SVP Direct Investments

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SVP Direct Investments

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1957 Ventures

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Overview The SVP of Direct Investments is a senior leadership role with accountability for driving the firm’s direct equity investment strategy, portfolio growth, and ecosystem impact. You will set investment priorities, originate and execute high-quality deals, and represent 1957 Ventures at the highest levels—with founders, co-investors, regulators, and boards. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on deal execution, requiring a proven investor who can balance vision-setting with operational rigor. As a senior member of the investment leadership team, you will influence firm strategy, mentor junior talent, and shape the fintech ecosystem across MENA.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Ecosystem Building

Define and refine investment theses aligned with the firm’s strategy.

Build thought leadership and represent 1957 Ventures at boardrooms, industry forums, and with government / regulatory stakeholders.

Act as an ambassador for the firm, building strategic relationships with LPs, family offices, corporates, and global funds.

Deal Origination & Market Coverage

Lead proprietary sourcing efforts in fintech and adjacent sectors (payments, lending, infra, embedded, insurtech, proptech, AI-enabled finance).

Develop and maintain senior-level founder and investor relationships across MENA and globally.

Oversee market mapping and sector deep-dives to identify actionable opportunities.

Investment Execution & Structuring

Oversee end-to-end diligence processes (commercial, product / tech, regulatory, financial, legal).

Negotiate and structure term sheets, SPAs / SHAs, governance, and incentive frameworks.

Ensure smooth progression from LOI to close, with senior oversight of advisors and cross-functional teams.

Governance & Board Leadership

Sit on portfolio company boards and provide active oversight and value creation support.

Lead portfolio governance—KPIs, covenants, reporting structures, and risk management.

Present to the Investment Committee with clear, thesis-led recommendations and strategic framing.

Partner with portfolio leadership to drive growth, strategic pivots, and partnerships.

Support co-investment syndication, secondaries, M&A, and IPO readiness.

Map and execute exit strategies to maximize investor returns.

Mentor, coach, and develop associates / analysts; foster a high-performance investment culture.

Champion cross-functional collaboration with venture building, legal, and operating pods.

Qualifications

10+ years in VC, CVC, PE, or growth equity with a track record of leadership and closed transactions.

Fintech expertise (payments, lending, infrastructure, embedded finance) and strong familiarity with adjacent verticals. Keen appreciation of the disruption potential created by AI.

Proven origination capabilities with strong networks in MENA and beyond; Arabic a plus.

Board-level experience with portfolio companies, including governance and strategic oversight.

Advanced financial modeling, valuation, and structuring expertise

Demonstrated ability to influence IC / boards and manage senior stakeholder relationships.

Track record of mentoring teams and scaling investment functions.

Strategic Vision : Ability to define long-term theses and shape firm strategy.

Leadership & Influence : Gravitas in board and IC settings; trusted advisor to CEOs / founders.

Execution Excellence : Track record of leading high-quality deals to close.

Team Building : Strong leadership in developing high-performance teams.

Resilience & Adaptability : Thrives in high-growth, dynamic, and sometimes ambiguous environments.

Seniority

Director

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Finance and Management

Industries

Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals

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