Senior Associate

Company Description: Systemiq is the system change company, working to accelerate the transition to a net-zero, nature-positive and more inclusive economy. As a certified B Corp, we partner with business, finance, policymakers and civil society to transform five interconnected systems: energy, nature and food, materials and circularity, sustainable finance, and urban transformation. We bring together strategy, policy, market design and capital mobilisation to deliver tangible results in the real economy. Founded in 2016, Systemiq has grown to a global team of more than 300 people across Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Kenya, the Netherlands, the UK and the US, united by a singular focus on sustainability.   Senior Associate – Sustainable Finance Location: Kenya, Nairobi preferred Contract: 12-month FTC, very likely to extend / convert to permanent Team / Platform: Sustainable Finance Reporting to: Sustainable Finance leadership ABOUT THE ROLE SYSTEMIQ is looking for a Senior Associate to join our growing Sustainable Finance practice in Kenya, focused on public and development finance. You will work with governments and public finance institutions to strengthen financing strategies and mobilise capital for climate, nature and development priorities. This is a strategy advisory role, working in small, collaborative teams on complex advisory engagements and multi-stakeholder initiatives spanning governments, IFIs/DFIs, bilateral donors and the private sector. As a Senior Associate, you will play a key role in shaping and leading workstreams, developing client-ready analysis and materials, managing stakeholder relationships, and contributing to the growth of SYSTEMIQ’s sustainable finance work in Kenya and the wider region. This role blends macro-level strategic thinking with strong research and analytical skills, excellent stakeholder engagement and communication, and the ability to deliver high-quality outputs in fast-moving, stakeholder-heavy contexts. Strategy consulting experience is welcome but not essential. WHAT YOU’LL DO * Lead and support workstreams delivering high-quality advisory support on public and development finance for climate and nature outcomes. * Develop structured analysis and synthesise complex information into client-ready outputs, including strategy decks, technical notes, briefing packs and recommendations. * Drive work on sovereign financing strategies, including consideration of macroeconomic context, sovereign risk, debt sustainability and credit dynamics. * Help design, shape and assess financing approaches and instruments, including concessional and blended finance, sustainability-linked bonds/loans, debt-for-climate/nature swaps, and risk-sharing structures. * Manage and support stakeholder engagement across ministries, debt management offices, central banks, IFIs/DFIs, donors and private sector partners, including workshops and convenings. * Provide strategic insight and practical recommendations to support successful financing strategies and implementation pathways. * Contribute to proposal development, thought leadership and knowledge building within the Sustainable Finance team. * Support and mentor more junior team members, contributing to a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing team culture. MINDSET, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE We are seeking candidates who can demonstrate a strong commitment to SYSTEMIQ’s mission and a passion for systems change. ESSENTIAL * Master’s degree or equivalent experience in economics, finance, international development, public policy or a related field. * Typically 4+ years of relevant experience, for example in: * strategy consulting, ideally with exposure to sustainable finance; * international financial institutions such as the IMF, World Bank or AfDB; * central banks, debt management offices, finance ministries or public finance institutions; * credit rating agencies; * sovereign research or strategy teams; * development finance or advisory roles with strong sovereign finance exposure. * Strong familiarity with the sovereign financing landscape, including concessional finance, blended finance and/or climate and nature finance instruments such as sustainability-linked bonds/loans and debt-for-climate/nature swaps. * Strong understanding of macroeconomic context, sovereign risk, debt sustainability and credit dynamics. * Excellent problem-solving, analytical and research skills, with the ability to synthesise complex material into clear, structured and actionable outputs. * Strong communication and influencing skills, including excellent written and verbal English. * Demonstrated stakeholder engagement skills, ideally in government-facing or multi-stakeholder environments. * Strong project discipline and ability to deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines. * Entrepreneurial, proactive and adaptable mindset, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and drive work forward. * Collaborative team player with strong mission alignment and willingness to support others. DESIRABLE * Formal study in economics, with a focus on macroeconomics, development economics, climate economics and/or nature economics. * Exposure to public-sector policy or planning, for example within finance ministries, environment ministries, or IFIs/DFIs. * Familiarity with Sub-Saharan African sovereign contexts and financing priorities. * Experience supporting stakeholder consultations, convenings or government-facing processes. * Additional languages, such as Swahili or French. CANDIDATE PROFILE You are mission-driven and excited by the opportunity to help governments and financial institutions mobilise financing for climate and nature outcomes. You combine intellectual rigour with pragmatism and strong relationship skills. You are comfortable leading workstreams, structuring complex problems, engaging senior stakeholders and supporting junior colleagues. You thrive in small teams, enjoy working across disciplines and stakeholder groups, and want your work to influence real-world decisions. You will also align naturally with our values: Creativity, Challenge, Collaborate, Change and Care. DIVERSITY & INCLUSION At SYSTEMIQ, we believe that diversity and inclusion are crucial to system change and our mission. We are committed to embedding diverse and inclusive practices in all aspects of our work, including recruitment, performance management, people processes and policies. We aim to provide a supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and perform at their best, regardless of background, personality, gender, sexual orientation, race, mental health, religion or other characteristics. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Only applications from candidates legally eligible to work in Kenya will be considered. Visa sponsorship and relocation costs will not be provided. The remuneration and benefits package will reflect the successful candidate’s experience and expertise.   Diversity & Inclusion At Systemiq, we absolutely believe diverse perspectives are essential to driving system change. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where people feel respected, supported and able to do their best work. Click here to view our Data Policy.

