New Businesses Manager – Kigali Rwanda

What is H2O Venture Partners?

H2O Venture Partners (www.h2ovp.com) is an exciting, ground-breaking business in the field of social entrepreneurship and impact investment.

Based in Oxford, UK, but with activities in India and Africa, we are a team of ten, of which six hold PhDs, comprising entrepreneurs with over 70 years of business creation between us, as well as in-house accounting and legal support. Over the first six years of operations, H2O has created a range of start-up companies, principally spun out of UK Universities, in the fields of health and environmental technology.

We style ourselves as ‘pre-business plan investors’ who then run a full, highly creative process of business creation, including: identifying the lead market opportunities; developing the business model to unlock best value for the business in those markets; securing lead commercial and technical partnerships; recruiting key management ; capturing the whole in a coherent business plan with full financial forecasts; and raising the investment required to take the business through to profitability.

Increasingly we apply our skills to impact investment: creating sustainable, profitable enterprises benefiting the poor of developing countries. This work is supported by both private and public money, and includes a well-funded program for poverty alleviation through the development of agricultural enterprises in East Africa.

As part of H2O’s East African agricultural program we are establishing processes for identifying and mentoring a cadre of local entrepreneurial managers who can work to validate nascent commercial opportunities and, if appropriate, develop these into full businesses.

What is the Job?

We are recruiting a New Businesses Manager to be based in Kigali, to run the process of identifying and recruiting these entrepreneurs in-country (supported by executive search consultants).

Thereafter, the New Businesses Manager will support the business development activities of those entrepreneurs as they work on their individual projects.
Supporting activities will include:

• Establishing and managing an office within which the entrepreneurs can work.
• Identifying and engaging additional consultancy expertise as required to support individual projects.
• Managing the reporting process for projects to ensure interim reports and draft business plans are produced to time.
• Acting as the day-to-day liaison between the projects and the Programme Manager, who will be based in H2O offices in the UK but will travel monthly to Kigali.

The New Businesses Manager will also undertake some travel to provide business development support for other H2O projects in the region.

Who Are We Looking For?

Educated to first degree level or higher in a relevant subject, you preferably have experience of working in the region.

You are a creative self-starter, who enjoys working autonomously and with considerable discretion to deliver high level outcomes.

You are an experienced pair of managerial hands, able to run a process to tight timescales, willing to identify and address problems promptly, and able to work effectively with a range of people of different backgrounds, personalities and skill sets.

You will have a strong ability to communicate in written and spoken English, and a good grasp of Excel and PowerPoint.

Experience of business development is also highly desirable, but for candidates with demonstrable entrepreneurial potential the post will provide an opportunity to gain considerable exposure to the excitement and challenges of business creation.

What are the terms of employment?

• A 50 week contract, initially.
• Based in Kigali, Rwanda.
• Remuneration package commensurate with experience.
• Country allowance and home leave travel expenses.
• Start date: as soon as possible.



Please respond with a CV and covering letter to Antonia Cardew.

Closing date: please submit applications as soon as possible, but in any event before 17 Feb 2012.

Job Email id:

antonia.cardew(at)h2ovp.com