Lead Fund Specialist at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Job Description    

• The Infrastructure Fund (IF) announced by the President in September 2018 addresses the need for a dedicated blended financing facility for infrastructure programme projects. The aim of the IF is to transform public infrastructure financial provisioning using “blended” finance - combining capital from the public and private sectors and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs)/Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). This will be dedicated to meeting the financing requirements for hybrid projects.
• The mandate of the Infrastructure Fund has been captured in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the National
• Treasury, Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), and the DBSA entered into on 17 August 2020.
• The Lead: Fund Specialist (IF) is responsible for leading the execution of the asset management and treasury functions, which include physical asset management, monitoring and evaluation of financing instruments, facilitating the mobilisation and crowding-in of capital through the structuring, distribution, and syndication of financial instruments in both primary and secondary capital markets.

Key Responsibilities    
Key Performance Areas:

Strategic Outputs

• Support the IF’s strategic intent and progressively contribute a robust portfolio of projects, leading to improved funding and implementation opportunities.
• Lead monitoring and evaluation activities of physical infrastructure assets and financing instruments.
• Participate in the processes of leveraging local, international and regional partners to provide capital for new business investments.
• Develop infrastructure investment strategies, tools, and products focused on core, stable cash-flow generating infrastructure assets.
• Ensure the financial sustainability, stability, and operational effectiveness of the Infrastructure Fund.
• Lead treasury operations including payments, liquidity, and cash management for the Infrastructure Fund.
• Execute additional strategic and functional responsibilities as delegated by the Head of Asset Management and Treasury
• Investment and Portfolio Management
• Implement, monitor, and evaluate infrastructure projects and associated assets to ensure effective execution and performance tracking.
• Manage the implementation and ongoing management of asset portfolios in line with IF’s strategic mandate.
• Provide governance oversight for financing instruments and physical infrastructure assets executed through the Infrastructure Fund.
• Structure and coordinate financial instruments by engaging with capital markets to enable investment in qualifying infrastructure projects.
• Prepare investment memoranda and summaries including analysis of returns, investment case development,and sensitivity/scenario analysis.
• Perform asset valuation in line with market-standard valuation frameworks and guidelines.
• Develop and utilise financial models, including capital market instrument tranching and scenario modelling.
• Conduct post-execution monitoring of investments, including quarterly portfolio performance reporting.
• Review and negotiate legal financing documents with working knowledge of inter-creditor arrangements.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislative frameworks including Capital Market Listing Rules, MFMA, PFMA,
• Companies Act, and King III/IV.
• Manage the monitoring of the projects' implementation to ensure compliance with facility agreements and contractual obligations by conducting technical reviews and risk assessments to identify and mitigate potential project execution issues.
• Engage project sponsors, advisors, and stakeholders to ensure project implementation aligns with transaction documentation execution plans.
• Prepare and submit project approval reports in line with internal governance and business plan eligibility criteria.
• Develop and implement procurement plans for projects and provide procurement support to project owners as required.
• Manage a portfolio of investment instruments, including but not limited to debt, equities, bonds, debentures, preference shares, and subordinated instruments.
• Oversee the management of IF assets and liabilities to ensure adequate capital and liquidity for business operations.
• Procure and manage project advisors following procurement policies and approved procedures.
• Prepare and present reports, memoranda, and strategic documents for executive committees, boards, and key stakeholders.

Treasury, Liquidity and Fund Operations

• Lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of blended financing mechanisms for identified infrastructure projects.
• Maintain and build relationships with intermediaries, including rating agencies, global asset managers, and coinvestors.
• Contribute to accounting reporting, budgeting processes, and financial systems such as SAP.
• Drive the development and execution of the IF’s asset management strategy.
• Advance research and enhance the identification of refinancing and capital mobilisation opportunities.
• Manage liquidity, capital structure, and balance sheet health of the Infrastructure Fund.
• Oversee funding operations, debt issuance processes, and related financial reporting.

Stakeholder Relations and Engagement

•  Build and maintain relationships, and networks with external stakeholders, partners, and clients to position IF’s projects and values.
•  Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, and private businesses to facilitate the identification of opportunities to initiate viable projects
•  Network and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to enhance the mandate of the IF.

Key Measurements of Outputs:

• Effective monitoring, evaluation and portfolio management
• Adequate controls and implementation of the accounting and treasury function.
• Effective syndication and distribution of IF assets.
• Value of infrastructure catalysed.
• Value of private & public sector partnerships and funding.
• Crowding in of capital.
• Effective liquidity and investment management.
• Issuance of capital market instruments.
• Clean Audit.

Expertise & Technical Competencies    
Qualifications and Experience:

Minimum Requirements:

• A Postgraduate Degree in Finance/CA(SA)/Engineering/Mathematics/ Statistics/Business Science/Actuarial/Law
• A minimum of 10 years of proven experience across banking, transacting, accounting, risk management, investments, and listed and/or unlisted capital market instruments.
• Proven track record in managing finance, investments or assets on a portfolio basis.
• Experience in senior-level stakeholder engagement, with a proven track record of building and managing strategic relationships with executives, board members, and high-level public and private sector stakeholders.
• Demonstrated excellence in the field of finance and structuring of financing instruments.
• In-depth understanding and knowledge of finance and accounting, asset management, risk ma.nagement and portfolio strategy knowledge and skills.
• Demonstrable understanding of transaction documentation and transaction implementation.

Desirable Requirements:

• Actuary, CFA, LLB, MBA.
• Professional Registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).

Deadline:18th June,2025