships with governmental bodies and key strategic purchasers.
Construct and lead a high-caliber team while serving as an esteemed ambassador for CHAI in all external engagements.
Develop and lead a high-performing team, cultivating a culture that harmonizes financial discipline with genuine humility at the country level.
You will engage with senior-level stakeholders across governments, donors, investors, and private sector leaders on behalf of CHAI. Additionally, you will craft compelling external communications and assist in shaping CHAI’s strategic perspectives on sustainable health financing.
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, or equivalent practical experience, is required for this role. A minimum of 3 years of hands-on experience in [relevant field] is essential, along with proficiency in [specific tools or technologies]. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are necessary to address complex challenges. Excellent communication abilities are also required to collaborate effectively across teams. Prior experience with [specific process or system] is preferred, and familiarity with industry standards or regulations is advantageous.
A bachelor’s degree is mandatory; an advanced degree in Finance, Business (MBA), Economics, or a related discipline is highly desirable.
With a proven track record spanning over a decade, you should possess extensive, progressive expertise in impact investment, blended finance, development finance, venture capital, private equity, investment banking, or structured finance, alongside a demonstrated ability to shepherd transactions from inception through to full implementation.
A proven track record in crafting and implementing strategy within intricate, uncertain settings—converting overarching objectives into executable initiatives, pinpointing strategic opportunities across a diverse and disjointed environment, and pivoting direction in response to shifting circumstances.
Skilled in strategically deploying capital across various stages of company growth and evaluating investment readiness. Proven track record in designing risk-sharing mechanisms, including guarantees, first-loss positions, and subordinated capital arrangements, with expertise in collaborating with Development Finance Institutions (Dais), Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), and commercial financial institutions.
A strong professional background with deep insight into the health sector landscape in sub-Saharan Africa, supported by a well-established network spanning healthcare, finance, and development domains. Demonstrated experience collaborating with or providing advisory to health SMEs and companies operating in frontier or emerging markets, coupled with a clear grasp of the practical challenges involved in delivering accessible, cost-effective services.
Experienced in assembling and guiding high-performing teams by identifying and recruiting top-tier talent, defining strategic direction, and fostering an environment that cultivates excellence through strong culture and efficient systems.
Strong proficiency in both written and spoken English is essential, with fluency in French or Portuguese serving as a valuable asset, considering CHAI’s operational reach.
Consistently demonstrates flexibility to accommodate regular travel, with an estimated requirement of 25–35% of the role’s responsibilities.
Attributes:
Energized by establishing structures from the ground up in dynamic, unstructured settings, this individual thrives in environments that demand hands-on execution. They prioritize tangible results and swift deal closure over meticulous framework development, embodying a pragmatic, results-driven approach to building and scaling initiatives.
Commercially fluent and mission-driven, the ideal candidate excels at credible engagement with DFI investment committees and rural healthcare entrepreneurs, while adeptly translating financial returns into tangible health outcomes.
Demonstrates cultural agility and organizational humility by thriving in an NGO environment, honoring CHAI’s collaborative ethos, and integrating the efficiency and discipline of the private sector. The ideal candidate will approach this role with authentic commitment to its mission-driven purpose rather than viewing it as a secondary option.
Demonstrates exceptional interpersonal abilities and emotional intelligence to foster trust in varied professional settings, including government representatives, NGO partners, investors, and startup founders, while maintaining smooth and productive interactions.
Intellectual curiosity and an aptitude for navigating ambiguity are essential for this position, as the role involves crafting strategy within an evolving and uncertain environment. Clearly articulating these expectations will facilitate a more targeted selection process, ensuring alignment between candidates and the position’s unique demands.
Driven by a mission to enhance access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, this role seeks individuals who are deeply committed to making a meaningful impact in the healthcare landscape.
In the initial 12 to 18 months, success will be defined by the following key achievements:
A definitive strategy and operational framework have been established, including the identification of key countries and subsectors.
A core team has been assembled and is fully operational, supported by clearly established workflows and robust pipeline management systems.
A robust network has been cultivated with key capital providers, alongside a carefully selected pipeline of high-impact healthcare enterprises.
Develop 2–3 financing structures that are strategically designed or in the initial phases of implementation, in collaboration with aligned partners, ensuring a clear and credible trajectory toward the first capital deployment.
Targeted assistance was provided to an initial group of companies, resulting in measurable progress in their investment readiness or the amount of capital secured.
Systemic barriers to healthcare investment in Sub-Saharan Africa have been thoroughly identified, documented, and integrated into strategic decision-making frameworks.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA
Experience Required
10 years
