Acumen has international and institutional funders that provide both grants and equity financing for its funds. Our off-grid energy initiatives require Acumen’s management of their ESG policies, ESG portfolio management, and monitoring. Acumen is seeking a Manager who will support investment teams with ESG due diligence, ESG portfolio management, post-investment support, policy implementation, reporting, stakeholder engagement, and ESG capacity building.

Accountabilities include:

• Managing ESG policies and procedures for off-grid renewable energy initiatives including ESG due diligence, procurement for environmental and social impact assessments, transaction support, Environmental and Social Action Plan development, and environmental and social monitoring and reporting
• Providing climate risk and vulnerability analysis for investments across East, West, and Central African markets
• Supporting ESG monitoring and reporting across various funds, including policy design and implementation
• Support a right-sized approach to ESG activities across Acumen’s West African investments in energy and agriculture
• Co-developing new resources for various funds including trainings and templates
• Reporting on US, UK, and EU ESG and climate regulations and providing recommendations around implementation and disclosure
• Synthesizing ESG data and narrative into clear insights, supported by evidence, with recommendations for action
• Ideating and testing different systems for gathering ESG insights and impact from Acumen’s portfolio

Skills and Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in ESG investing, impact investing, or sustainable finance.
• Experience working with renewable energy and off-grid solar companies in Africa
• Bachelor’s degree with a focus on social enterprise, sustainable finance, or international development.
• Strong understanding of ESMS and ESG policies, procedures, metrics, standards, and Scope 1, 2, and 3 calculations across sectors
• Strong ability to take initiative with research and analysis and produce valuable results in conditions of uncertainty
• An investigative mind and an ability to synthesize disparate data to draw conclusions and propose recommendations
• A sense of proportionality in determining practical approaches to requirements with a focus on substantive value add and beneficiaries
• Strong project management and stakeholder management skills and experience managing internal teams towards a common objective
• Strong organizational skills and an ability to set up efficient systems for managing data, processes and information
• Strong writing and presentation skills
• Commitment to and enthusiasm for Acumen’s mission, and respect for our core values: generosity, accountability, humility, audacity, listening, leadership, integrity, and respect
• Ability to thrive when there is ambiguity, remain cool-headed when there are unexpected obstacles, and withstand the tests of a rapidly changing environment with resilience and resolve
• Permanently authorized to work in Nigeria