Chief Executive of the European Investment Fund (EIF)

The organisation

The European Investment Fund (EIF), part of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group, is the specialised institution of the European Union providing venture capital and guarantee instruments for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and plays a crucial supporting role in delivering on EU objectives for SMEs.

The position

Chief Executive of the European Investment Fund (EIF). This is a full-time position at grade 8/9. The appointment is for a term of up to five years. 

According to the Statutes of the EIF, the EIB, as majority shareholder of the EIF, nominates its Chief Executive (CE). The CE is formally appointed by the EIF Board of Directors.

Candidates will be informed of the next step in September.

Tasks & responsibilities

As Chief Executive, you are responsible for the day-to-day management of the EIF, in accordance with its Statutes and the directives of the EIF Board of Directors. As a key actor, you foster institutional, administrative and operational synergies and close collaboration within the EIB Group. In accordance with EIF Statutes, the staff of the EIF is under your authority.

You report directly to the EIF Board of Directors and represent the EIF in its relations with third parties. In your capacity of Chief Executive, you interact with the members of the Board of Directors and the senior management of the EIF as well as their counterparts at the EIB.

You also work closely with the senior management of the EIB, as parent entity of the Group, in particular with the EIB President, the EIB Management Committee members, the EIB Group Chief Risk Officer, the EIB Head of Operations, as well as liaising with external counterparts and shareholders at the highest decision making level.

The EIF’s institutional relations with the European Union Institutions fall also within the remit of the CE and should be developed in coordination with the EIB.

Accountabilities:

• Cooperate with the Board of Directors to determine and implement the EIF mission, and plan for short and long-term EIF goals within an evolving strategic and sustainability framework set up by the EIB Group, and in accordance with the operational objectives set by the EIB Group
• Lead the day-to-day management of the Fund, assuring the implementation of operational plans in a cost-effective manner, monitoring and reporting the results to the Board and achieving financial and operational objectives
• Define, develop and consolidate EIF institutional and organisational strategy, as well as a comprehensive operational plan, ensuring implementation in line with the short-term and long-term objectives set by the EIB Group
• Sponsor a close operational alignment and complementarity of activities in collaboration with the EIB’s Head of Operations and continue to foster operational and administrative synergies avoiding duplication and/or overlaps with the EIB
• Represent the Fund externally and maintain and develop relationships with external partners, shareholders and stakeholders, in order to build co-operation and promote the EIF's image
• Keep the EIF Audit Board fully informed on all matters of significant relevance to the Fund, as well as on all aspects of the Fund’s operational and financial affairs; facilitate a good collaboration between the EIF’s Audit Board and the EIB’s Audit Committee
• Establish EIF risk policies and ensure alignment and compliance with the Group Risk Management Framework (GRMF), including the Group capital planning, as directed by the EIB Group Chief Risk Officer (GCRO)
• Manage and monitor EIF risk and ensure a smooth collaboration with the EIB GCRO in the access to and transmission of risk information, in order to enable an effective consolidation of the Group risk
• Oversee and guarantee the quality, timeliness, fairness and adequacy of financial reporting, establishing under your responsibility, and submitting to the Board, the annual accounts and the Annual Report of the EIF, aligned with the EIF Rules of Procedure or upon Board request
• Ensure a high performing managerial team and foster a development culture for the entire organisation in view of the future development of the EIF
• Maintain and manage a sound and effective organisational structure and an effective leadership to the management and the staff of the Fund; establish effective means of control and co-ordination for all operations and activities in line with Group objectives and constraints
• Foster a corporate culture promoting business ethics, integrity and transparency
• Represent the Fund in judicial proceedings
• Ensure the execution of the key Human Resources processes in line with the EIB Group approach with the aim of consolidating Human Resources processes within EIB Group.

Candidate profile

Qualifications and requirements

• University degree, preferably in Economics, Business, Finance, Accounting, Law or Political Science
• At least 15 years of relevant professional experience, incorporating extensive exposure to finance, banking, risk management and/or fund management. Experience in several domains and sectors would be an advantage
• At least 10 years of experience in management, gained in multicultural environments or international organisations. Experience in managing large teams
• Good knowledge of the challenges of financing SMEs
• Ability to understand and anticipate the role of the EIF within the EU policy framework
• Extensive knowledge of the EIB Group objectives, strategies and policies and the ability to align EIF with these
• Personal and professional credibility, with excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Empathy, excellent interpersonal, leadership, political and diplomatic skills; ability to handle diverging interests, conflict and ambiguity; resilience
• A good working knowledge of English is essential. Knowledge of additional EU languages would be an advantage

Core Competencies

• Achievement Drive: continually keeps an eye on performance, focusing on improving it, showing drive and determination to meet short and long -term goals.
• Change Orientation: Adapts to differences and changes in the environment; takes a flexible approach to reach outcomes.
• Collaboration: Works cooperatively as part of a team; works collaboratively with peers across organisational boundaries based on a genuine interest in and an accurate understanding of others and their individual perspectives and concerns.
• Organisational Commitment: Is willing to commit to an organisation whose mission is to support Europe and is open to diversity, and to align her/his own behaviour with the organisation’s needs and intrinsic values, acting with integrity in ways that promote the organisation’s mission, policies and rules.

Managerial Competencies

• Developing Others: Builds the long-term capability of others by guiding and developing them to make the most of their competence and potential, based on an accurate understanding of their true strengths and development needs.
• Strategic Thinking: Thinks about the long -term organisation strategy and how to align to and implement it; comes up with useful new strategic insights.
• Team Leadership: Builds a high performing team, ensuring it is focused, motivated and inspired to achieve organisational objectives, encouraging.

We are an equal opportunity employer, who believes that diversity is good for our people and our business. As such, we promote the inclusion of suitably qualified and experienced staff without regard to their gender, age, racial or ethnic origin, religion or beliefs, sexual orientation/identity, or disability (*).

Interested?

You can apply via the link below. Deadline for applications: 19th August 2019.

(*) We particularly welcome applications from women and persons with disabilities.