Impact Investment Senior Researcher

About Krutham

Krutham is a leading research and advisory firm pioneering financial solutions for social impact in emerging markets. We work with clients spanning the full spectrum of capital – from global investors and asset managers to philanthropic foundations – developing innovative approaches that prove financial systems can be a powerful force for good.

Operating from offices in Johannesburg, London, and Cape Town, our team of MBAs, CFA charter holders, and PhDs combines deep financial sector expertise with rigorous social economy insight to deliver research and advisory services that shape markets and drive meaningful change.

The Opportunity

The Impact Senior Researcher plays a central role in Krutham's work at the intersection of finance and the wider social economy. This position is responsible for leading research into current and emerging topics in development finance, impact investing, policy, catalytic capital structuring and contributing to market-shaping advisory work.

The role requires excellent research and writing skills, and the ability to engage with philanthropies, DFIs, policymakers, ecosystem intermediaries and enterprises operating in the impact economy, across multiple geographies. This individual will be expected to operate with intellectual independence, analytical depth, and professional maturity.

Core responsibilities

The role delivers outcomes across the following domains:

Social Economy Research & Thought Leadership

• Lead research projects that analyse social-economy trends, sector performance, barriers, and opportunities.
• Produce high-quality reports, policy briefs, white papers, investment notes, case studies, and market assessments.
• Build subject-matter expertise in catalytic capital, blended finance, impact measurement and monitoring, and impact ecosystem development.
• Contribute to Krutham's strategic insights platforms, newsletters, and knowledge hubs.
• Represent Krutham in conferences, stakeholder meetings, round tables, industry working groups, and media engagements where appropriate.
• Develop new conceptual models, frameworks and methodologies to strengthen Krutham's intellectual capital.

Internal Collaboration, Leadership & Capacity Building

• Work closely with analysts, researchers, subject-matter experts and project managers across the group.
• Mentor analysts and interns, providing coaching and quality review where required.
• Support proposal development, bid writing, and client presentations.
• Contribute to internal discussions on product development and service enhancement.
• Champion Krutham's values, research excellence, and data-driven culture.

Required Technical Skills

Research & Writing

• Ability to produce rigorous, data-driven research outputs.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Strong ability to synthesise complex information for diverse audiences, including policymakers and investors.
• Clear, concise, high-quality writing skills.

Advisory & Stakeholder Engagement

• Ability to engage credibly with philanthropies, development partners, DFIs, policymakers and other ecosystem actors.
• Strong presentation skills.
• Experience facilitating meetings, workshops and board/exco-level sessions.

Operational & Project Management

• Ability to manage multiple work streams across different clients and countries.
• Strong organisational discipline, detail orientation, and execution capability.
• Comfort working under pressure and managing shifting priorities

Required Experience

• 5-10 years' experience of producing high-quality research, economic analysis, or sector reports.
• 3–5 years in investment analysis, corporate finance, development finance, SME lending, or impact investing.
• Experience working with or supporting DFIs or philanthropies in emerging markets.

Desirable Experience

• Experience with in DFIs, impact investors, funds, corporates, or donor-funded programmes
• Experience engaging with cross-border or multi-country projects
• Familiarity with the Southern African or East African development or social-economy ecosystem.
• Exposure to catalytic capital, blended-finance, impact reporting or impact measurement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, Economics, Accounting, Development Finance, Public Policy, or related field (required).
• Postgraduate degree (Master's, MBA, MCom, MDevFin, etc.) or CFA Level I+ (required).
• PhD in related field an advantage.
• Additional certifications in impact investing, impact measurement and monitoring or financial modelling beneficial.

Behaviours & Competencies

• Analytical and structured thinker who integrates financial, strategic, and developmental dimensions.
• Ability to work with complex research methods and meet the highest research standards.
• High attention to accuracy and intellectual rigour.
• Professional maturity and discretion when managing confidential information.
• Collaborative, supportive team player with a proactive problem-solving mindset.
• Ability to work independently and handle ambiguity in dynamic environments.
• Strong commitment to impact, integrity, and evidence-based…