We at Athena empower exceptional talent with boundless opportunities to achieve more. We achieve this by pairing exceptional Executive Partners (XPs) from the Philippines and Kenya with our driven clients and ensuring both receive ongoing support throughout the journey. The result is 10x more leverage, more time, and a greater impact on our clients' work and lives.
With a waitlist growing by the day, Athena has already showcased compelling demand. As part of the Athena team, you will have an exponential opportunity, empowering the fiercely ambitious to reach the most audacious goals.
Role Overview
As the Director of Capital Investment at Athena, you will play a pivotal role in our global expansion efforts, ensuring that our ventures into new markets are both strategically sound and compliant with local regulations. Your expertise will guide the preliminary research, initial site visits, and the setup of operations across various countries. You will coordinate the assembly of local teams, manage the temporary and permanent office setups, and ensure a smooth handover to Facilities and Office Services, setting the stage for sustainable growth. This role offers the opportunity to shape the footprint of Athena on a global scale, directly influencing our success and operational excellence in new markets.
Duties & Responsibilities
Market Research & Analysis: Conduct in-depth research to assess potential new markets, identifying opportunities and risks for strategic expansion.
Compliance Oversight: Ensure all expansion activities adhere to local and international laws, mitigating legal risks and maintaining the company's reputation.
Team Recruitment & Leadership: Lead the recruitment, onboarding, and management of local teams, ensuring they align with company values and goals.
Facility Setup & Builds: Oversee the leasing, design, and outfitting of temporary and permanent office spaces to support smooth operations.
Stakeholder Engagement: Build relationships with senior management, government officials, and local partners to ensure strategic objectives are aligned.
Project Management: Lead and coordinate expansion projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget while adhering to company standards.
Risk Management: Identify, assess, and manage risks associated with global expansion, including legal, financial, and operational risks.
Budget & Timeline Adherence: Ensure that all projects adhere to established budgets and timelines, demonstrating a proven ability to deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
Financial Modeling & Feasibility Studies: Develop financial models to assess ROI for new regions, builds, and capital investments, conducting feasibility studies to ensure financial viability.
Travel Requirements: Flexibility to travel 25% - 50% of the time, both locally and internationally, to facilitate strategic site visits, oversee projects, and build local connections.
Key Stakeholders
Internal:
VP of Capital Investment
CEO
Facilities and Office Services Team
Procurement
Finance
External:
Local government officials
Real estate agents
Construction and service contractors
Skills
Strong Leadership and Project Management Skills: Proven ability to lead teams and manage large-scale projects efficiently.
Excellent Communication and Negotiation Skills: Ability to engage effectively with stakeholders and negotiate favorable terms.
Proficiency in Risk Management and Compliance: Skilled in identifying, assessing, and managing risks associated with global expansion.
Ability to Manage Multicultural Teams: Adaptable and capable of leading teams from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Strong Background in International Travel: Extensive experience in managing international travel, with a travel requirement of 25% - 50%.
Experience Dealing with Government Officials and State Agencies: Expertise in navigating regulatory environments and engaging with government bodies.
Extremely High Level of Autonomy: Self-motivated and capable of making decisions independently.
Experience in Build, Design, and/or Construction: A background in overseeing construction or design projects is a plus.
Proven Track Record of Aggressive Adherence to Timelines and Budgets: Demonstrated success in delivering projects on time and within budget.
High Integrity: Demonstrated integrity and ethical standards, with a commitment to thorough background checks.
Competencies
Analytical Skills: Strong capability in market analysis and strategic planning.
Strategic Thinking: Ability to envision and execute growth strategies that align with organizational goals.
Adaptability: Flexibility in dynamic and varying global market conditions
Initiative: Proactively addresses potential challenges in new markets
Team Collaboration: Works effectively with team members and stakeholders to achieve common goals and foster a collaborative environment.
Relevant Experience Required
10+ years in strategic roles with 5+ years in leadership positions related to global expansion.
Experience in Build, Design, and/or Construction is a plus.
Proven success in delivering projects on time and within budget.
Expertise in engaging with government officials and navigating regulatory environments.
Willingness to work in a hybrid environment and during graveyard shifts, with flexibility in scheduling and international work-related travel.
Open to expats living in the Philippines.
Educational and Certification Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics & Statistics, International Relations, or a related field
Certifications in Project Management (PMP) or Compliance (CCEP) are advantageous.
Proven track record of international research, growth strategies implementation and international travel
Direct Reports and Span of Control
Initially, this role will be an individual contributor position with the potential to expand into managing a team of three Specialists and two Analysts, with further growth opportunities as operations scale.
