How to apply for Head of Central and Eastern Europe Labour Mobility and Venture Builder

About Africa Jobs Fund

The Africa Jobs Fund is a mission-driven investor and venture builder that funds and supports export manufacturing and international labor mobility ventures to increase incomes for Africans. Unlike traditional recruiters or staffing firms, it builds companies from scratch (0→1) and structures deals, meaning you'll have both operational and investment influence. This is a rare chance to shape a cross-continental labor mobility ecosystem with direct P&L impact and social returns.

About the role

As Head of Central and Eastern Europe Labour Mobility and Venture Builder, you will identify, fund, and build companies that connect African workers to jobs in CEE countries—specifically in transport, construction, manufacturing, and hospitality. You will scope markets by permit rules, employer demand, and wages, then assess investments and structure deals using cost-effectiveness analyses. This role is both entrepreneurial and analytical: you'll find founders, co-build ventures, and ensure they achieve profitability while creating ethical labor pathways.

A typical day

Your day might start with a call with a founder in Nairobi to review their worker onboarding process, followed by a deep-dive into Polish permit regulations to assess a new market opportunity. In the afternoon, you'll model the unit economics of a potential investment in a hospitality staffing venture and then join a video call with a CEE employer to negotiate a pilot contract. You'll end by updating your investment pipeline and using AI tools to scan for emerging labor demand signals in Romania and Czechia.

Who Africa Jobs Fund is looking for

• **Founder or senior operator with real P&L accountability**: You've built or run a business, ideally in labor mobility, staffing, or a related cross-border service, and can point to revenue and margin outcomes you owned.
• **Deep Africa experience**: You have worked or lived in multiple African countries and understand local labor markets, migration dynamics, and how to build trust with workers and employers.
• **CEE market knowledge**: You are familiar with permit regimes, employer demand, and wage structures in at least 2–3 Central/Eastern European countries (e.g., Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary).
• **Hybrid investor-operator mindset**: You can evaluate a venture's unit economics, structure a deal (equity, debt, or revenue-based), and also roll up your sleeves to help founders hire, build processes, and win contracts.

Tips for this application

• **Lead with a specific labor mobility deal or venture you built**: In your resume or cover letter, quantify the number of workers placed, revenue generated, and countries involved. Generic 'operations' experience won't stand out.
• **Demonstrate CEE market expertise**: Mention specific permit types (e.g., Poland's Type A work permit, Romania's EU Blue Card) and employer demand trends in transport or construction that you've analyzed or acted on.
• **Show AI-native workflow examples**: Describe how you've used AI tools (e.g., for market scanning, candidate matching, or cost modeling) to accelerate venture building or investment diligence.
• **Address the 0→1 builder aspect**: Provide a brief case study of how you took a concept to a funded, operating company—including how you found the founder and structured the initial deal.
• **Highlight your Africa network**: Name countries and sectors where you have direct relationships with employers, training providers, or government agencies that could source workers.

What to cover in your cover letter

**1. Your unique blend of Africa and CEE experience**: Explain how you've navigated both regions' labor markets and regulatory environments. **2. A concrete labor mobility venture you built or funded**: Detail the problem, your role, the deal structure, and the outcome (e.g., number of placements, profitability). **3. Your investment structuring skills**: Show you can assess cost-effectiveness and design deals that align incentives for founders, employers, and workers. **4. Your AI-native approach**: Give an example of how you use AI to scope markets or build workflows, not just as a buzzword.

Research before applying

• **Africa Jobs Fund's existing portfolio**: Look at their website and any press releases to understand the types of ventures they've funded and their investment thesis. Identify gaps in CEE that you could fill.
• **CEE labor market reports**: Read recent reports from the OECD, IOM, or local ministries on labor shortages in transport, construction, manufacturing, and hospitality. Note specific countries and occupations with high demand.
• **Permit and migration policies**: For 2–3 CEE countries, study the work permit processes, quotas, and bilateral agreements with African nations. Understand the timeline and costs for employers.
• **Competitor landscape**: Identify existing labor mobility companies operating between Africa and CEE (e.g., EWL, Work Service) and analyze their models, strengths, and weaknesses.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• **Walk us through a labor mobility venture you built or invested in from 0→1.** What was the biggest operational challenge, and how did you solve it?
• **How would you assess the permit rules and employer demand for, say, truck drivers in Poland versus construction workers in Romania?** What data sources would you use?
• **Describe a time you structured a deal with a founder.** What were the key terms, and how did you ensure both financial returns and social impact?
• **How do you use AI in your daily workflow for venture building or investment diligence?** Give specific tools and a real example.
• **What are the ethical risks in labor mobility, and how would you mitigate them in a venture you build?** Discuss wage theft, contract substitution, and worker welfare.

Common mistakes to avoid

• **Focusing only on recruitment experience**: This role is about building and funding companies, not just placing workers. Avoid framing yourself as a recruiter; emphasize P&L ownership and venture creation.
• **Ignoring the investment structuring aspect**: Many candidates highlight operations but fail to show they can assess deals and structure investments. Be ready to discuss term sheets, valuation, and cost-effectiveness.
• **Being vague about Africa or CEE experience**: Saying 'I've worked in Africa' or 'I know Europe' is insufficient. Name specific countries, projects, and outcomes to prove depth.