Position: Director, Impact Investing
Appointment: Full-time; 40 hours per week
Location: Flexible (with significant engagement across Southeast Asia and Africa); the work location will be determined by the successful candidate. Details will be discussed with interviewed candidates.
Salary: Commensurate with location and experience

About WDI:

WDI is a global non-profit affiliated with the University of Michigan dedicated to unlocking the power of business and markets to tackle critical global challenges and drive inclusive economic growth. Working as a knowledge builder, enterprise accelerator and ecosystem catalyst, we mobilize entrepreneurs, investors, governments, and academia to drive pioneering solutions across sectors, with a special focus on energy & e-mobility, climate-health, and health.

We understand that the challenges we face—from sustainable energy transitions to equitable health care access—are urgent and complex. We believe that thriving businesses in emerging markets can be at the forefront of fostering healthy and sustainable futures. We know that solving these challenges requires collaboration, innovation, and action at scale, which is why we develop strong partnerships with local leaders. We pride ourselves in being bold thinkers, reliable partners, insightful dot connectors, impact focused and driven by excellence in all we do.

About the Role:

We are seeking a Director of Impact Investing to build and lead WDI’s high-impact financing strategy and initiatives to support enterprises and entrepreneurial ecosystems in emerging markets. WDI is committed to crowding in new private capital for emerging market enterprises working in renewable energy, e-mobility, climate-health, and health. The Director will support mission-aligned enterprises in raising capital and work with investors, donors and other ecosystem intermediaries to conceptualize and launch next generation financing vehicles and impact funds.

The Director will report to the Senior Director of Innovation and Partnerships as an integral member of the broader entrepreneurship team and will manage direct reports as the investment team grows. The Director will work closely with our technical and impact teams as well as partners, funders, investors and enterprises as needed to catalyze investments for impact. The Director will actively support business development efforts to grow WDI’s financing programs and initiatives.

Responsibilities:

1 – Innovative Financing Advisory & Execution:

• • Lead strategic advisory for capital raises, new financing models, and outcome-based financing approaches for social enterprises across energy, e-mobility, climate-health, and health sectors.
  • Develop and execute blended finance strategies, leveraging concessional, public, and private capital to de-risk investment in emerging markets.

2 – Capital Structure Innovation:

• • Engage with different entrepreneurial ecosystem stakeholders to create strategic partnerships for driving catalytic capital and new financing models in emerging markets.
  • Develop investment theses, capital stack strategies, governance frameworks, and pipeline development plans as needed.
  • Working alongside ecosystem stakeholders, facilitate the design and structuring of impact funds, catalytic capital facilities, and thematic investment vehicles across WDI focus sectors in emerging markets.
  • Structure capital stacks that integrate multiple forms of capital—grant, equity, debt, and guarantees—to address market failures.

3 – Ecosystem Engagement:

• • Identify capital gaps and emerging trends across Southeast Asia and Africa to inform new financing needs and strategies.
  • Maintain strong networks across the impact investing ecosystem, including DFIs, family offices, philanthropic capital, and local financial institutions to shape new partnerships and co-investment platforms.
  • Cultivate partnerships with accelerators, government agencies, and ecosystem intermediaries to co-develop financing architectures at the system level.

4 – Thought Leadership & Strategic Positioning:

• • Build financial ecosystem stakeholder confidence through rigorous documentation and sharing of market insights.
  • Develop thought leadership to share lessons from designing and executing new financing models and initiatives and drive the ecosystem conversations through leading knowledge sharing platforms.
  • Represent the organization at industry events, panels, and consultations with government and development partners to share experiences, drive collaborations and position WDI as a key thought partner.

Qualifications & Experience:

We are looking for candidates with a high level of professional excellence, initiative, strategic and detail orientation, and passion for our mission.

• • 8+ years of experience in innovative finance, development finance, or impact investing, with a focus on emerging markets.
  • Master’s degree in business administration, finance, economics or related fields.
  • Proven experience designing or advising on blended finance vehicles, impact funds, or development-oriented capital structures.
  • Proven experience advising or leading capital raises for high-growth enterprises, ideally in at least one of WDI’s focus sectors: energy and e-mobility, climate-health, health.
  • Demonstrated understanding of financing challenges and needs in emerging markets, particularly Southeast Asia and/or Africa.
  • Prior exposure to enterprise-level advisory and/ or investor-side capital deployment strategies.
  • Entrepreneurial and strategic mindset with the ability to identify issues and propose creative solutions.
  • Strong analytical, due diligence, and negotiation skills; financial modeling capabilities and familiarity with ESG and impact measurement frameworks a plus.
  • Flexibility and comfort working in uncertain, fast-paced environments.
  • Ability to multi-task and adapt to changing environments.
  • Sensitivity to diverse cultures and a team-oriented approach.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; French is a plus.
  • Outstanding interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead with curiosity, humility, and focus.
  • Ability to travel internationally including a valid passport.

About This Recruiting Process:

Applications received will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled at which time this recruiting process will be closed. Candidates who wish to be considered for this role must apply using WDI’s online Employment Application. This process includes submitting your resume and cover letter; upload these as one document (max 4MB). Doing so will auto-fill many required fields of the application form. Click the “Apply Now” button on WDI’s Jobs page to begin your application.