Investment Officer: Project Finance at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Job Description    

• The purpose of the Investment Officer role is to support the generation of deal flow and build a strong pipeline of prospective projects for development financing. This role is also responsible for structuring deals, as well as appraising, negotiating, and closing Project Finance, Corporate Finance, or Structured Finance transactions.

Key Responsibilities    
Key Performance Areas:

Investment and Loan Transactions

• Originate, identify, structure and execute infrastructure investment opportunities in key strategic sectors/investment themes.
• Perform detailed analysis of investment opportunities, including commercial analysis, financial modelling and risk and institutional analysis.
• Negotiate and review transaction agreements (including finance agreements) and project documents.
• Facilitate deal closure by taking responsibility for optimal financial, institutional and legal structuring.
• Provide innovative and flexible financial structures for complex transactions.
• Prepare Investment Committee and Board papers on investment opportunities for consideration by management and committees (including the Board).
• Manage relationships at various levels with the relevant project stakeholders, partners, and lead promoters, in accordance with the project’s development objectives.
• Identify and report growth opportunities to enhance market presence and implement structured and targeted marketing strategies to promote services.

Transaction Execution and Credit Approval

• Collaborate with the Treasury, Legal, Credit and Loan Administration teams to structure and negotiate detailed term sheets, ensuring transaction approval.
• Secure internal approvals and lead or participate actively in closing transactions through successful negotiations.
• Manage the credit approval process from early review to final decision by the relevant committees.
• Review proposals submitted to approval committees to ensure they are well-structured and documented for informed decision-making.
• Resolve potential constraints in the lending value chain in collaboration with the Head of Transacting.
• Implement risk management procedures across continent-wide financing functions, ensuring investment risks are appropriately structured and mitigated during operations.
• Capture and apply learning opportunities post-transaction to drive continuous improvement and successful deal delivery.

Relationship Management and Business Development

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, global and regional private businesses, banking and multilateral partners and government officials to further develop specific investment opportunities.
• Undertake business development in South Africa and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa and position DBSA as the preferred lender/investor/partner.
• Ensure continuous communication with DBSA-funded project clients to support the division’s monitoring function.
• Undertake other tasks as assigned by the line manager, from time to time.

Key Measurements of Outputs:

*The list is not exhaustive

• Number of transactions that are committed for DBSA funding to black-owned entities (50% shareholding and above) and fund managers.
• Quality of signed agreements/mandates.
• Clients and Stakeholders' service rating.
• Number and quality of early review reports (ERR’s) submitted.
• Revenue performance in terms of interest income and fees generated.
• Percentage of the loan book in priority geographies and sectors.
• Annual disbursements, commitments and approvals.
• Management of relationships with new/ existing clients.

Expertise & Technical Competencies    
Qualifications and Experience:

Minimum Requirements

• A postgraduate qualification or equivalent in Business (such as an MBA) or Finance (CA or CFA), or Engineering, or Economics or Actuarial Science.
• A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in appraising, negotiating and closing project finance, corporate finance, or structured finance transactions in a financial institution.
• Experience in working on investment projects through an established approval process.
• Experience in successful investment, appraisal, analysis and implementation is required.
• Experience in executing infrastructure transactions in Africa is a requirement.
• Demonstrable track record of originating, structuring and closing infrastructure transactions.
• Understanding of the types of agreements/contracts typically used in corporate finance and/or limited recourse project finance.
• Demonstrated ability to structure a variety of complex financial instruments (debt and equity) and analyse financial models.
• Capacity to deal with conflicting priorities and deliver high-quality work on schedule; ability to work successfully in multicultural teams and across boundaries.
• Commitment to ethical standards and to sustainable development with sensitivity to social and environmental challenges.
• Outstanding interpersonal, diplomatic and partnership skills required for building and maintaining collaborative relationships with key stakeholders.

Deadline:4th December,2025