Specialist Innovation Investments

Karandaaz Pakistan; Islamabad; On-site; PKR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Karandaaz Pakistan seeks a Specialist in Innovation Investments to drive new product development and pipeline origination for the II portfolio, with primary responsibility for GreenFin Innovations and collaboration with Women Ventures. The role requires coordinating with cross-functional teams and managing investment pipelines.

The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s in business/finance, 6+ years in investment design and credit/portfolio management, and strong skills in financial analysis,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or related field.
• Professional qualification such as CFA is a competitive advantage.
• 6+ years of relevant experience in investment design, management, and credit/portfolio management.
• Experience in climate and/or human development finance is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead new product development and pipeline origination for II portfolio.
• Structure, execute, and deploy transactions in line with approved strategies and guidelines.
• Lead GreenFin Innovations (GFI) pipeline, transactions, and portfolio performance.
• Support scale-up of Women Ventures (WV) in coordination with stakeholders.
• Monitor portfolio performance against KPIs and report to senior management.
• Coordinate cross-functional activities with Research, Marketing, Development Impact, Finance, Risk, and Internal Audit.
• Engage service providers and external partners to deliver programme objectives.

Skills

Deal origination

Financial analysis

Due diligence

Investment structuring

Portfolio management

Stakeholder management

Contract negotiation

Strategic thinking

Documentation & reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Finance

CFA (advantage)

Job description

This role will be in the Innovation Investments Department and the reporting line under Manager Innovation Investments .

About Us

Karandaaz Pakistan (KRN) is a Section 42 non-profit organization registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). KRN is seeded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) under the Enterprise and Asset Growth Programme, with digital finance initiatives funded by the Gates Foundation. Guided by the vision of Investing for Shared Prosperity, Karandaaz works to enhance the capabilities of the financial and digital ecosystems through investments, innovations, and strategic partnerships for inclusive, green, and sustainable growth.

Karandaaz Innovation Investments (II), through its programmatic interventions, Innovation Challenge Fund (ICF), Women Ventures (WV), and Green Challenge Fund (GCF), aims to address gaps in the financial architecture to improve access to finance and support commercially viable business ideas in high-impact areas.

Position Summary

The Specialist will lead new product development and pipeline origination for the II portfolio. This includes structuring, executing, and deploying transactions in line with approved portfolio strategies and investment guidelines. Within this portfolio, the Specialist will lead the GreenFin Innovations (GFI) line, taking primary responsibility for its pipeline, transaction execution, and portfolio performance, while supporting the scale-up of Women Ventures (WV) in coordination with relevant stakeholders.

Job Responsibilities

The core functions and responsibilities include the following:

• Build and maintain a deal pipeline aligned with Programme strategy, investment thresholds, and budget.
• New Product development to design innovative financing facilities (including concept notes) aligned with the impact ambition and II strategic framework.
• Conduct market outreach, lead generation, and screening of prospective investees/partners.
• Conduct initial due diligence and business/financial analysis of prospective investees.
• Develop Development Impact Dashboard for each transaction as per the requirements of the Karandaaz Impact framework.
• Support prospective clients in the preparation of management accounts and financial projections, the investment pitch deck, review of collateral and other credit documents as per SECP requirements.
• Support Investment Panel/Advisory Committee processes, including: preparation of growth plans, investment recommendations, and recording investment decisions.
• Negotiate and draft term sheets, contracts, and financing agreements with implementing partners.

Portfolio Performance Management and Governance

• Monitor portfolio performance financial, repayment, and development impact against agreed KPIs, managing investee relationships and escalating risks to senior management.
• Lead portfolio reporting and analysis, including periodic updates to the CEO and Board, work plans, budgets, and risk frameworks, in close coordination with the Development Impact team.
• Provide targeted technical assistance to investees and support internal/external audit processes and other tasks as needed.

Service Provider & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Engage and manage service providers, implementing partners, recovery agents, legal counsel, and technical assistance for efficient programme delivery.
• Coordinate cross-functionally with Research, Marketing & Communications, Development Impact, Finance, Risk, and Internal Audit.
• Manage relationships with Investment Panels, Advisory Committees, and external partners/co-investors (Parwaaz Financial Services, National Credit Guarantee Company Limited, etc.).
• Contribute evidence and lessons learnt from portfolio performance and market best practice to Innovation Investment strategy, investment policy, and new product development.
• Support accreditation or qualification processes for business development and new partnerships.

Business Development Support

• Identify and bid for new funding opportunities to facilitate portfolio development and scale-up.
• Maintain updated information and a tracker on funding opportunities, funder requirements, and planning for successful proposal submissions.

An ideal candidate will need to have:

Education & Experience

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or a related field.
• Relevant professional qualification (e.g., CFA) will be a competitive advantage.
• At least 6 years’ relevant experience in investment design and management, and credit/portfolio management.
• Demonstrated experience in climate and/or human development finance.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated skill in deal origination and pipeline development.
• Working knowledge of financial analysis, due diligence, and investment structuring (primarily credit).
• Knowledge of equity will be a bonus.
• Excellent skills in contract negotiation and management.
• Excellent stakeholder and vendor/service-provider management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including reporting to senior management.
• Strategic thinking and policy/programme design.
• Highly organised and self-driven, with strong time management under multiple deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and manage a diverse portfolio with attention to detail.
• Willingness to travel to different locations in Pakistan, as required.

Culture and Values at Karandaaz

Karandaaz culture is guided by our values of Integrity, Diversity, Entrepreneurship, Appreciation, and Learning Acumen (IDEAL). These values shape our choices on what we do and how we do it, both with colleagues internally and partners externally. We also believe that we are all responsible for creating a great place to work and are constantly looking to hire individuals who bring the same level of passion and commitment to the purpose of the organization.

Karandaaz is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all population groups