Sustainable Finance Strategy Director

Company Description: Systemiq is a system-change company committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement by transforming markets and business models across five key systems: nature and food, materials and circularity, energy, urban areas, and sustainable finance. As a certified B Corp, we combine strategic advisory with high-impact, on-the-ground work, partnering with business, finance, policymakers and civil society to deliver system change. With offices across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, we are dedicated exclusively to sustainability-focused work. Director, Sustainable Finance | Africa Location: Nairobi, Kenya Platform: Sustainable Finance Level: Director The opportunity Systemiq is looking for an experienced Director to help lead and grow our Sustainable Finance work across sub-Saharan Africa, based in Nairobi. Our regional portfolio is expanding rapidly, creating an opportunity for a senior leader to work closely with a Nairobi based Sustainable Finance Partner, who also leads Systemiq's Kenya operations, to deliver complex advisory engagements, develop client relationships and shape our continued growth. While firmly rooted in Africa, this role is part of a global organisation working across regions, sectors and disciplines to address interconnected sustainability challenges. You will collaborate with international colleagues, drawing on global expertise and applying it to the distinct opportunities and challenges of African markets. We are seeking someone who combines strong management consulting capabilities, practical sustainable finance expertise and deep knowledge of African markets and institutions. At Systemiq, our leaders remain closely involved in the substance and delivery of our work. You will be expected to take ownership of complex engagements, provide strategic and analytical direction to teams, and contribute actively to business development. We particularly welcome candidates who have built their careers in Kenya or elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa and bring established regional networks and perspectives. Key responsibilities • Provide strategic leadership across the regional portfolio. Work closely with the Sustainable Finance Partner and Kenya Country Lead to shape strategic priorities, oversee complex engagements and ensure coherence and quality across the regional portfolio. • Lead complex consulting engagements. Take ownership of major strategic advisory projects, from problem definition and analytical design through to client delivery and implementation planning. Ensure consistently high-quality outputs across multiple workstreams. • Navigate senior government and institutional relationships. Build and manage trusted relationships with senior government officials, particularly in Ministries of Finance, alongside central banks, development finance institutions, investors and other regional and international stakeholders. • Translate policy and financing challenges into practical solutions. Connect public policy objectives, economic priorities and financing opportunities to develop actionable strategies that mobilise investment and support sustainable economic development. • Drive business development. Work closely with the Sustainable Finance Partner to identify opportunities, develop proposals, win new engagements and grow Systemiq's regional portfolio. • Collaborate across disciplines and geographies. Work with colleagues across Systemiq's global platforms, bringing together expertise in finance, energy, nature, food systems and materials to address complex, interconnected challenges. • Lead and develop teams. Manage multidisciplinary consulting teams, providing strategic direction, analytical challenge and mentorship while developing local tal