Junior Investment Officer

ABOUT THE COMPANY

In order to address some of the world's most fundamental challenges—feeding the future, preserving the planet, and securing peace—we need to focus on 2 billion people. That's the number who live in rural areas on less than $2 a day. Many of them are farming to feed the rest of the world, yet they are not getting enough to eat. Many live hundreds of miles from accessible markets, without the roads to reach them.
Root Capital seeks to improve the lives of rural farmers by connecting them with the formal economy. We invest in the growth of agricultural enterprises so they can transform rural communities. These businesses purchase crops such as coffee, cocoa, or grains from thousands of smallholder farmers. They connect members to markets and help improve their farming practices.

JOB SUMMARY

Required Skills and ExperienceDemonstrated expertise in credit underwriting, risk analysis, loan performance monitoring, and loan workoutMinimum of 3 years of experience in commercial banking or financial services, with a focus on working capital lending.Bachelor’s degree in economics, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.Deep belief in and dedication to the mission of Root Capital, with a passion for promoting inclusive and sustainable economic development and rural resilience in low- and middle-income countries.Strong interpersonal skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a team as well as internal and external clients.Experience working with rural SMEs and/or agricultural enterprises is highly desirable.Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with the ability to build a respectful and inclusive work environment.Proficiency in English and relevant regional language (e.g., Spanish or French).Willingness and ability to travel to rural areas (approximately 10% of the time).

RESPONSIBILITIES

Loan Underwriting and StructuringPerform independent, objective loan application assessments and underwriting, including but not limited to analysis of client financial statements, cash flows projections, social and environmental score performance, management capacity, governance, industry risk, and repayment ability – to determine the client’s creditworthiness, impact potential and risk profileVerify client information through various means, including analysis of bank statements, review of credit and commercial references, as well as site visits and/or management interviews in conjunction with the portfolio manager as necessaryStructure loans to meet client’s needs, in accordance with Root Capital’s lending policy and risk appetite, with input from the Portfolio ManagerSupport Portfolio Manager in the negotiation of credit terms by providing clear parameters and, as necessary, directly supporting client discussions on technical credit mattersLoan Servicing, Performance Monitoring and Risk RatingSupport loan closings by collecting required documentation, communicating final terms to clients, and coordinating with Credit Administration to ensure all conditions are satisfied for timely disbursementManage borrowing base updates and supporting documentation; analyze and facilitate disbursement and payment requests – in coordination with the client and internal teams to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to policyAnalyze use of funds, financial performance, and compliance with covenantsAssess market risks and trends, with input from the portfolio managerCommunicate with clients to understand key risks and mitigants and to address identified deficiencies, in coordination with the portfolio managerMaintain accurate and updated risk rating in Salesforce, in accordance with policyNon-Current Loan Portfolio ManagementProactive identification of loan risks and problems for discussion at monthly risk reviewPreparation and presentation of credit proposals for negotiation agreements/ settlement agreements and loan restructures for the non-performing portfolio to the credit committeeRegular updates to the high-risk review reports together with the respective action plans for active loans in PAR>90Engagement (15%)Collaborate closely with Portfolio Managers to collect relevant client inputs and align credit structuring and client communications.Serves as the primary point of client contact for loan servicing (closing, disbursement, repayments, borrowing base updates, etc.) ensuring clear communication of requirements, timely issue resolution, and appropriate coordination with the Portfolio Manager and internal teamsEngage directly with clients to understand business models, assess risks and mitigants, and support the negotiation of loan terms.Provide input to Portfolio Manager regarding financial management weaknesses of prospective and existing clients as necessary to inform the provision of advisory servicesCoordinate with cross-functional teams including Credit Administration, Client Services, and Risk to ensure quality service delivery and institutional alignment.Represent the investment function in internal forums and participate in knowledge sharing, policy and process improvement efforts.Collaborate during annual planning and pipeline review meetings to review the pipeline, proactively identifying potential issues and/or bottlenecks for early alignment and resolution—preventing delays at the approval stage.Delivery (35%)Prepare and present well-structured credit proposals for approval, with clear articulation of risks, mitigants, and credit recommendation in accordance with Root Capital’s policy and risk appetite – in a timely and efficient manner, to meet Root Capital’s customer service objectivesTimely loan servicing facilitation for loan closing, disbursement and repaymentsIdentify and address at-risk loans, including the preparation of restructuring or settlement proposals for non-performing assets.Maintain accurate, timely records in internal systems, including risk ratings and action plans for high-risk loans.

REQUIRED SKILLS

Market research, intelligence, Vision and strategy, Sales strategy, Marketing, Business development

REQUIRED EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree