Head Programme Operations at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Job Description    

• Lead the development and operationalisation of the centralised Programme Management Office (PMO) frameworks,  policies, and standards to ensure strategic alignment with DBSA’s financial targets and delivery priorities. Provides strategic oversight and operational leadership for programme execution, driving consistency, compliance, and excellence across internal and external programmes. Fosters stakeholder collaboration and optimises resource  utilisation to support DBSA’s impact-driven mandate.

Key Responsibilities    
Key Performance Areas:

Strategic Focus

• Lead the design and implementation of operational frameworks, tools, and standards for programme delivery.
• Ensure alignment of programme operations with DBSA’s strategic investment goals and impact targets.
• Oversee integration of planning, execution, and monitoring across all programme portfolios.
• Ensure operational efficiency in the delivery of programmes’ annual targets and strategic objectives.

Project Management Office (PMO) Services

• Develop and maintain PMO frameworks, tools, and methodologies to support programme delivery.
• Provide centralised support services including scheduling, reporting, and performance tracking.
• Ensure consistency and quality across programme management practices.
• Structuring PMO governance and operational models.

Programme Governance Development

• Design and implement governance models tailored to programme needs and stakeholder requirements.
• Promote accountability, transparency, and compliance across all programme activities.
• Align governance structures with DBSA’s strategic and operational objectives.
• Supporting negotiation of Memorandum of Agreements (MoAs) with programme owners.

Project and Portfolio Management

• Lead the planning, execution, and monitoring of strategic projects and portfolios.
• Ensure alignment of project outcomes with DBSA’s impact goals and financial targets.
• Apply best practices in project management to drive delivery excellence and mitigate risks.
• Appraising projects and programmes and preparing proposals for DBSA’s governing structures.

Programme Oversight and Risk Management

• Provide centralised oversight of programme execution across DBSA and its partners.
• Facilitate coordination between programme leads, delivery teams, and strategic stakeholders.
• Monitor and identify potential risks and mitigation measures for all third-party funds and programmes.
• Support executive decision-making with consolidated operational insights and performance data.

Resource and Financial Management

• Ensure optimal utilisation of financial and human resources across programme operations.
• Align resource planning with strategic priorities and delivery timelines.
• Monitor and report on budget performance, cost-efficiency, and resource allocation.
• Oversee the administration, compliance, and reporting of third-party funds and grants.

Operational Resource Management

• Ensure optimal utilisation of financial and human resources across programme operations.
• Align resource planning with strategic priorities and delivery timelines.
• Monitor and report on budget performance, cost-efficiency, and resource allocation.
• Oversee the administration, compliance, and reporting of third-party funds and grants.

Reporting & Governance

• Establish and enforce governance structures, policies, and quality assurance mechanisms.
• Drive standardisation of programme management practices across DBSA and partner entities.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, audit requirements, and regulatory frameworks.
• Oversee the audit of programmes and third-party funds in line with respective mandates.
• Lead the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Contribute to documentation and reports for committees, Executive Committee (EXCO), Boards, and other decision-making bodies.
• Develop periodic reports for key stakeholders (programme owners, third-party funds, Board, EXCO), including monitoring of budgets, resource allocation, utilisation, and risk management.

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.

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with programme owners, third-party funders, delivery partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure timely and transparent communication of programme performance, risks, and strategic decisions.
• Represent DBSA in engagements with external stakeholders to promote collaboration, alignment, and shared impact.
• Develop stakeholder-specific reports and insights to support decision-making and accountability.

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 Division, to enable strategy execution.
• Attract, retain, 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.
• Contribute to building synergies & cooperation across functions in the DBSA.

Key Measurements of Outputs:

• Quality and timeliness of programme proposals, operational frameworks, and governance models submitted for approval
• Number of new Programmes / Projects identified to enable infrastructure development investments for the DBSA or/and the market
• Number of programmes incubated versus delivered
• % of programmes delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with strategic objectives
• Compliance rate with programme governance policies, audit requirements, and third-party fund mandates
• Effectiveness of risk identification and mitigation across programme portfolios (measured through risk logs and resolution rates)
• Accuracy and clarity of reports submitted to EXCO, Boards, and stakeholders, including budget utilisation and performance metrics
• Quality and timeliness of programme proposals, operational frameworks, and governance models submitted for approval
• Management of team performance, talent development, and succession planning using the performance management system

Expertise & Technical Competencies    
Qualifications and Experience:

Minimum Requirements

• Postgraduate degree in Business Administration, Development Studies or Project Management.

Desirable Requirements

• Certification in Project Management (e.g.., Project Management Professional (PMP), Program Management Professional (PgMP), PRojects IN Controlled Environments, Version 2 (PRINCE2)).

Experience

Minimum Experience

• Minimum 12 years in programme or operations management, with at least 5 years in a management role.
• Proven experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder programmes in a development finance or public sector context.
• Project management of infrastructure projects/programmes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive operational excellence.
• Expertise in programme governance, operational frameworks, and delivery models.
• Familiarity with enterprise PMO tools and performance management systems.

Desirable Experience

• Banking industry and/or economic development services industry experience.

Deadline:10th February,2026