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Risk Manager - Aqua-Spark

Utrecht

As Aqua-Spark prepares the launch of its second fund focused on aquaculture in Africa, they are strengthening their team. We are looking for a Risk Manager who will support their mission by managing environmental and social risks, strengthening our compliance framework and leading projects that help their organization grow in a structured way.

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Your new challenge

The Risk Manager plays a key role in strengthening Aqua-Spark’s risk, compliance and operational infrastructure. Besides managing environmental and social risks and regulatory requirements, you will also lead projects that further professionalize our organization, systems and processes.

This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys building, improving and implementing structures in a fast-growing impact fund.

As Aqua-Spark is an article 9 fund, the role is heavily focused around Environmental and Social risk (E&S). You will define and maintain fund‑level risk profiles, support investment activities, and oversee the implementation of Aqua-Spark’s Sustainability Risk Policy and Environmental & Social Management System (ESMS). The Risk Manager promotes risk awareness internally, engages with external stakeholders, and drives continuous improvement in risk management. In this role you will also manage projects to support the Aqua-Spark team.

In addition to your responsibilities in risk and compliance, this role has a strong project component. You will work on initiatives such as improving internal workflows, supporting the implementation of new tooling (including AI-supported tools), and helping the organization move from spreadsheets and procedures to more scalable structures.

Responsibilities

  • Support the implementation of our ESMS for the new Africa Fund.

  • Lead the project to prepare our organization for a full AIFMD license.

  • Ensure compliance with the risk-management framework and policies and monitor key risks.

  • Liaise with the AIFM, legal, regulators and external auditors on risk-related topics.

  • Validate ESG & Impact Tool assessments and issue independent E&S risk opinions for all IC proposals, including conditions and mitigation measures.

  • Ensure that E&S screening, risk categorization, due diligence, deal documentation, closing and monitoring are correctly implemented and consistently integrated into investment decision-making.

  • Define and monitor key E&S KPIs and thresholds at portfolio level and maintain the E&S Portfolio Monitoring Dashboard and ESAP tracker.

  • Coordinate and conduct annual E&S reporting and contribute to other annual Aqua-Spark reporting.

  • Ensure follow-up, verification and formal closure of ESAP actions, including spot-checks, site visits and commissioning external audits or consultants where appropriate.

  • Periodically review Aqua-Spark’s Sustainability Risk Policy and ESMS.

  • Ensure that relevant Aqua-Spark staff receive adequate risk management training.

  • Lead and manage cross-functional projects across Aqua-Spark, also outside the Risk domain.

Cross-functional projects across Aqua-Spark:

  • Implementing and improving internal tools and workflows

  • Supporting AI-driven initiatives (e.g. for investee relations and reporting)

  • Structuring new processes as the Africa Fund scales

  • Helping professionalize governance and operational controls

 

Your new employer

Aqua-Spark’s mission is to move the global aquaculture industry towards more healthy and sustainable production of blue foods and aquatic materials. Aquaculture is the most efficient and healthiest food system available to humankind, if you do it right. At Aqua-Spark they are investing in companies along the value chain that demonstrate a shared vision of a sustainable future. They are building a holistic ecosystem that demonstrates that healthy and sustainable production brings better financial returns with less risk for all stakeholders. Collaborating with value chain participants to motivate industry adoption, causing system change on a global scale. Aqua-Spark is currently preparing the launch of its second fund, focused on aquaculture in Africa.

Your profile

  • Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., environmental management, (sustainable) finance, business administration, international development, etc.).

  • 5-10 years of experience in risk management.

  • Demonstrated expertise with AIFMD is a big plus.

  • Understanding of and working experience with IFC PS (the International Finance Corporation Performance Standards), WBG EHS (World Bank Group Environmental, Health, and Safety general Guidelines) and other international E&S standards.

  • Ability to work in interdisciplinary teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

  • Additional Risk Management education is an advantage.

  • Prior experience with the aquaculture sector is an advantage.

  • Affinity with projects, process improvement and implementation.

  • Affitity with IT and data-driven or AI-supported tools (not as a developer).

 

What you bring

  • Positive mindset.
  • The ability to mobilize team members and stakeholders.
  • Ability to thrive in a dynamic and evolving work environment.
  • Organized and structured way of working.
  • IntegrityCuriosityEagerness to learn.
  • Getting-things-done mentality.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent English language skills.

Our offer

  • Participation profit sharing.

  • 38 days of paid leave.

  • A purpose-driven, international work environment.

  • A collaborative, values-based team.

  • The opportunity to live and work in the Netherlands and experience the amazing Dutch life.

Questions? Ask them

Sabine Nutters