Head of Operations

**ABOUT THE FUND**

The NIF is a South Africa-based infrastructure Fund pursuing investments and development of infrastructure opportunities.

**ROLE OVERVIEW AND RESPONSIBILITIES**

The Head of Operations plays a critical role in ensuring the smooth operation of the fund, enabling the investment team to focus on investment decisions and portfolio management and will be responsible for, _inter alia,_

1. Fund Administration: Oversee fund accounting, valuation, and reporting.

2. Investor Relations: Manage investor communications, queries, and reporting.

3. Compliance and Risk: Ensure regulatory compliance, manage operational risks, and implement controls.

4. Operational Due Diligence: Conduct operational reviews of potential investments.

5. Portfolio Management Support: Assist the investment team with portfolio management, monitoring, and reporting.

6. Team Management: Lead and develop the operations team, providing guidance and training.

7. Process Improvement: Continuously review and enhance operational processes, implementing best practices.

8. Vendor Management: Oversee relationships with external vendors, such as fund administrators, custodians, and auditors.

9. Budgeting and Financial Management: Manage the fund's operational budget and financial resources.

10. Regulatory and Industry Developments: Stay up to date with industry trends, regulatory changes, and best practices

11. Thought Leadership: Contributing to industry research, best practices, and standards in ESG and climate finance.

**Support MD**
- Supporting the MD to further operationalise the Fund.
- Support the establishment and development of the Fund’s policies, governance structures, business plans and strategies in alignment with the NIF’s goals and objectives.
- Support the MD to attract additional capital for the Fund, project development partners and leveraging third party co-investment for opportunities, from local and international partners and players (whether financial or strategic).

**REQUIRED SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES**

**Core competencies and experience**

**Experience**:
1. Minimum 8-10 years of experience in operations, finance, or investment management

2. Proven track record in managing operations teams and processes

3. Experience in the infrastructure or alternative investments industry

Attributes:

- Key skills_:

- Operational expertise: In-depth knowledge of fund operations, administration, and management
- Leadership: Strong leadership and team management skills
- Communication: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Analytical: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Risk management: Ability to identify and manage operational risks
- Regulatory knowledge: Familiarity with regulatory requirements and industry standards
- Technical: Proficiency in MS Office, financial software, and systems
- Project management: Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities
- Collaboration: Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills
- Adaptability: Ability to adapt to changing environments and priorities
- Additional skills_:

- Experience with fund accounting and valuation
- Knowledge of infrastructure investments and asset management
- Familiarity with industry-specific systems and software
- Experience with compliance and regulatory reporting
- Strong network and relationships in the industry

**Knowledge of the infrastructure sector**
- An understanding of:

- the role that infrastructure plays in shaping the economy locally and globally
- the role that infrastructure plays in creating value for stakeholders
- An understanding of new trends in the infrastructure sector locally and globally.
- Knowledge of various infrastructure sub-sectors such as water, transportation, energy, etc.
- An understanding of the current participants in the South African and global infrastructure sector, and the players that have the potential to be future participants and partners.

**Other Skills, Experience, and Attributes**
- Highly proactive, with an entrepreneurial attitude.
- Highly energetic, hands-on, and motivated to help create, build-out and shape project development opportunities from an early stage.
- Experience in financing first-of-kind projects and associated risk management
- Strong interest in South Africa and contributing to the development of the local economy and infrastructure eco-system.
- Creative and innovative, desire to think and deliver beyond minimum deliverables - ability to think on your feet.

**REMUNERATION**

Compensation will depend on relevant experience and include base salary and variable performance-related elements at the discretion of the Fund.