THE ESSENTIALS  Platform: Investment Status: Full time, permanent. Working arrangement: We typically work 4 days in the office, 1 day from home.  Start: ASAP THE BENEFITS: 25 holiday days per year;  4 ‘Me Days’ per year (take a Me Day – focus on you); Team social events and trips; Wellness allowance of £70 per month to be used for gym, classes, physio or other wellness costs; Private healthcare with Vitality; Mintago financial platform; Drive Electric salary sacrifice; Enhanced maternity, paternity and parental leave; Employee referral scheme: £2,000 towards a getaway of your choice HSPG: A social impact real estate company HSPG is a social impact real estate company. Our mission is simple: Building partnerships, creating homes, developing communities.  There is a critical shortage of affordable housing across the UK. We partner with Local Authorities and institutional investors to acquire and manage high-quality, demand-driven homes across multiple tenures. Across our Living Sector platforms, we are on track to acquire 12,000 homes by 2030. These homes are grouped into portfolios, professionally managed by our team, and funded by long-term institutional capital. We deliver this through two specialist operating platforms: Seahorse and PPHA.  Seahorse acquires, develops and manages homes for homeless residents across England through its Homeless Affordable Rent product, meeting urgent housing need with professionally managed, high-quality accommodation. North Star: creating over 5,000 homes by 2029. PPHA, the Group’s Registered Provider, partners with local authorities, housebuilders and investors to deliver Section 106 and grant-funded Affordable Rent and Shared Ownership homes, expanding supply and creating lasting social value. North Star: creating homes for over 8,000 families or individuals by 2030. Together, these platforms enable HSPG to meet housing need at scale, creating meaningful social impact for customers and residents, while delivering sustainable, long-term returns for our partners. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Core Behaviours: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Core mission:  Support PPHA’s investment, financing, and asset management activities as  the business scales towards delivering safe and secure affordable housing for 8,000 families by 2030. The role will help execute the investment strategy, manage debt relationships and facilities, supporting capital partner relationships and owning institutional-quality reporting. The candidate will be responsible for the financial analysis underpinning investment, funding and asset management decisions, ensuring the Senior Leadership Team, the PPHA Board and capital partners have clear and reliable information on portfolio performance, capital deployment and expected returns.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Accountable for * Supporting the development and execution of PPHA’s investment, financing and asset management strategies. * Leading the financial analysis and underwriting of new investments, including the preparation, development and review of investment models and committee materials.  * Monitoring the portfolio performance against original underwriting and the latest business plan, identifying emerging risks, opportunities and areas requiring management action.  * Working with the Commercial Finance Manager to monitor covenant compliance, manage lender information requirements and support the effective use of the existing debt facility. * Acting as a principal day-to-day contact for PPHA’s capital partners on financial analysis, portfolio performance and reporting matters, working closely with senior leadership on wider relationship management. * Coordinating and delivering accurate, timely reporting to equity and debt partners. * Supporting refinancing, capital raising and other strategic financing initiatives. * Contributing to investment committee, portfolio review and asset management discussions across the business.  Not accountable for The role will have significant responsibility for analysis, execution and reporting but will not hold sole responsibility for: * Final investment, financing or asset management decisions. * Overall ownership of capital partner or lender relationships. * Approval of business plans, budgets or investment committee recommendations. * The statutory responsibilities of the PPHA Board or senior leadership team. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Obsess:  You obsess over: * Organisation: you prioritise meticulously across competing priorities, for both internal and external partners. * Analytical thinking: you synthesise complex data into information that's easy to understand. * Detail: you bring high attention to detail across all tasks, ensuring presentation materials to institutional partners are polished, accurate and of the highest standard ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Excel: You excel at: * Stakeholder management: you engage deeply with internal and external stakeholders, delivering on their fundamental wants and needs. * Commercial judgement: You solve problems by considering their commercial impact, making decisions that balance opportunity, risk, and long-term value. * Leadership: measurably improving people through influence, clear coaching, honest feedback and a genuine belief that investing in people’s growth is the most important responsibility a leader holds. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Specific experience:  * Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in real estate investment, corporate finance, transaction advisory or comparable analytical role.  * Strong financial modelling and underwriting capability, with experience taking ownership of complex investment analysis. * Experience supporting or executing real estate transactions and presenting analysis to senior decision-makers. Experience with UK residential real estate. Exposure to UK affordable housing would be advantageous but not essential. * Comfortable working autonomously with senior management, capital partners, lenders and professional advisers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 90 Day Wins Early traction and strategic control. * Develop a detailed understanding of the joint venture business plan, portfolio model and key investment assumptions. * Become sufficiently familiar with the model to assess sensitivities, downside cases and capital deployment scenarios independently. Establish an effective working relationships with the capital partner, lenders and key stakeholders.  * Develop a clear understanding of the existing debt facility, including its economics, covenants, drawdown mechanics and reporting requirements. Take ownership of the regular investment and portfolio reporting cycle. 12 Month Outcomes Material impact and results within first 12 months. * Establish a clear and reliable reporting framework covering investment performance, portfolio delivery, capital deployment, financing and returns. * Provide senior leadership, the Board and capital partners with timely analysis of performance against the business plan and underwriting. * Improve the quality and consistency of financial analysis supporting investment and asset management decisions. * Play a meaningful role in any refinancing, capital raising or strategic financing activity undertaken by PPHA. * Become a trusted source of investment judgement and financial analysis across the business.