Are you passionate about having a meaningful impact on businesses in developing countries through improving their sustainability impact and implementing best practice ESG requirements? Do you have business experience in developing countries and an interest in impact investing? If so, we invite you to consider joining our Sustainability and Impact team as a Sustainability and Impact Director.

IFU is Denmark’s Development Finance Institution. We aim to be a best-in-class impact investor by making investments with risk adjusted returns that support the green transition, as well as building just and inclusive societies in developing countries and emerging markets. IFU has a strong focus on creating sustainable and responsible businesses, which generate measurable social, economic and climate impacts as well as solid financial returns. IFU makes direct equity and debt investments using IFU’s own funds and as a fund manager for several investment funds, all with a strong focus on impact investing. All investments must support the green transition and contribute to poverty alleviation and reduced inequality. The new Sustainability and Impact Director will join the Sustainability and Impact Team, which consists of 13 professionals based in Copenhagen and Nairobi.

The job

The Sustainability and Impact Director supports IFU in fulfilling its goal of being a best-in-class impact investor by policy and strategy development, tools development and measurement of IFU’s overall portfolio towards IFU’s portfolio targets.

The Sustainability and Impact Director contributes to the development of new investments from early screening through-out the whole investment cycle to ensure impact contribution according to IFU’s impact priority areas (green, just and inclusive transition) and to manage E&S risks and potential negative impacts.

The Sustainability and Impact Director takes active part in specific deal/transaction teams for new investments. Furthermore he/she takes part in active ownership to ensure implementation of the Environmental Social Action Plan, follow up on Results Framework and participation in project specific ESG committees (Board sub-committee).

You will report into the  Senior Vice President, Sustainability and Impact and will be working with other regional and sector teams, assisting the overall organisation in making new investments as well as establishment of new project companies.

This position will work closely with IFU’s Financial Services Investment Team and actively participate in transactions mainly within Financial Institutions, Microfinance Institutions and other Financial Service Providers (FSPs).

Duties and responsibilities

Identifying investment opportunities and managing DD processes

• Participating in the deal teams on E&S aspects and manage the ES DD process for investment opportunities including risk categorization, carrying out ES DD or managing ES DD consultants and their assessments.
• Negotiating relevant sections of the investment agreement to ensure alignment with IFU’s Impact and E&S requirements (IFU’s Sustainability and Impact Rules). This involvement is especially relevant for high E&S risks (A/B+) and for investments with high impact opportunities and will include identification of actions to be included in relevant action plans (Environmental and Social Action Plan or Results frameworks).
• Taking part in several investments – at different stages – simultaneously.
• Managing demanding project development processes/partnerships. Actively participate in marketing activities to promote IFU investments, i.e. participate in seminars and conferences.
• Disseminating knowledge about IFU through active contact to relevant stakeholders and target segments including Danish companies, investment banks, PE funds, other DFIs etc.
• Supporting the deal teams in identifying the Theory of Change and optimizing impact opportunities in all investments including identification of impact areas, baseline information and relevant impact performance indicators to be used for IFU’s results frameworks.
   

Investment management:

• Provide active support and guidance to IFU’s portfolio companies on sustainability and impact aspects, including follow-up on investment requirements (ESAP and Results Frameworks).
• Providing active support guiding and assisting on opportunities in IFU’s technical assistance facility for portfolio companies.
• Building and maintaining close and constructive relationships with IFU’s partners on deals, especially other development financial institutions.
• Representing IFU on ESG Committees in selected portfolio companies, depending on experience and need in companies.
• Active ownership including collection of performance data (E&S + Impact) and preparation of and ensuring responsible exits.

Additional competences:

• The Sustainability and Impact Director is supporting IFU in developing IFU’s ESG policies and strategy, defining targets and policies to be a best-in-class impact investor.
• Supporting IFU in measurement IFU’s overall portfolio performance towards IFU’s portfolio impact targets.
• Communicate to external stakeholders on IFU’s strategy, investment process and impacts of the investments.
• Training of IFU staff on Sustainability and Impact areas of relevance for IFU’s staff and especially the investment staff for IFU to be a best-in-class impact investor.

Working and learning at IFU

We are very ambitious in our efforts to become a leading impact investor, and we believe that the best way to succeed is to create a healthy culture, where people can strive and develop. It must be motivating and fun to go to work. Therefore, we take our time to celebrate milestones, learn new skills, and get to know each other. Learning is an important element of working in IFU, and we will support your personal development through training, sparring and by ensuring that you get exciting and challenging tasks and new opportunities for growth. When joining IFU, you will take part in our extensive onboarding program in Copenhagen to get the best possible start in your new role. IFU offers a hybrid workplace, allowing you to manage your own time effectively. We have a diverse and inclusive working environment with more than 130 talented individuals from 35+ different nationalities. We work seamless together with colleagues around the corner, cross the organisation and between offices in Asia, Africa, LATAM and Europe.

To see more about what it's like to work in the sustainability team, watch the video in the bottom of this webpage. 

Your qualifications and experience

The ideal candidate will have

• A Masters degree within natural or social sciences, engineering, economy, law or equivalent.
• Experience with the Operating Principles for Impact Management and Impact DD.
• Proven track record of conducting ESDDs fulfilling requirements of international standards such as IFC Performance Standard, World Bank /IFC general and sector guidelines, Equator Principles and UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
• Experiences with applying social standards relevant to debt and equity investments in FIs including banks, microfinance institutions and other financial service providers (FSPs) such as 1) the Client Protection Pathway, 2) The Universal Standards for Social and Environmental Performance Management (“the Universal Standards”), and 3) the Social Bonds principles.
• Experiences with applying environmental and climate related standards relevant to debt and equity investments in FIs including banks, microfinance institutions and other financial service providers (FSPs) such as: 1) Green Bond Principles / Green Loan Principles and 2) the TCFD recommendations on Governance, strategy, risk management and monitoring targets and e.g. GFANZ’s Recommendations for Financial Institutions’ net-zero transition plans.
• Experiences with implementing IFC Performance Standards in a FSP context and establishing Environmental Social Management system for FSPs.
• Relevant cultural and geographic skills for IFU's footprint.
• Fluent in English, written and verbal
• +10 years of relevant experience, proven track record.
• Capacity to work independently, lead processes on your own and be a resource for others/ mentor others through challenging decision-making processes
• Confident user of Microsoft Office and especially Excel

Personal competences:

• Extrovert, communicative, engaged and creative
• Result oriented, pro-active team player
• Self-confident and independent (thrives with independence) 
• Sound business judgement
• Strong client/partner orientation
• Passionate about sustainability and impact

Your application and process

Please submit your application with cover letter no later than March 2 2025.

We look forward to receiving your application.