Investment Associate at Grounded Investment Company

About the job
About the Grounded Investment Company
Grounded Investment Company (GIC) (www.groundedinvestmentcompany.com) invests in African food processors who have potential to become world leaders in the production of regenerative organically grown ingredients for global markets. The mission of the GIC is to make farming more profitable for African farmers and enable them to transition to regenerative farming systems, while achieving returns for investors. To achieve this, we invest in a key leverage point in the food system: the processing industry. The typical company we invest in does not participate in ‘accelerators’. Instead these entrepreneurs are to be found in the tea hills and spice fields, working hard and turning every penny into something valuable in some corner of the continent. So it takes a very pro-active and creative approach to find, invest in, and support these companies. Once identified, we work with the entrepreneur to evaluate both partnership and investment potential guiding the opportunity through our investment process. Post-investment, we provide intensive, hands-on support to these entrepreneurs and their teams to help scale their businesses and deepen their impact.
About the role
We are seeking a highly motivated Investment Associate to join our team, preferably based in Nairobi. The role involves comprehensive research to identify optimal investment opportunities across various value chains, supporting the development of our investment pipeline, and managing our portfolio. The successful candidate will also support portfolio activities, ensuring robust growth and impact. We are looking for someone with the potential to advance into a senior position, thereby significantly enhancing our investment team’s capabilities.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
● Market research
○ Data collection and research into agricultural value chains, including thorough market research and competitive analysis.
○ Collaborate with the team to identify high-potential opportunities in markets, such as spices, teas, and herbs, that exhibit a strong strategic fit and hold significant impact potential, particularly in terms of smallholder competitive advantage.
○ Work closely with the investment team to provide meaningful recommendations based on data analysis and field visits.
● Deal Sourcing and Evaluation
○ Source and assess potential investment opportunities that align with our impact goals.
○ Conduct due diligence on investment prospects, analysing financial viability, potential risks, and social impact metrics.
○ Support in the development of financial models, risk assessments, investment memoranda for our Internal Impact Committee.
● Performance Monitoring
○ Monitor the financial and operational performance of portfolio companies.
○ Track key performance indicators (KPIs) and report on deviations from established benchmarks.
Qualifications
● A bachelor’s degree
● Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience
● Strong analytical and quantitative skills; ‘comfortable with numbers’
● Excellent attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy in data analysis
● Strong communication skills with the ability to present complex data in a clear and concise manner
● Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data visualisation tools
● Proactive and self-driven with a demonstrated ability to work independently
● Ability and willingness to travel
● Preferably based in Nairobi, we are also open to considering candidates located in Southern or East Africa.
● Experience operating in an African business environment
● Experience in financial and investment analysis as well as financial modelling skills
● Experience in the agricultural / food processing / export sector would be beneficial
● A sense of humour and a positive outlook on life and teamwork.
Do you meet most but not all of the above requirements? We strive to create a diverse, inclusive, and authentic work environment. So, if you are interested in this position but your curriculum vitae does not perfectly match every single qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway.
Additional information
You will become part of a dynamic and unique international team. A fair remuneration package will be offered to the successful candidate, in accordance with experience. We offer opportunities to learn and develop on the job, and are flexible and promote a healthy work-life balance.
Application process
Suitable candidates are invited to apply by submitting their CV’s and a short motivation letter to jobs@grounded.co.za.
If you have not heard from us within 10 working ways please consider your application to be unsuccessful.
Feel free to circulate this document within your network to any suitable contacts.