Head: Equity Investments at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Job Description    

• The Head: Equity Investments is responsible for originating and managing the execution of investment deals, conducting due diligence, credit committee approval processes, negotiation and portfolio monitoring of equity investment transactions.

Key Responsibilities    

Strategic Leadership

• Collaborate with the Executive to formulate and implement the DBSA’s equity investment strategy in line with the vision, strategy, and goals of the DBSA.
• Lead the development and implementation of an equity investment strategy.
• Lead the implementation of the plans and process improvements and initiatives for the equity investment unit.
• Monitor turnaround times and quality standards and resolve issues speedily with business to enhance service delivery and implement business improvement processes.
• Monitor, evaluate and drive compliance to the respective organisational policies and procedures.

Equity and Loan Transactions

• Lead the execution of equity investment projects in the relevant mandated areas.
• Evaluate the feasibility of equity investment transactions with a view to ensuring that they are commercially sound prospects for equity financing/investment and are aligned to the DBSA’s strategy and mandate.
• Lead project due diligence and approval processes, with emphasis on ensuring key economic, financial, technical, and legal issues are considered and mitigants incorporated in the financing structure and legal documents.
• Provide innovative and flexible financial structures for complex transactions.
• Oversee the deal closure by taking responsibility for optimal financial, institutional, and legal structuring.
• Identify key risks facing the portfolio and implementation of mitigating strategies / policies.
• Negotiation and review of equity investment agreements and project documents.
• Undertake continuous research and provide recommendations on significant developments, emerging opportunities, and challenges in areas of responsibility.

Stakeholder Relations and Management

• Network and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to further develop specific investment opportunities.
• Provide value to the Division for the benefit of and/or the client through knowledge of the subject, innovation, and lateral thinking.
• Engage key stakeholders to position the DBSA as a preferred equity investor/partner.
• Build and manage relationships with key internal and external clients to increase the Bank’s reach, equity investments and loans transactions.

Risk Management and Governance

• Establish and maintain the DBSA’s governance framework, ensuring that all transactions align with internal policies and external regulatory requirements.
• Perform due diligence and risk assessments for all transactions to safeguard DBSA’s financial and operational integrity.
• Design and implement internal controls to ensure compliance with policies and procedures.
• Lead the identification and acquisition of the appropriate risk rating tools for equity transactions.

Digital Transformation

• Champion and drive digital transformation initiatives, leveraging technology to enhance operational efficiency, improve service delivery, and unlock new value streams within the DBSA.
• Foster a mindset of innovation, identifying opportunities to adopt emerging technologies and best practices to modernise processes and deliver impactful solutions.

People Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning to maximise individual and collective potential.
• Drive talent development initiatives, including coaching, performance management, and career pathing, to build and retain a skilled and motivated team.
• Provide direction and management to the business unit, to enable the strategy execution.
• Attract, retain, and develop talent and ensure succession planning and sufficient capacity and capability in all critical functions, supporting diversity strategies and initiatives as well.
• Promote DBSA values and a culture of high performance through implementing performance management in line with the planned strategic objectives, goals, quality standards and agreed key performance measures using sound performance management principles.
• Undertake other tasks as assigned by the line manager, from time to time.
• Key Measurements of Outputs
• Value and number of project approvals, commitments, and disbursements.
• Value of infrastructure catalysed.
• Quality of equity investment book (e.g., NPL ratio).
• % of equity book in priority geographies and sectors.
• Number of transactions that are committed for DBSA funding to black-owned entities (50% shareholding and above) and fund managers.
• Number of jobs created or "to be created" by projects - Direct and Indirect jobs.
• Quality of signed agreements / mandates
• Implementation of strategic initiatives.
• Clients and Stakeholders service rating.

Qualification

• A post graduate qualification or equivalent in Business, Finance, Engineering or Economics (e.g., CA, CFA, MBA, MSc).

Experience

• Minimum 12 years’ experience in private equity investments (DFI, Banking or Investment environment) with 5+ years in a management role.
• Experience in leading equity investments in infrastructure projects.
• Knowledge of investment products and services, e.g., private equity, direct equity, quasi equity preference shares structures, project finance and blended finance structures.
• Demonstrable experience in assessing investment transaction opportunities and projects from an early stage to an advance implementation stage.
• Experience with working with deal teams and assigning resources to conclude transactions.
• Ability to provide value to transactions for the benefit of and/or the client through knowledge of the subject, innovation, and lateral thinking.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the financial and regulatory environments within relevant sector and/or geography.
• In depth knowledge and understanding of the infrastructure market, financial markets, and the macro landscape.
• Experienced communicator and negotiator (expertise at senior level).
• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to close deals.
• Proven experience in collaborating with senior stakeholders in highly political environments in South Africa and the rest of Africa.

Professional Certifications (Preferred/Advantageous):

• Chartered Financial Analyst
• Project Management Professional
• Chartered Accountant CA(SA)
• ECSA registration (for engineers)
• Leadership Programme such as a General or Advanced Management Programme;

Deadline:19th June,2026