Program Manager, Circular Economy
AI summary
AECF seeks a Program Manager to lead its circular economy investment portfolio in Nairobi, Kenya. The role involves end-to-end investment due diligence, structuring financing instruments, managing donor reporting, and engaging financial institutions, government agencies, and development partners. Requires a postgraduate qualification and at least 10 years’ investment or development finance experience.
- Senior management role leading AECF’s circular economy portfolio
- Based in Nairobi, Kenya with on-site work required
- Deadline: 06/10/2026
- Requires postgraduate qualification and 10+ years’ experience
- Focus on investment due diligence, blended finance, and donor reporting
AI job guide
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AI salary guide
Source salary availableThe source lists Open. Confirm the final pay, benefits, contract terms and allowances directly with the employer before accepting an offer.
Can you qualify for this role?
- Required10+ years of relevant experienceThe job post includes a minimum experience signal.
- PreferredPractical evidence in cleaning, entregador, financeThe tags and summary point to skills connected with this role.
- RequiredAvailability to work in Not specifiedThe vacancy is associated with this location.
- UnclearComfort with the Full Time contract termsConfirm hours, duration, probation and benefits at the original source.
Documents to prepare
- Likely requiredUpdated CV
- Role specificCover letter or short employer message
- OptionalProfessional references
- VerifyID or passport only after verifying the employer
Application tips for this job
- Place your strongest Program Manager, Circular Economy evidence in the first half of your CV.
- In your cover letter or employer message, connect your experience to Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund and the role in Not specified.
- Add concrete examples related to cleaning, entregador, finance, ideally with measurable outcomes or clear responsibilities.
- Follow the instructions from Corporate Staffing Kenya; avoid sending documents to unofficial contacts or copied links.
- Confirm the deadline, interview location and employer contact before sharing personal documents.
- Plan to submit before the listed deadline: 2026-10-06.
Source and safety check
- Corporate Staffing Kenya
- Original source link available
- Application method is clear
- Deadline is available: 2026-10-06
- No major risk signal was detected in the captured text.
Never pay for interviews, shortlisting, medical checks, uniforms, or job placement. Confirm every application at the original source before sharing personal documents. Report suspicious listing.
Interview preparation
- What experience makes you a strong fit for this Program Manager, Circular Economy role in cleaning, entregador?
- How have you handled responsibilities similar to those in this job post?
- Are you available to work in Not specified under the listed contract or schedule?
- Prepare examples with clear responsibilities, tools used and measurable outcomes.
- Review the source and research Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund before the interview.
Ask what the first priorities will be in the role and how success will be measured.
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Original source description
Job Title: Program Manager, Circular Economy
Date Posted: 24/09/2026
Job Type: Full Time
Job Level: Management
Employer: Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund
Industry: Finance
Salary: Open
Location: Nairobi
Country: Kenya
Deadline: 06/10/2026
Finance Jobs, AECF Jobs. Responsible for leading AECF’s circular economy investment portfolio, managing investment due diligence, structuring financing instruments, managing donor reporting, supporting enterprise investment readiness, and engaging financial institutions, government agencies, industry associations, and development partners. Requires a postgraduate qualification in Finance, Investment, Business Administration, Economics, Development Finance, or a related field, at least 10 years’ investment or development finance experience. The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya and requires on-site work.
The Role
The role holder will provide full-time investment and programme leadership for AECF’s circular economy portfolio, with primary responsibility for structuring, appraising and managing investments in private sector enterprises, and secondary responsibility for ensuring those investment decisions are informed by sound circular economy principles. Leading a small team and working closely with the sector head, advisory and programme teams, the Programme Manager will manage the circular economy investment pipeline, portfolio, work plan, budget and donor reporting.
The incumbent will lead investment due diligence and structuring, oversee portfolio management and results verification under the results-based financing mechanism, and represent the programme with ecosystem stakeholders to strengthen circular economy financing and enterprise growth across the programme countries.
This role will report to the Associate Director – Energy.
Key Responsibilities
- Investment Leadership and Portfolio Management
- Lead end-to-end investment due diligence on prospective portfolio companies, assessing business models, financial viability, commercial scalability, management capacity and risk, alongside circular economy performance.
- Structure and recommend appropriate financing instruments — results-based repayable grants, blended finance and other risk-sharing mechanisms — tailored to enterprise needs and investment risk.
- Present investment recommendations to the investment committee and manage the approval-to-disbursement process.
- Oversee active portfolio management, including monitoring financial and operational performance, covenant compliance, and results verification under the results-based financing mechanism.
- Programme Management and Coordination
- Manage the planning, budgeting, work planning and reporting of the circular economy programme.
- Supervise and provide guidance to programme team members and consultants, including technical circular economy specialists supporting the portfolio.
- Coordinate with donors on work plans, deliverables, timelines and reporting requirements.
- Monitor programme and portfolio risk, ensuring timely, quality delivery of investment and programme outputs.
- Enterprise Advisory and Investment Readiness
- Oversee the design and delivery of technical assistance and investment readiness support to strengthen portfolio companies’ performance and bankability.
- Work with technical circular economy specialists and the Advisory team to ensure enterprises receive appropriate guidance on cleaner production, eco-design, sustainable packaging, recycling, repair and refurbishment, reverse logistics, material recovery and resource efficiency.
- Work closely with the ESG team to support enterprises in improving investment readiness, operational performance, and ESG practices.
- Market Development and Knowledge Management
- Lead engagement with financial institutions, industry associations, government agencies and development partners to strengthen circular economy financing ecosystems and pipeline development.
- Contribute to market research, investment case development, knowledge products and programme learning.
- Oversee monitoring, evaluation and reporting, developing investment and technical indicators and validating financial, environmental and circularity results.
- Qualifications and Experience
- The successful candidate should:
- Hold a postgraduate qualification in Finance, Investment, Business Administration, Economics, Development Finance or a related discipline; a background or additional qualification in Circular Economy, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Sustainable Manufacturing or a related discipline is an added advantage but not a requirement.
- Have at least ten (10) years’ experience in investment, fund/portfolio management, private equity, venture capital, blended finance or development finance, including experience investing in or supporting private sector enterprises in Africa.
- Have substantial experience conducting investment due diligence, structuring financing instruments (grants, results-based financing, guarantees or similar), and managing an investment portfolio.
- Have at least three (3) years’ experience in a programme management or team leadership role, including budget and plan management.
- Prior knowledge of or exposure to circular economy business models — plastics and packaging, electronic waste, recycling systems, resource recovery, eco-design or industrial symbiosis — is preferred but not required; candidates without direct circular economy experience but with strong investment credentials and a demonstrated ability to build sector knowledge quickly are encouraged to apply.
- Experience working on donor-funded programmes involving blended finance, results-based financing or challenge funds will be an added advantage.
- Required Competencies
- The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Strong investment and financial analysis skills, including due diligence, deal structuring and portfolio management.
- Proven programme and team management skills, including work planning, budgeting and donor reporting.
- Good understanding of blended finance, results-based financing and enterprise development; working knowledge of circular economy principles and business models is preferred.
- Excellent analytical, communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to translate technical and financial concepts into practical business solutions and work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.