Refugee Fund Lead

Organization Profiles:

NESsT is an international non-profit organization with offices in Latin America and Europe, and a global leadership team based in the U.S. NESsT’s major goal is to transform lives by investing in social enterprises that provide dignified employment for communities facing isolation, discrimination, lack of job skills and poor education. We believe that locally-based social enterprises are uniquely qualified to transform these communities. These enterprises are on the ground, have the trust of the communities and have created businesses aligned with their best interests.

Program Description:

The Program will be launched in June 2022 and is designed to grow and sustain itself and to build companies that sustain themselves in the long run and support Ukraine refugees. The objective of the support is to invest in 35-40 enterprises so that they can grow. The fund will support enterprises in Poland and Romania to create temporary and permanent jobs both through its acceleration program- pre-seed stage – and its investment fund- seed stage. It will provide these enterprises with capacity support and funding – grants, recoverable grants, loans, quasi equity – so that they can grow the enterprises and offer jobs and wrap around support services such as language training, upskilling, psychological support and daycare services. The Fund will also support enterprises in Ukraine to help with rebuilding of the country and the creation of new jobs so that the returning refugees can reintegrate into the labor force and rebuild their lives.

Position Overview:

The Refugee Fund Lead will:

• Support the investment strategy for a portfolio of high impact social enterprises in Poland and Romania.
• Oversee NESsT’s “due diligence” review of enterprises, analyzing their financial sustainability and impact potential and proposing investment recommendations for review and approval by the NESsT investment committee.
• Support enterprises once they enter the NESsT portfolio, including assisting the enterprise team to validate their business models and to develop their management and governance, commercial and financial systems as well as networks and strategies needed to grow their businesses for greater impact and scale.
• The Refugee Fund Lead is also responsible for communications related activities to increase the visibility and positioning of NESsT and the portfolio among key stakeholders as defined by the program communication plan.

The position will report to the NESsT Poland Country Director and will also work closely with local and international team members to continue to develop and improve NESsT business services and impact methodology overall, and to contribute to the growth of the social enterprise sector.

This is a full-time position based in Poland, Warsaw.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

Portfolio Development:

• Lead the process of evaluating candidates for the NESsT’s portfolio, including preliminary assessment of business potential and social impact
• Manage internal systems related to knowledge management and data management and develop reports (technical and administrative) regarding the performance of the portfolio or due diligence members.
• Develop Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Program Director approval, monitor grant disbursement and expenses reported by enterprises supported by NESsT.
• Implement business services, focusing on strengthening the management and governance, marketing and sales, operations and financing and social/environmental impact of each enterprise. Leverage competencies of external mentors and advisors from NESsT’s corporate partners.
• Assist NEssT Poland Country Director in coordinating volunteer engagement and learning opportunities for corporate partners. This mentoring network provides technical and business advisory services and helps leverage other investors and donors.
• Assist in NESsT’s efforts to identify new partners that can hire program beneficiaries trained by portfolio enterprises.
• Manage and organize events related to the portfolio including retreats, site visits (for NESsT and/or donors/partners/investors), exchange visits, webinars, mentoring and coaching sessions and local and regional conferences.
• Provide on-going management, monitoring, evaluation, impact measurement and reporting on new and existing investments, with an eye towards recommending opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Conduct due diligence, financial modeling and develop investment packages (grants, recoverable grants, patient loans) for social enterprises that are being assessed to enter the Ukraine Refugee Fund in Poland and Romania. Develop the Investment Memo for presentation to the Investment Committee.
• Once they enter the portfolio, work closely with portfolio enterprises to develop annual financial and social goals as well as business services plans to help enterprises reach their goals.

Communications:

• Help portfolio enterprises to develop a communications strategy and plan that will contribute to positioning them with existing and potential clients, as well as NESsT enterprises with the overall social impact sector.
• Respond to general inquiries about NESsT, provide communications/media outreach support in Poland and Romania. Assist in the production of blogs, newsletters, publications, photo essays, videos related to the NESsT portfolio and initiatives.
• Actively work to position NESsT as a social impact investor with a strong track record in growing social enterprises and creating dignified employment.
• Activities include coordinating with NESsT Poland Country Director and the Global Communications Team to produce press releases and articles to communicate impact to the wider audience, media monitoring, and maintaining regular communication through social networks.

Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree and 5 years minimum of progressively responsible experience in finance, strategy and consulting, and knowledge of impact investing are required. Experience in investment banking, private equity, and venture capital is also useful. Knowledge of the retail industry is a plus.
• Strong analytical skills, financial modeling experience and the ability to approach tasks in a highly organized, logical and diligent manner.
• Strong corporate and commercial network and capacity to generate value through this network.
• Demonstrated experience in and commitment to social impact. This can include volunteer positions. Experience in an enterprise or work with social enterprises is a plus.
• Language: native Polish speaker, and good to excellent verbal and written skills in Ukrainian and English, to be an effective communicator among diverse internal and external audiences.
• Experience running refugee/migrant/displaced persons is a plus.
• Knowledge of Ukrainian context.
• Ability to effectively work under pressure, manage multiple tasks simultaneously and produce high-quality work within tight time constraints
• Ability to work in teams (on-site and virtual)
• Ability to be flexible, resourceful and innovative in a small, dynamic, nonprofit environment.
• Familiarity and comfort with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power-Point) and Google Apps. Salesforce experience is a plus.
• Availability to travel locally or internationally.

Compensation:

Will be commensurate with work experience and skill provided.

NESsT offers a competitive salary and benefits. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of a meaningful global organization that is changing the world by investing in emerging market businesses that offer employment, sustainable income and an improved quality of life for people who face the greatest barriers to work. This position will be hired as an employee, not an independent contractor.

Location: Poland, Warsaw– working from home office or co-working space.

Schedule: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. with one-hour lunch break. Due to the fact that NESsT is an international organization, online meetings, training, and conferences sometimes occur outside of these hours.

Travel: This position requires some travel (i.e. visits to NESsT portfolio members)

Start Date: July 1, 2022. The initial contract will be for 3 months. After a successful 3-month review, the contract will be extended to be permanent, as long as continued funding is available. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but interviews will begin in August. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

To apply:

Please apply for this position by May 31, click on the button „Apply for this job” button, uploading the following materials in English:

• Thoughtful cover letter explaining why you’re the right fit for this role and your available start date. Also please tell us about a time when you had to manage others who didn’t directly report to you. How did you do it? What did you achieve? What challenges did you face? How did you overcome those challenges?
• Resume
• Statement on salary requirements.

NESsT is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.

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