Title: 2X Challenge Lead 

Report to: Director of People & Programmes 

Location: Global (remote) - Time zones within ±4 hours of GMT are highly preferred due to the location of current team members. 

Company

2X Global is a global membership and field-building organisation for investors, capital providers and intermediaries in both public and private markets. We build investor capacity and commitment through knowledge, partnerships and tools, advance and align data and standards, and shift markets through strategic stakeholder engagement to unlock gender-smart capital at scale.

www.2xglobal.org | www.2xchallenge.org

2X Challenge

The 2X Challenge is a movement launched at the G7 Summit in Canada in 2018 to collectively mobilise $3 Billion in private sector investments in developing country markets over 3 years. This played a critical role in building the field of gender lens investing, mobilising a total of US$33.63 Billion to support gender equality and women’s economic empowerment since 2018. At the G7 Summit in 2024 a new commitment to invest at least US$20 Billion from 2024-2027 was launched to advance measurable changes and financing directed to women’s empowerment. The 2X Challenge is underpinned by the 2X Criteria.

2X Criteria

The 2X Criteria is the global industry standard for assessing and structuring investments that provide women with leadership opportunities, quality employment, finance, enterprise support, and products and services that enhance economic participation and access. They have been widely adopted by investors, financial intermediaries and companies as well as other stakeholders worldwide to assess and monitor gender-lens investments, unifying investors under one framework and language. 

Opportunity

We are seeking a mission-aligned, highly motivated 2X Challenge Lead to drive the next phase of our flagship 2X Challenge and the 2X Criteria.

This role will lead strategy, content, engagement and delivery of these key initiatives - supporting current and future participants, ensuring robust tools and guidance, and amplifying our collective impact on gender-smart investing.

The position combines programme leadership, stakeholder engagement, and practical delivery: ensuring the 2X Challenge platform, 2X Criteria, and guidance remain best-in-class while cultivating new participants and ecosystem alignment.

The below skills and experience outlines what we believe would be an ideal candidate – but we are fully aware that success and talent come from many different backgrounds and experiences. If you think your skills would support our mission and vision, even if you don’t meet all the requirements, please apply.

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 15 October

Interviews (online): w/c 10 and 17 November

Start date: As soon as possible, no later than 31 January 2026                                       

Key Responsibilities

Participant Growth & Strategic Partnerships  

• Lead global outreach to grow 2X Challenge participation among institutional investors, including pension funds, international and regional financial institutions, asset managers, and other capital allocators.
• Develop and deliver tailored value propositions, onboarding pathways, and partnership models that demonstrate the benefits of joining the 2X Challenge.
• Position the 2X Challenge as the leading platform for investors seeking credible, scalable, and aligned approaches to gender lens investing.
• Cultivate and maintain senior-level relationships with institutional investors and strategic partners to build momentum and expand the global membership base.
• Represent 2X Global and the 2X Challenge at high-profile events (e.g. 2X Global Summit, G7, SDG-aligned forums, regional investor convenings) to attract and retain members.

Programme Leadership

• Lead the development of the strategic direction and priorities of the 2X Challenge, working closely with the Leadership team, 2X Global members and external stakeholders to ensure alignment with the initiative’s vision and evolving global trends.
• Shape and implement the current 2X Challenge 2024-2027 including supporting all participating investors and other stakeholders.
• Lead the continued rollout of the updated 2X Criteria and Reference Guide, ensuring new guidance is integrated and communicated.

Participant Management & Community Building

• Manage relationships with current participants (DFIs, private sector investors), ensuring smooth processes for deal qualification, exceptions committees, working group meetings, training and reporting.
• Disseminate and improve the tools, systems and processes needed by 2X Global and participating investors to implement the 2X Challenge.
• Provide technical guidance and support to users of the 2X Criteria on how they can integrate 2X practices into their operations and portfolios.

Stakeholder Engagement & Ecosystem Alignment

• Represent 2X Global and the 2X Challenge at key forums such as the 2X Global Summit, G7 and SDG-aligned events, regional investor meet-ups etc.
• Deepen relationships with key strategic partners and alignment initiatives.
• Support fundraising proposals and reporting to funders relevant to the 2X Challenge.
• Ability to steer and navigate complex, evolving contexts while applying the 2X Criteria across diverse priorities and stakeholders.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)

• Maintain and evolve the MEL framework, ensuring timely collection and analysis of data.
• Generate insight products such as quarterly blogs, annual reflections and learning reports to share progress and lessons.

Team Leadership & Internal Collaboration

• Lead and mentor a fully-remote distributed team of colleagues and key partners.
• Collaborate across 2X Global to integrate other key priorities into the 2X Challenge.

Skills and Experiences

• 8+ years of professional experience in programme leadership or investment ecosystems.
• Deep understanding of gender lens investing, including application of the 2X Criteria across investor types, sectors and instruments. Familiarity with DFIs/MDBs is an advantage. 
• Strong project and stakeholder management skills - able to set direction, prioritise, and deliver across multiple workstreams and time zones.
• Excellent facilitation, relationship-building and communication skills with senior and diverse stakeholders.
• Solid grasp of digital collaboration and data systems and comfort with evidence-driven MEL.
• Alignment with 2X Global’s mission and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Mission & Values

We are on a mission to equip and engage the full spectrum of investors, intermediaries, and innovators capable of transforming systems of finance through the gender-smart deployment of capital across asset classes and markets. 

Our vision is one of global sustainability and equal opportunity, powered by inclusive, equitable, and gender-smart systems of finance.  

Inclusion

As a global organisation at the forefront of gender-smart investing with an intersectional lens, we are deeply committed to walking the talk on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. We are convinced that organisations thrive when diverse perspectives and experiences come together. An organisational culture that truly values this diversity is at the core of our DNA.

We welcome all applicants regardless of sex, gender, race, ethnicity, age, ability, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or educational background. 

Benefits 

• A salary range of USD $75,000 – $95,000 depending on the candidate's experience and credentials plus a performance-based salary component. 2X Global employees are paid through a national payroll provider, in their local currency, with a social security plan and industry-standard benefits package.
• Flexible work hours with the understanding that we are a global team and will need to collaborate across different time zones within reason.
• Generous vacation package to promote a positive work-life balance for our employees.
• As part of our commitment to walking the talk on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, we are committed to providing future benefits options that support our employees, including primary caregiving and parental support. 
• The opportunity of a lifetime to work with a talented and deeply committed team of professionals across the globe. 

Application

Please apply using the apply now link submitting your CV and cover letter.

SAGANA is supporting 2X Global with the recruitment of this role. If your application is short listed you will be contacted by a member of their recruiting team. www.sagana.com