Lead: Infrastructure - Other (PSP Programme) (Fixed Term Contract until 13 May 2030) at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Job Description    

• The role is responsible for overseeing expert technical support, sector-specific insights and technical leadership in the conceptualisation, structuring, development, and implementation of Public Sector Participation (PSP) programmes and projects within the transport sector. The role is responsible for driving programme design, transaction structuring, feasibility oversight, procurement support, governance compliance, and stakeholder coordination to ensure commercially viable, bankable, and sustainable PSP initiatives.

Key Responsibilities    
Programme Conceptualisation and Strategic Design

• Identify, assess, and conceptualise strategic PSP opportunities aligned to transport sector priorities, infrastructure development objectives, and the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP).
• Collaborate with legal, financial, technical, and transaction advisory teams to ensure integrated transaction design and delivery.
• Develop PSP programme frameworks, delivery models, and strategic design plans in alignment with the PSP Unit mandate and direction from the Head: PSP Unit.
• Define programme scope, objectives, delivery models, implementation strategies, and desired outcomes for PSP initiatives.
• Lead the development of the integrated PSP programme pipeline and prioritisation frameworks.
• Provide technical and strategic input into sector planning, infrastructure development strategies, and PSP implementation approaches.

Technical Advisory and Expertise

• Provide expert technical support and leverage advanced technical knowledge and skills to deliver innovative solutions, analysis, and implementation support for projects and initiatives.
• Keep abreast of sector developments, technologies, and best practices to maintain high-quality technical insights and continuous improvement.
• Assess complex sector challenges and opportunities and design effective solutions to support the implementation of projects and initiatives.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing by facilitating training, consultations, and collaboration with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Oversee the advancement of sector objectives by driving technical excellence and innovation, positioning the Bank as a leader in sustainable infrastructure delivery.
• Present data-driven reports and proposals to support informed decision-making, anticipate risks, and recommend effective solutions.
• Collaborate with team members and stakeholders to gather input and ensure alignment before implementing solutions.

Procurement and Transaction Implementation

• Lead or support transaction advisory teams during procurement and transaction implementation processes.
• Review and provide strategic input into procurement documentation, including RFQs, RFPs, bid evaluation methodologies, and transaction agreements.
• Verify that procurement and transaction documentation aligns with approved PSP design intent, governance requirements, and market expectations.
• Support bidder engagement, clarification processes, bid evaluations, negotiations, preferred bidder appointments, and contract finalisation activities.
• Provide technical oversight during transaction execution to support successful commercial close and implementation readiness.

Sector Analysis and Impact Assessment

• Assess the sector impact of proposed PSP Programmes investment transactions in South Africa and Africa:
• Appraise the macro sectoral economic market environment
• Assess the impact of sectoral policy, legislation, strategy, and tariff regimes
• Analyse sector risks and propose relevant mitigation measures 
• Demonstrate the economic rationale by assessing demand and supply drivers, and conducting cost-benefit analysis
• Validate the technical feasibility/assumptions and projections, including design assumptions, technology options, operations, and maintenance plans
• Furnish structuring solutions to secure approval by relevant decision-making committees
• Formulate sectoral conditionality within the structuring of investment solutions
• Monitor sector conditionalities and project/programme mitigation measures, and recommend corrective actions where deviations occur.
• Present sector research findings on business and product development, sector targets, and investment strategies to the Investment Committee and Board of Directors.
• Develop, implement, and review sector strategies, guidelines, and technical frameworks to embed Generally Accepted Industry Practice (GIIP) in investment decision making.

Clients, Governments and Finance Partnerships

• Assess all PSP project designs, procurement processes, and transaction structures comply with applicable regulatory, procurement, governance, and policy frameworks.
• Engage and coordinate with National Treasury, the Department of Transport (DoT), regulators, and relevant authorities to ensure alignment with national standards and PSP frameworks.
• Support the preparation and submission of documentation required for approvals, registrations, exemptions, and risk reviews.
• Monitor regulatory developments and policy changes impacting PSP implementation and advise on required adjustments.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders to align expectations, gather insights, and ensure successful engagements.

Reporting and Knowledge Management

• Prepare and present PSP programme design reports, technical assessments, progress reports, and governance submissions to decision-making structures.
• Maintain complete and auditable project documentation from project conceptualisation through transaction close and implementation.
• Contribute to organisational knowledge management through lessons learned, best practice development, and continuous improvement of PSP methodologies and frameworks.
• Support the refinement and standardisation of PSP tools, templates, frameworks, and technical approaches.
• Provide comprehensive analytics and high-quality reporting that support strategic decision-making and drive organisational improvement.

People Management

• Manage internal and external teams, ensuring effective task allocation, supervision, and quality assurance.
• Lead mentor, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning to maximise individual and collective potential.
• Provide leadership and guidance to the Infrastructure Finance team and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Drive talent development initiatives, including coaching, performance management, and career pathing, to build and retain a skilled and motivated team.
• Identify training needs and support professional development initiatives to ensure staff are equipped to meet evolving demands.
• Drive a culture of innovation and continuous improvement across the agency to support strategic agility.

Key Measurement of Outputs

• Number of innovative and sustainable infrastructure financing opportunities brought into the business.
• Number of due diligence assignments and projects concluded for investment.
• Value and number of PSP projects and programmes conceptualised, structured, and progressed through the transaction lifecycle.
• Quality and effectiveness of PSP programme frameworks, transaction structures, and feasibility outputs developed.
• Timeliness and quality of procurement documentation, governance submissions, and technical reports produced.
• Compliance with regulatory, procurement, governance, and policy requirements across PSP initiatives.
• Contribution to mobilisation of private sector participation and infrastructure investment through PSP initiatives.
• Effectiveness of transaction implementation support, bidder engagement, and negotiation processes.
• Clean audit outcomes and effective resolution of governance and compliance findings.

Expertise & Technical Competencies    
Minimum Qualifications

• A postgraduate qualification in Engineering, Economics, Finance, MBA, Development Studies, Sustainable Development or Development Finance or related field.

 Minimum Experience

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in preparing investment solutions for financing within a banking and DFI environment, with a minimum of 3 years’ experience in supervising a team.
• Demonstrated work experience in infrastructure finance and investment, public-private partnerships and infrastructure transaction advisory work.
• Extensive networks with key and senior sector role-players in South Africa and the wider African region.
• Understanding of critical development issues in the sector, its sub-sectors, and the sector value chain.
• Extensive knowledge of sustainable development.
• Experience in developing and applying international good practise standards.
• Experience in solutioning to close investment deals.

 Desirable Requirements

• Registration with the relevant Sectoral Professional Body.
• Experience in infrastructure, transport, logistics or public-private partnership programmes.

Deadline:17th September,2026