Director – Africa Agriculture & Trade Investment Fund

About the role

Cygnum Capital is looking for an experienced investment professional to lead the Africa Agriculture and Trade Investment Fund (AATIF). The Director will source, structure, execute and monitor debt investments in agrifood companies and financial institutions across Africa, supporting sustainable agricultural development and inclusive growth.

Key responsibilities

• Originate and analyse investment opportunities, focusing on financial institutions and a range of debt products including senior unsecured, mezzanine, tier‑2 capital and trade finance.
• Lead full due‑diligence, transaction execution, documentation preparation and presentation to investment committees and risk functions.
• Manage closing, initial disbursement and ongoing portfolio monitoring for credit, compliance and impact.
• Produce regular credit updates, valuation inputs and investor reporting, and support fund‑raising marketing materials.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (operations, legal, compliance, ESG) and external partners such as co‑lenders and advisors.

Required profile

• 7+ years of client‑facing experience in finance, with deep knowledge of African agricultural value chains and banking sector.
• Hands‑on experience with debt capital products and cross‑border transactions.
• Academic background in finance, economics, agribusiness or related field.
• Fluent in English; French or Portuguese is a plus.
• Willingness to travel frequently across the region and work both independently and in teams.