Chief Investment Officer- 5 Year Fixed- Term Contract at Technology Innovation Agency

Job Purpose:

• To provide executive leadership and strategic oversight of TIA’s investment management, portfolio strategy, funding instruments and investment risk functions. The role leads the development and execution of long-term investment strategies that position TIA as a dynamic, intelligence-driven national innovation agency, and strategic investment partner within the National System of Innovation.

Minimum Requirements    
Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Finance, Investment Management, Business Management, Economics, Commercialisation, Engineering, Science, Technology or a related field.
• Professional certification or advanced training in investment management, corporate finance, venture capital, development finance, portfolio management or innovation commercialisation.

Experience

• Total 15 years working experience on senior management level within an institutional funding environment.
• Proven experience in managing investment portfolios, funding instruments, due diligence, risk management and stakeholder partnerships.
• Total 15 years executive-level experience in a technology development, innovation, development finance, venture capital, public sector funding or National System of Innovation environment of which 8+ years must be at EXCO / General Manager level.
• Proven experience in blended finance, co-investment models, Fund-of-Funds mechanisms, commercialisation support, portfolio optimisation

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of Public sector investment governance and PFMA requirements.
• Investment funding instruments, portfolio management and risk oversight.
• Blended finance, co-investment, Fund-of-Funds and development finance models.
• Commercialisation pathways, technology readiness and innovation scaling.
• Intellectual property, technology transfer and market adoption considerations.
• Due diligence, investment appraisal, IRR, ROI and impact assessment.
• Strategic judgement.
• Executive presence and influence.
• Accountability and ethical leadership.
• Analytical and systems thinking.
• Investment strategy development.
• Portfolio management and optimisation.
• Due diligence and investment appraisal.

Duties and Responsibilities    
Financial Perspective

• Partner with the Chief Financial Officer to ensure alignment between investment funding decisions, financial controls, reporting requirements and audit outcomes.
• Oversee the allocation, utilisation and monitoring of investment funds to ensure alignment with approved portfolio priorities, funding instruments and strategic outcomes.
• Drive the design and implementation of blended finance, co-investment and Fund of Funds mechanisms to leverage public and private sector capital.
• Monitor investment expenditure, commitments and disbursements against approved budgets, delegations of authority and PFMA requirements.
• Ensure that investment decisions are supported by sound due diligence, financial analysis, risk assessment and expected impact.

Stakeholder Management

• Build and manage strategic relationships with investors, funders, government departments, development finance institutions, industry partners, universities, science councils and other NSI stakeholders.
• Position TIA as a credible innovation investment partner and curator of high-impact innovation opportunities.
• Represent TIA in relevant investment, innovation, commercialisation and technology development forums.
• Provide strategic advice on emerging investor expectations, market trends, stakeholder priorities and partnership opportunities.

Internal Processes

• Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of TIA’s investment management framework, portfolio governance model and investment decision-making processes.
• Ensure that investment pipeline development, screening, due diligence, approval, contracting, monitoring, reporting and exit processes.
• Oversee portfolio segmentation, Prioritisation and optimisation to support strategic impact, commercialisation readiness and financial sustainability.
• Define investment risk appetite, risk assessment criteria and mitigation measures.
• Strengthen evidence-based investment decision-making through improved market intelligence, portfolio analytics, impact measurement and performance reporting.
• Ensure alignment between investment management, commercialisation support, intellectual property assessment, business support and NSI curation functions.
• Define TIA’s short-, medium- and long-term investment priorities in line with the Decadal Plan, APP and national innovation priorities.
• Identify emerging sectors, technologies, market opportunities and funding gaps that require investment intervention.
• Support integrated organisational planning by aligning investment strategy with innovation, commercialisation, financial strategies.
• Oversee monitoring and evaluation of funded investments to assess financial performance, commercialisation progress, technology development milestones and socio-economic impact.
• Identify underperforming investments and recommend corrective actions, additional support, restructuring or exit strategies.
• Improve operational efficiencies of technology development and commercialisation portfolio.

Learning and Growth

• Ensure KPAs are understood and achieved as agreed upon in the performance agreements for each division.
• Ensure reviews of performance against agreed performance standards
• Live the values and culture of TIA.
• Communicate and implement development opportunities to ensure continuous improvement of work effectiveness and efficiency.
• Identify, manage and coordinate the implementation of knowledge systems, tools and initiatives to improve the performance TIA.
• Integrated information systems and tools are optimally utilized to execute core tasks. 

Deadline:22nd September,2026