Investment Manager

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

About Airbel Ventures

Airbel Ventures is the IRC's new impact investing arm (launched July 2025) created to bridge the gap between humanitarian need and private-sector innovation, with the aim to bring innovation to the humanitarian sector. Airbel Ventures invests in seed stage businesses across Africa and parts of MENA, developing innovative solutions that can drive outcomes in humanitarian contexts — reaching more people, faster, and at lower cost. By backing mission-aligned startups, Airbel Ventures aims to catalyze scalable innovations in climate, health, education and 'economic opportunities'.

Airbel Ventures is a separate entity, wholly owned by the IRC, governed by a Board and an Investment Committee. 

Job Overview/Summary:

We are seeking an Investment Manager to join our team in Nairobi, Kenya. This is a unique opportunity to help shape a newly launched, pioneering impact investment vehicle within one of the world's most respected humanitarian organizations.

The Investment Manager will play a central role in sourcing, evaluating, and managing investments in early-stage companies delivering both strong impact and financial returns.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deal Sourcing: Identify and cultivate relationships with relevant startups, accelerators/incubators, and investors across Africa.
• Due diligence: Lead due diligence processes, including market analysis, financial modeling, impact assessment, risk evaluation etc. Develop Investment Memos (IMs) to present to IC.
• Portfolio Management: Support portfolio companies post-investment through strategic guidance, fundraising support, impact assessments, and to build traction/use cases in humanitarian markets in  coordination with IRC's Country Programs/technical teams.
• Strategy: Contribute to deepened sector mapping and refining investment theses across Airbel Ventures' focus sector, sub sectors and verticals.
• Partnerships & Ecosystem Engagement: Represent Airbel Ventures in regional investor networks/events/conferences, strengthening our visibility and partnerships in the African venture ecosystem.
• Other Support: Support  the CEO on  fundraising, overall portfolio strategy, and internal stakeholder engagement within the IRC.

The Investment Manager is expected to leverage AI tools strategically to enhance work effectiveness and efficiency in research and analysis, ensuring all AI-generated content is reviewed for accuracy, quality, and alignment with the IRC's mission and values.

Job Requirements:

• 6–10 years of experience in venture capital, impact investing, development finance, or management consulting (with exposure to early-stage investing).
• Strong financial analysis skills, including financial modeling skills.
• Strong analytical skills, with extensive experience of managing due diligence processes from sourcing to closing. 
• Demonstrated interest in impact investing and innovation for underserved or frontier markets.
• Experience within the African startup ecosystems and comfort working across diverse sectors and geographies. Strong networks across the African startup ecosystem.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, high independence, and ability to thrive in an early-stage team environment. At the same time, ability to drive execution, navigating multiple internal stakeholder segments within a large global NGO.
• Master's degree in finance, business, economics, or related field preferred.

Why Join Us

This is a rare opportunity to join a mission-driven investment initiative at the intersection of venture capital and humanitarian innovation. As part of Airbel Ventures, you will help redefine how global humanitarian challenges are addressed — through the power of entrepreneurship and smart capital.

Application Deadline:  21 December.  Applications will be reviewed, and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis.

How to Apply: Submit your CV and a brief cover letter through the IRC careers portal.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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