Investment Director​/Managing Director

• Location: Global Flexibility including Abu Dhabi, Casablanca, or candidate's preferred location

We are exclusively retained to appoint a founding Investment Director / Managing Director for a newly established, FOAK independent private equity platform dedicated to scaling market-rate, UN SDG-aligned investments across emerging markets.

Headquartered in a premier Middle Eastern financial center, this platform is raising a first vehicle of USD 200m to back growth-stage, revenue-generating businesses at the intersection of commercial excellence and measurable impact.

Capital will be deployed across private equity and infrastructure via USD 5-20m tickets, utilizing tailored structuring mechanisms like blended finance.

The investment thesis is anchored in two core pillars:
Planet (waste, water, energy, food systems) and People (healthcare and education), linked by themes of circularity, decarbonization, accessibility, and quality.

Acting as a true strategic partner to the CEO and Managing Partner, this senior hire will shape the firm’s investment approach, portfolio construction, governance, and long-term track record.

• Origination & Deal Sourcing: Build proprietary deal flow across prioritized geographies, leveraging networks to access off-market opportunities and screening them against impact frameworks and risk-return parameters.
• Execution & Structuring: Lead end-to-end evaluation, direct multi-disciplinary due diligence (commercial, financial, legal, ESG, impact), build complex valuation models, and structure transactions using blended finance instruments.
• Portfolio Management & Value Creation: Lead post-investment stewardship, hold Board seats, monitor KPIs, and design value creation strategies with management teams.
• Exits & Realizations: Design and refine exit pathways in alignment with target gross IRR and MOIC, leading sell-side processes and negotiating documentation.
• Impact Governance: Embed UN SDG Impact Standards and IRIS+ metrics into every deal, partnering with the Impact Director to ensure third-party-verified reporting.
• Fund Representation: Support LP engagement, build relationships with DFIs, family offices, and sovereign allocators, and represent the fund at industry forums.

To ensure alignment with the platform's rigorous standards, the ideal candidate brings:

• 10+ years of private equity experience and strong investment track record (growth equity preferred), managing the full investment lifecycle from origination to exit.
• Deep expertise in impact investing, UN SDG-aligned strategies, and emerging markets private equity.
• Expert-level capabilities in financial modeling, valuation, investment underwriting, and transaction structuring.
• Direct experience exercising governance rights, Board-level representation, and driving portfolio value creation.
• Domain expertise in at least one key sector: climate tech, waste management, water infrastructure, energy, food systems, healthcare, or education platforms.
• Institutional maturity to engage with senior DFIs, regulators, and CEOs, backed by a top-tier academic background (MSc, MBA, or CFA preferred).
• Familiarity with AI-enabled tools across the investment lifecycle.

This is a rare opportunity to build a pioneering platform from zero to one alongside a distinguished Board of Advisors featuring former international CEOs and UN officials. The compensation package is highly competitive, including base salary, annual performance bonus, and LTIs including participation in the carried interest pool. The role offers unrivalled flexibility, with the option to be based in the UAE, Morocco (with visa and relocation support provided), or operate remotely with immense location flexibility.

Comprehensive health insurance is included for the employee and their family.