Oversee a variety of critical tasks, including managing project timelines, delegating responsibilities to team members, and ensuring adherence to established standards. You will coordinate cross-functional efforts to align with organizational objectives while monitoring progress through regular evaluations. Additionally, you will identify process improvements, address potential challenges proactively, and maintain clear communication with stakeholders to foster collaboration. This role requires meticulous attention to detail, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to multitask efficiently under dynamic conditions.
The Senior Director will oversee CHAI’s Private Sector Engagement and Private Finance initiatives, encompassing strategic development, partnership cultivation, execution, and team leadership. In this role, the Director will collaborate extensively with CHAI’s country teams and Health Systems Strengthening leadership, as well as engage with external stakeholders such as governments, donors, development finance institutions, multilateral development banks, commercial banks, impact investors, private equity firms, venture capital groups, and healthcare enterprises.
We will develop and implement strategic initiatives to construct a platform centered on deal-making, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and fostering a results-driven environment.
To cultivate a comprehensive, grassroots-level comprehension of the health investment landscape in key markets, map critical stakeholders spanning capital providers, health enterprises, regulatory bodies, and intermediaries, with the goal of pinpointing systemic deficiencies and guiding where CHAI can deliver unparalleled value.
Collaborate in formulating CHAI’s strategic approach to private sector engagement and private financing for health initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa, encompassing the identification of key focus regions, priority subsectors—such as primary care, wholesale distribution systems, retail pharmacy, diagnostics, oncology, oxygen, supply chains, energy, and digital health—and defining CHAI’s strategic position within the broader healthcare ecosystem.
Develop comprehensive operating models, impact assessment frameworks, and strategic work plans while constructing the operational backbone of a fully functional deal platform. This includes establishing processes for deal scouting, cultivating deal flow, managing pipelines, implementing due diligence frameworks, maintaining institutional deal memory, creating repeatable playbooks, and designing impact measurement methodologies.
Treat the strategy as a dynamic document by establishing recurring review milestones to evaluate progress and make informed decisions to either intensify efforts or pivot direction based on the emerging evidence.
Mobilize capital and cultivate strategic relationships across the full spectrum of investors to drive funding initiatives and long-term growth.
Develop and oversee high-level partnerships with a diverse range of capital providers, including multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, foundations, impact funds (both debt and equity), private equity and venture capital firms, local commercial banks, and microfinance institutions.
Explore potential synergies between CHAI’s health priorities and capital providers, developing feasible partnership models and co-investment strategies to advance shared objectives.
Where appropriate, establish collaborations with global enterprises—including those specializing in medical equipment, digital health solutions, and supply chain technologies—to enhance African health service delivery systems, aligning with donor priorities that emphasize the convergence of trade and development assistance.
Strategically represent CHAI at pivotal forums, focusing engagements that directly generate deal origination or bolster strategic positioning. The emphasis is on meaningful participation that delivers tangible outcomes, rather than routine conference attendance.
Develop and implement innovative financing solutions and strategic transactions to achieve organizational objectives.
Drive the development and deployment of 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. Verify that execution strategies are practical and include well-defined roles for all partners involved.
Drive transactions from origination to closing by aligning partners, negotiating term sheets, structuring deals, finalizing documentation, and providing ongoing oversight. Navigate the complexities of local currency financing, tenor management, FX risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance across diverse African markets.
Develop and implement systems that directly link operational mechanisms to tangible health outcomes and financial performance, supported by practical monitoring and reporting frameworks.
Collaborate closely with leading healthcare organizations to drive expansion and scalability initiatives.
Provide strategic commercial and financial advisory services to health businesses, including tailored support to enhance governance, clarify unit economics, and develop investable proposals. Evaluate financing requirements and connect organizations with suitable capital providers to facilitate growth and sustainability.
Develop a structured methodology for managing deal origination and pipeline processes, shifting focus from isolated transactions to scalable and repeatable frameworks.
Provide strategic support for scaling pathways by establishing contracts with governmental entities and key purchasers to drive growth and expand market reach.
Develop and lead a high-caliber team while serving as a primary point of contact for CHAI in all external engagements.
Construct a cohesive, high-impact team while cultivating an organizational culture that harmonizes financial discipline with genuine, country-specific humility.
