Job Description

Principal - MENACA region
CrossBoundary Advisory
About the Firm
CrossBoundary Advisory, part of CrossBoundary Group, is a leading investment advisor focused on unlocking private capital in underserved markets. We have advised on US$12+ billion of closed transactions across agriculture, health, education, manufacturing, ICT, infrastructure, and clean power. Our clients include governments, development finance institutions, foundations, private equity firms, corporates, and research institutions. With 180+ professionals in 20+ offices across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East & North Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, and Latin America & the Caribbean, we combine local presence with global expertise to structure bankable transactions and scalable programs. Learn more at
Why join us?
The CrossBoundary team is a unique group of people who are genuinely excited by the opportunity to make a difference in some of the most challenging and exciting markets in the world. Team members come from diverse backgrounds but share several qualities: curiosity, humility, integrity, a drive for excellence, and a bias for action. Learn more at
What you'll do
CrossBoundary Advisory is recruiting a full-time Principal to lead transaction teams focused on unlocking private capital. We seek candidates with 10+ years of relevant experience living and working in-market, with an extensive network across the MENACA region, and a thorough understanding of the investment landscape.
As a Principal, you will lead a team and oversee mandate execution in market analysis, strategy development and execution, investment facilitation, and commercial due diligence. Principals also lead regional business development and grow the business activities of CrossBoundary in the region, originating transactions and projects.
Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead a team of investment professionals, maintaining responsibility for hiring, capacity building, performance management, and general team leadership duties
• Lead business development across multiple channels, including private commercial opportunities and government/donor-sponsored opportunities
• Provide continuous client coverage of private capital investors, development finance institutions (DFIs), corporates ranging from SMEs to MNCs, and other relevant organizations to proactively identify advisory opportunities
• Manage relationships with key CrossBoundary clients; provide strategic input into program design and oversee mandate execution and reporting
• Provide deal and project leadership and execution oversight to a wide range of advisory engagements:

• Market studies and landscape assessments
• Growth strategy development and implementation
• Fund strategy design and blended-finance mechanism structuring
• Investment target identification and screening
• Investor identification and relationship building
• Detailed commercial due diligence/vendor due diligence
• Development and/or review of robust, multi-faceted corporate and/or project finance models, as well as models used for valuations analysis, market sizing, etc.
• Development of investment memoranda and teasers
• Recommendations on optimal transaction structures based upon near-, medium- and long-term company strategic objectives and capitalization parameters, available instruments, and investor preferences
• Ongoing market analysis
• Thought leadership in frontier-market capital mobilization
• Lead brand-building by driving team participation at conferences and on panel discussions, developing thought leadership pieces, and other involvement in relevant initiatives that help grow our visibility

Who You Are

• Degree in Business Administration or Finance or other relevant advanced degree preferred (extensive relevant experience may be accepted as equivalent)
• 10+ years of relevant experience in investment banking, management consulting, private equity, or similar
• Experience living and/or working in underserved markets required; experience in the region applied for highly preferred
• Experience working with a range of stakeholders (including private equity firms, Development Finance Institutions, and development agencies) to support investments in high impact sectors
• Experience working in the financial services sector
• Self-starter who is passionate about creating lasting change in underserved markets
• Takes on new types of work, even without prior experience/direct supervision
• Willingness to work, travel, and live in a sometimes-challenging environment
• High tolerance for ambiguity and an ability to operate effectively in a changing context
• Builds strong relationships with clients and colleagues in stressful environments
• Excellent presentation skills; ability to communicate clearly and effectively with diverse audience
• Arabic speaking is a plus

Location
The chosen candidate will be based in Dubai, UAE
Interested in applying?
Think you have what it takes but not sure you check every box? Research shows that while men apply to roles when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women often only apply when they meet every requirement. If you're passionate about what we're building, we want to hear from you!
Equal Opportunity Employer
CrossBoundary is an equal opportunity employer. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to

Skills Required