Application Guide
How to Apply for Head of Light Manufacturing Export and Venture Builder
at Africa Jobs Fund
🏢 About Africa Jobs Fund
The Africa Jobs Fund is a mission-driven investment and venture-building organization focused on expanding export manufacturing and international labor mobility to raise incomes across Africa. Unlike traditional VC or PE firms, it doesn't just invest—it actively co-builds new light manufacturing export companies from the ground up by sourcing founders and structuring deals. Working here means directly creating jobs and industrial capacity in Africa while operating at the intersection of private equity, venture building, and economic development.
About This Role
As Head of Light Manufacturing Export and Venture Builder, you will be the driving force behind launching and scaling new export-focused factories in apparel, footwear, leather goods, furniture, or assembly across Africa. You will spend your time identifying and convincing founders to take the leap, scoping market opportunities with international buyers and sourcing agents, and structuring investments that balance commercial viability with job creation. This is a hands-on, deal-making and company-building role where your manufacturing and export expertise directly shapes the portfolio.
💡 A Day in the Life
Your day might start with a call with an international buyer to understand their sourcing needs, followed by a meeting with a potential founder in Kenya to pitch the idea of launching an apparel export factory. In the afternoon, you'll build a cost-effectiveness model for a footwear venture and then negotiate deal terms with a founder in Ethiopia. You'll end the day debriefing with your team on pipeline progress and strategizing on how to overcome bottlenecks in scaling production.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Africa Jobs Fund Is Looking For
- Founder or senior operator (e.g., COO, VP Operations, GM) of a light manufacturing business—ideally in apparel, footwear, leather goods, furniture, or assembly—with direct experience in export markets.
- Deep knowledge of buyer-side dynamics: you've negotiated with international buyers, worked with sourcing agents, and understand compliance requirements (e.g., AGOA, EU trade agreements, social audits).
- Proven ability to assess investments and structure deals: you can build cost-effectiveness models, evaluate factory P&Ls, and negotiate founder-friendly terms.
- Strong network across Africa's manufacturing ecosystem, including factory owners, sourcing agents, and industry associations, and a track record of convincing founders to launch or scale ventures.
📝 Tips for Applying to Africa Jobs Fund
Lead with your manufacturing and export credentials—quantify the factories you've built or operated, export volumes, and buyer relationships you've managed.
Highlight specific examples of founders you've sourced, convinced, or supported in launching manufacturing ventures, especially in Africa.
Demonstrate your understanding of the Africa Jobs Fund's model by referencing their focus on job creation through export manufacturing and how you've done similar work.
Show your deal structuring experience: include examples of investments you've assessed, cost models you've built, or deals you've negotiated with founders.
If you have experience in multiple target sectors (apparel, footwear, leather, furniture, assembly), emphasize your versatility and ability to spot opportunities across them.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your hands-on experience founding or operating a light manufacturing export business in Africa, with concrete outcomes (e.g., jobs created, export revenue, buyer contracts).', 'Your ability to source and persuade founders: describe a time you identified a founder and convinced them to launch a factory, and the results.', 'Your buyer-side and compliance knowledge: show you understand international buyer requirements and can navigate trade agreements and audits.', "Your alignment with the Africa Jobs Fund's mission: explain why you're passionate about creating jobs through export manufacturing and how you'll contribute to their venture-building approach."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Study the Africa Jobs Fund's portfolio and investment thesis: what types of ventures have they funded, and what impact have they achieved?
- → Research current trends in African light manufacturing exports: key countries, sectors, trade agreements (e.g., AGOA, AfCFTA), and challenges.
- → Identify international buyers and sourcing agents active in African apparel, footwear, leather goods, furniture, or assembly, and understand their sourcing criteria.
- → Network with people in the African manufacturing ecosystem to get insider perspectives on founder challenges and opportunities.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on investment analysis without demonstrating hands-on manufacturing or export operations experience—this role requires both.
- Being vague about your network or impact: avoid generic statements; specify factories, buyers, or deals you've been involved with.
- Ignoring the venture-building aspect: don't present yourself as a passive investor; show you can actively source, convince, and support founders.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Africa Jobs Fund!