Job Description

Lead the origination, structuring, and development of strategic infrastructure programmes and projects. The role provides deep technical, legal, or financial expertise to unlock bankable projects and support DBSA's investment pipeline. It also contributes to innovative programme design, stakeholder engagement, and institutional capacity-building to accelerate infrastructure delivery and investment readiness.

Key Responsibilities

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

1. Strategic Planning


Contribute to the development and refinement of DBSA's infrastructure strategy. Align programme initiatives with national priorities and DBSA's investment objectives. Identify risks and opportunities to inform strategic direction. Support long-term planning and institutional positioning. Contribute to the design of sector-specific programme frameworks. Support the development of investment policies and programme governance models.

2. Lead Programme Origination and Structuring


Identify and structure complex infrastructure programmes and projects. Provide subject matter expertise (legal, technical, or financial) to support project development. Lead feasibility assessments, risk analysis, and stakeholder alignment. Support negotiations, governance approvals, programme preparation funding, and project development fundraising. Drive development of bankable projects, including feasibility studies, permitting, and sponsor support.

3. Programme Development


Lead the development of programme origination strategies to unlock infrastructure projects in South Africa, SADC and select African Countries through project preparation.
Develop sector-specific strategies to promote the development of projects aligned to the development priorities of the DBSA.

o Conduct market research and needs analysis to ascertain the gaps and requirements

o Understand legislation impacting infrastructure development, e.g., the Division of Revenue Act, conditional infrastructure grant guidelines, sector governance frameworks, etc.

o Profiling and identifying the gaps for infrastructure development for South Africa, SADC and select African countries.

o Comprehensively map industry or sector opportunities to generate a list of potential programmes to be developed.
Conduct in-depth macro-level feasibility assessments to provide insight into the programmes:
o National, Provincial and Local landscape sector-specific challenges.

o Environmental and regulatory assessments.

o Community structures and needs.
Identify, originate and design projects/programmes at a macro level that support the annual disbursement target and the division's strategic objectives. Develop pilot projects to test the design, measure the success of the programmes and review the design for final development and execution handover. Support programme implementation, identifying funding needs for the programme and development of funding structures for projects developed through the programme. Prepare and present programme development proposals for approval by various committees. Develop funding strategies and initiate innovative fundraising and partnering initiatives. Provide a steady flow of deals into the Programme by:
o Identify and structure project opportunities from a project developer/sponsor perspective

o Define project concept and scope

o Engage with clients and obtain a mandate as a project developer
Support efficient risk management of projects (programmes), provide opportunities for equity investments in projects and improve the quality of the loan book by:
o De-risk the technical and commercial risk aspects of projects

o Facilitate a better understanding, assessment and pricing of project risk

o Ensure DBSA has the right of first refusal to finance projects that are prepared through the programmes developed
Actively manage programmes developed: o Manage pilot projects for the programme and initiate the preparation thereof
o Identify service providers required to undertake project preparation on projects developed

o Appraise projects and programmes (prepare proposals for DBSA's governing structures for approval)

o Structure the PMO governance and structure

o Negotiate MoA with programme owner

o Develop profiles for PMO resources and initiate the recruitment process
Provide comprehensive reporting on expenditure and progress on all programme management offices (PMO).

4. Stakeholder Management


Build and maintain strong relationships with clients at global, regional, and local levels, including businesses, banking and multilateral partners and government officials to further develop specific project preparation opportunities. Manage expectations from programme owners and ensure third-party programme mandates are understood by the DBSA teams Liaise with Investment divisions' peers to develop a pipeline for the DBSA market at large. Contribute to the development of the DBSA's brand and reputation through positioning the bank as a partner of choice for end-to-end infrastructure development and financing across Africa.

Expertise & Technical Competencies

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification



A postgraduate degree in Engineering, Law, Finance, Accounting, Finance or related field.


Desirable Qualification



A postgraduate qualification, CA or CFA or MBA.


Experience



Minimum Experience



A minimum of 10 years' experience in infrastructure programme development and financing with a proven track record in deal origination, sourcing viable and bankable projects, structuring and closing investments in SA and the rest of Africa.

Demonstrated excellence in the field of business origination and development.

Comprehensive knowledge of the complex financial and regulatory environments across Africa.

In-depth knowledge and understanding of the infrastructure market, financial markets and the macro landscape.

Experience in engaging with high-level politicians, dignitaries and stakeholders in South Africa and the rest of Africa.

Experience working with innovative financing models and public-private partnerships.

Exposure to strategic planning and policy development in infrastructure sectors.

Familiarity with investment governance processes and programme preparation funding mechanisms.


Desirable Experience



Project finance, private equity and/or venture capital experience and track record.

Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and managing complex programme portfolios.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

a) Business Acumen


Reviews own actions against the organisation's strategic plan; includes the big picture when considering possible opportunities or projects, or thinks about long-term applications of current activities. Understands the projected direction of the industry and how changes might impact the organisation. Deep understanding of commercial drivers and can make decisions based on an assessment of alternatives concerning complex business situations. Deep understanding of DBSA economic priorities and how they can be implemented to meet DBSA's strategic objectives. Deep understanding of DBSA's core sector role in achieving DBSA's strategic objectives. Deep understanding of the need to coordinate efforts with many government entities, the private sector, community groups and individuals to ensure effective implementation of new policies and regulations.

b) Project Preparation


Demonstrates a sound understanding of limited recourse and balance sheet funding, the process required to prepare projects, and financing documentation required to present projects for investment decisions. Leads an internal team of sector specialists and analysts to appraise and present transactions to internal committees. Appoints and leads a team of external consultants/advisors (technical, environmental, financial and legal) to prepare and present the Project Information Memorandum (PIM) to prospective financiers. Analyses sponsors' financial statements, understands and reviews financial models. Demonstrates a sound understanding of the water, transport and energy sectors to identify potential fatal flaws
generally associated with these sectors in projects presented and key risks to be mitigated.


c) Project Management


Ability to plan, initiate, execute, control and close projects related to a relevant function as well as to track and manage resources, timelines, costs, deliverables and performance, and implement contingency plans, if necessary, to ensure projects are completed. Defines, plans and manages large and/or strategic projects, including those with a high degree of technical complexity, with impacts across the organisation and/or with national implications. Assembles and leads diverse and multi-disciplinary teams, ensuring maximum effective resource utilisation. Successfully manages substantial project budgets and reports directly to senior managers on the progress and results of projects. Identifies complex issues that need escalation and proposes appropriate corrective action by maintaining a respected profile with relevant external organisations and the research community in general.

d) Solutions Focused


Identifies complex problems based on a broad range of factors, many of which are ambiguous or difficult to define. While remaining guided by organisational values, identifies optimal solutions, thinking first in terms of possible approaches and flexibilities in the system vs. blind adherence to rules or procedures. Evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of solutions after they have been implemented and identifies needed changes.

e) Planning and Organising


Coaches others on advanced planning and organising skills. Plays a role in transferring advanced planning and organising skills and knowledge to others. Identifies and acts on opportunities to partner with other units in the department to achieve desired results. Develops partnership agreements that ensure win-win outcomes for all parties. Develops integrated plans for the work unit and others that interface with the function's budget. Uses advanced time management processes to deal with a high workload and tight deadlines. Organises, prioritises and schedules tasks so they can be performed within budget and with the efficient use of time and resources. Achieves goals promptly, despite obstacles encountered, by organising, reprioritising and re-planning

f) Detail-oriented


Quickly identifies relevant and irrelevant information to support accurate decision making. Maps out all the logistics and details of a situation to ensure smooth and flawless implementation. Consistently identifies all relevant details that are not obvious in complex situations. Requires the highest standards for accuracy and quality for their work. Establishes processes to ensure accuracy and quality of services delivered by the team.

g) Reporting & Communication


Designs, reviews and improves reporting processes and provides guidance. Leads production of complex environment reports, takes an editorial role, determines content and level of detail, and ensures consistent messaging and branding. Is relied on by others to help them write complex technical and non-technical documents and briefs. Can determine which aspects of this knowledge area need to be transferred to others to achieve organisational goals. Coaches others and transfers communication skills and knowledge to others. Able to communicate complex problems or concepts by making them simple and understandable for others. Adapts language to the level of the audience to ensure that the message has a positive impact and is interesting to the audience. Is articulate, demonstrates a wide range of vocabulary, and is confident when talking to large/high-level audiences.

h) Presentation Skills


Knows how to deliver arguments persuasively by employing a range of advanced presentation techniques (e.g., the appropriate use of body language, how to close a presentation so that the audience continues to think about the subject matter, etc.). Knows various feedback mechanisms to check levels of audience understanding.

Required Personal Attributes

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES

a) Customer Service Orientation


Tries to understand the underlying needs of customers and matches these needs to available or customised products and services. Adapts processes and procedures to meet ongoing customer needs. Utilises the feedback received by customers to develop new and/or improve existing services/ products that relate to their ongoing needs. Thinks of new ways to align offerings with future customer needs.

b) Self-Awareness and Self-Control


Withholds the effects of strong emotions in difficult situations. Keeps functioning or responds constructively despite stress. May apply special techniques or a plan of time to manage emotions or stress.

c) Strategic and Innovative Thinking


Experiments with new approaches, tests scenarios, questions assumptions and challenges conventional thinking. Creates new concepts that are not obvious to others, leveraging internal and external sources of information, to build incremental revenue and growth opportunities.

d) Driving Delivery of Results


Sets challenging goals that will have a significant impact on the business or support the organisational strategy. Commits significant resources and/or time to ensure that challenging goals are achieved, while also taking action to mitigate risk.

e) Teamwork and Cooperation


Acts to promote a friendly climate and good morale and resolves conflicts. Creates opportunities for cross-functional working. * Encourages others to network outside of their team/department and learn from their experience.