Represent CHAI in high-level engagements with government officials, donor organizations, investors, and private sector executives. Produce polished external communications and help shape CHAI’s strategic perspectives on sustainable health financing.
Seeking a highly organized candidate with exceptional communication skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel. Position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related field, along with 3–5 years of relevant experience. Responsibilities include managing schedules, coordinating meetings, preparing reports, and liaising with stakeholders. The ideal applicant should demonstrate strong analytical abilities, attention to detail, and the capacity to work independently in a fast-paced environment. Ability to multitask, prioritize tasks effectively, and meet deadlines is essential.
A bachelor’s degree is essential; an advanced degree in Finance, Business (preferably an MBA), Economics, or a closely related discipline is highly advantageous.
With a minimum of ten years of advancing expertise in impact investment, blended finance, development finance, venture capital, private equity, investment banking, or structured finance, you have successfully shepherded transactions from initial conception through to full implementation.
Proven capability to devise and implement strategy within intricate, uncertain settings—converting overarching objectives into practical initiatives, determining optimal allocation of resources across a disparate environment, and pivoting direction as circumstances change.
Proficiency in capital allocation strategies tailored to diverse company growth phases and evaluating investment preparedness is essential. Background in designing risk-sharing mechanisms, including guarantees, first-loss positions, and subordinated capital, along with collaboration experience with Dais, MDBs, or commercial financial institutions, is required.
A proven track record of professional experience within the health sector across sub-Saharan Africa, coupled with an established network spanning healthcare, finance, and development industries. Demonstrated expertise collaborating with or advising health subject-matter experts (SMEs) and enterprises operating in frontier or emerging markets, alongside a deep comprehension of the practical challenges involved in providing cost-effective services.
Demonstrated ability to assemble and guide high-performing teams by identifying and recruiting top-tier talent, developing strategic direction, and cultivating an environment that fosters excellence through robust culture and operational frameworks.
Strong written and verbal proficiency in English is essential, with fluency in French or Portuguese being a considerable advantage due to CHAI’s operational presence.
Professionals should expect to undertake frequent travel, with an approximate commitment of 25–35% of their schedule, reflecting the demands of the role.
Attributes:
Energized by transforming unstructured environments into tangible outcomes from the ground up, this role thrives on a builder’s mindset. With a relentless focus on execution, it prioritizes delivering results over refining theoretical frameworks.
Commercially adept with a strong sense of purpose: skilled in effectively engaging with DFI investment committees and rural healthcare entrepreneurs, while adeptly bridging financial returns with health impact.
Culturally adept and organizationally humble, this individual thrives in an NGO setting, embracing CHAI’s collaborative culture while driving the efficiency and discipline characteristic of the private sector. The ideal candidate must be deeply committed to the mission-driven work of the organization, viewing this role as a purposeful pursuit rather than a secondary option.
Demonstrates exceptional interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence by fostering trust across varied professional relationships, including government officials, NGO colleagues, investors, and founders, while ensuring seamless collaboration.
Intellectual curiosity, coupled with a capacity to navigate ambiguity, is essential for this position, as the role entails developing strategy within an evolving and unpredictable landscape. Being able to acknowledge and articulate these challenges upfront would facilitate better self-assessment for candidates considering the opportunity.
Driven by a compelling mission to enhance access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, this role seeks individuals who are deeply committed to making a meaningful difference in the healthcare landscape.
Within the initial 12 to 18-month period, success will be measured by the following benchmarks:
A well-defined strategy and operating model have been established, with designated priority countries and subsectors clearly outlined.
A fully staffed core team is in place, accompanied by established workflows and robust pipeline management systems.
A robust network of capital providers has been cultivated, complemented by a carefully selected portfolio of high-impact healthcare enterprises.
Design or early-stage implementation of two to three financing mechanisms, in collaboration with aligned partners, and featuring a plausible strategy for initiating the first capital deployment.
Targeted assistance provided to an initial group of businesses, yielding measurable improvements in investment readiness or funds secured.
Systemic challenges impeding healthcare investment across Sub-Saharan Africa have been identified, documented, and incorporated into strategic decision-making frameworks. These constraints serve as foundational insights guiding priority initiatives within the sector.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA
Experience Required
10 years
