Odyssey is seeking a dynamic finance professional with a comprehensive understanding of risk management. The Director – Risk is self-driven, business-oriented, and thrives in fast-paced entrepreneurial environments. This new role will be pivotal in developing a robust credit risk framework, designing structured lending products, and establishing underwriting policies and processes for Odyssey’s solar financing business in emerging markets.
About Odyssey
Odyssey is a venture-backed climate tech company transforming distributed energy globally. We are the only end-to-end investment and asset management platform for distributed energy, offering renewable energy companies and investors a business-in-a-box solution to finance, procure equipment for and operate distributed energy projects at scale across the globe. We’re facilitating more than $1.6B of finance into the sector and have unparalleled market traction behind us.
As capital into the distributed renewable energy sector grows, Odyssey has leveraged its technology and traction to become THE platform for deploying capital into the sector. Odyssey offers solutions for the full lifecycle of development funding, from feasibility studies and site analysis for distributed renewable systems, applications and evaluations for financing programs, disbursement of payments upon achievement of milestones, and on to portfolio management and asset monitoring.
As Odyssey expands its proprietary financing operations across products and countries, the business is looking to strengthen its risk management and credit disciplines. The Director –Risk is a new role that will lead Odyssey’s capabilities and operations in this domain.
Who you are
You have a proven track record of formulating robust risk policies and product guidelines tailored to diverse markets, demonstrating your adaptability to local funding requirements and regulatory frameworks. You are adept in engaging with national and international stakeholders, including global and local financing partners, target borrowers and industry associations showcasing your strategic vision and ability to align policies with evolving market dynamics. You possess exceptional analytical skills, allowing you to evaluate regional risks and devise effective mitigation strategies. You are proficient in coordinating with local teams, ensuring timely execution of funding initiatives and a thorough understanding of regional demands and associated risks.
Responsibilities
A. Risk Monitoring and Management
– Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders in each of Odyssey’s markets and maintain a robust fact base of political, economic, policy, financial and operating risks;
– Maintain a risk register to monitor Company’s exposure to different risks taking into account unique financial landscapes and demand dynamics of various countries;
– Define portfolio KPIs and build systems to capture and monitor these KPIs regularly;
– Create a feedback loop to review product features, underwriting policies and processes based on learnings from the portfolio;
– Develop and oversee a manufacturer- level credit evaluation mechanism for vendor due diligence and for pre-qualifying solar equipment;
– Report key risk and portfolio KPIs to the right stakeholders with commentary
– Promote and maintain a fit-for-purpose risk culture in the organization
B. Structured Financing Products
– Collaborate with business teams to identify funding gaps in the market
– Design lending products combining understanding of sector needs, financing gaps, and risks with structural mitigations built into the product features;
– Develop detailed product guideline (eligibility, documentation, evaluation process, etc.) suitable for local solar funding of small and medium businesses;
– Oversee product performance from a business and risk perspective and propose adjustments to internal stakeholders
C. Credit and Underwriting
– Draft step-wise underwriting process and procedures for each financial product in coordination with VP of Commercial Finance Solutions;
– Build and supervise a team of underwriters to operate the credit underwriting process;
– Establish process turnaround times, coordinating with local country business team, credit team for timely execution and adherence to the designated turnaround times
– Resolve escalations through internal and external consultations in conformity with established risk norms;
– Identify training needs and conduct trainings on policy and process to users and stakeholders to maintain standards
Skills/Qualifications/ Experience
– Professional/Post-graduate degree or higher in finance, economics, or a related field
– 10+ years of experience in risk management, credit, product for SME borrowers
– Experience collaborating with C-suite leaders internally and externally
– Experience facilitating and/or deploying capital into energy and infrastructure projects
– Ability to construct and review project and company financial models, performing valuation, return, and debt sizing analyses
– Ability to lead strategy independently, including engagements with investors/financiers and legal/technical advisors
– Excellent communication and presentation skills
Job Location
Remote, but candidates invited only from Kenya, South Africa and India
Apply here
