Key Skills

Job Description

Head of Fund Operations - Founding Team, Global Water Investment Facility Location Amsterdam, The Netherlands Contract Full-time (part-time start negotiable) Start date As soon as possible Reporting to Board of Directors About GWIF The Global Water Investment Facility (GWIF) is a new investment vehicle being established by Nairiva Invest to accelerate investments across 100 priority water basins worldwide. The facility is being designed to mobilise corporate and institutional capital into scalable water solutions through a fund-of-funds programme and blended finance approach. The ambition is to contribute to a broader investment effort, led by corporate members of the Water Resilience Coalition, targeting USD 2 billion in investments by 2030 and a positive water impact for hundreds of millions of people. About the Role We are currently in the fund formation stage and are seeking a highly entrepreneurial operations professional to help build the institutional backbone of the fund from the ground up. This is not a traditional asset management role within an established organisation. We are looking for an experienced fund operations professional who enjoys building, structuring and implementing. Someone who is equally comfortable designing governance frameworks, negotiating with service providers, drafting policies, managing implementation projects and solving practical operational challenges within a small and entrepreneurial team. The successful candidate will together with the board of directors lead the establishment of the operational, governance, compliance and risk infrastructure required to launch and manage a institutional-grade international investment platform. Key Responsibilities The Head of Fund Operations will play a central role in designing and implementing the overall operating model of the fund platform from inception. The role will coordinate the development of the operational infrastructure, including governance, risk and compliance, while selecting/onboarding and managing outsourced third-party service providers and ensuring effective integration with internal capabilities. In addition, the role will establish the core financial, administrative, reporting and systems infrastructure required to support day-to-day operations and provide reliable information and reporting to the board and investors: · Fund Platform Design & Build · Outsourcing and Fund Administration · Governance & Policy Framework · Risk Management · Compliance & Regulatory Readiness · Finance & Operational Infrastructure · Organisational Development Profile We are looking for an experienced platform builder who is excited by the opportunity to help create a new investment vehicle. You take ownership, move things forward and are focused on delivering tangible results. Ideally you also have first-hand experience establishing and/or scaling a fund-of-funds or other alternative investment platform. You bring a legal, investment and/or technical background and are equally comfortable engaging in strategic discussions with investors, board of directors and service providers as you are driving hands-on execution. GWIF aims to connect corporate water stewardship ambitions with investment opportunities. An affinity with working at the intersection of financial returns and measurable impact is therefore highly valued. Qualifications and Experience · Minimum 10 years of experience within asset management, fund management, private markets or alternative investments. · Demonstrated experience establishing or scaling investment funds, alternative investment platforms or asset management businesses. · Experience managing outsourced fund administrators and other third-party service providers · Experience establishing or transforming operating models and infrastructure · Strong understanding of governance, risk and regulatory/compliance frameworks. · Experience developing fund policies, operating procedures and control environments. · Experience working with corporate and institutional investors as well as Development Finance Institutions. · Familiarity with KYC, AML, GDPR and fund governance requirements. Highly Desirable · Experience with fund-of-funds structures. · Experience within impact investing, development finance or blended finance. · Familiarity with Luxembourg or international fund regulatory environments. · Previous involvement in selecting and overseeing fund administrators, depositaries and external service providers. · Experience working in sustainability, climate, infrastructure or water-related investment strategies. Personal Characteristics · Entrepreneurial and self-starting. · Highly organised and detail-oriented. · Practical and solution-driven. · Customer and investor focused. · Flexible and adaptable. · Collaborative with a low-ego approach. · Strong sense of accountability and ownership. What We Offer · A senior role in a new global water investment facility. · Direct responsibility for building the operational, governance and risk infrastructure of GWIF from the ground up. · Close collaboration with the founding team, board of directors and senior international stakeholders, including corporate, institutional and development finance investors. · The opportunity to shape a first-of-its-kind investment platform at the intersection of water resilience, impact investing and corporate sustainability. · Compensation that is market conform. For more information about the position get in touch with the Executive Director and Board Member Aarno Keijzer via [email protected]. Interested in the role? Send your CV and motivation letter by Friday, 16 October to [email protected], with the subject line “Head of Fund Operations – GWIF”.

Core Responsibilities

Lead the design and implementation of GWIF’s operating model, including its governance, risk, compliance, finance, reporting, and administrative infrastructure. Select and oversee outsourced fund administrators and other service providers, coordinate implementation, and provide reliable information to the board and investors.

Requirements

Requires at least 10 years of experience in asset management, fund management, private markets, or alternative investments, including experience establishing or scaling funds or investment platforms. Candidates should bring strong knowledge of governance, risk, compliance, fund operations, and third-party provider management; fund-of-funds, impact investing, development finance, blended finance, and international fund regulation experience are desirable.