Lead Programme Management 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 Programme Management Specialist will be responsible for designing and implementing multiple programmes leading to funding opportunities for the IF. These programmes, amongst others, are large-scale infrastructure projects and programmes that involve public-private partnerships.

Key Responsibilities    
Strategic Outputs

• Support the IF’s strategic intent and progressively contribute to its annual disbursement through project and programme management activities.
• Enable IF to participate in a robust portfolio of projects, leading to improved funding and implementation opportunities.
• Work with other business units to promote IF’s role as the project developer or sponsor in selected priority sectors and programmes.
• Work with other business units to prepare investment proposals and feasibility studies for consideration by management, governance structures and key stakeholders.
• Participate in the processes of leveraging local, international and regional partners to provide capital for new business investments.
• Provide project preparation support to projects/initiatives that require further enhancement or de-risking to achieve bankability. This includes assisting project owners in refining project structures, addressing risks, and ensuring readiness for financing and implementation.
• Enhance the IF’s financial sustainability by preparing projects to be bankable through the project preparation fund, ensuring a return on investment, crowding in financers and securing rights of first refusal for IF to participate as a lender.
• Contribute to a steady flow of deals and efficiently execute and manage deals within the financing division’s pipeline by:
• Supporting other business units in identifying and structuring project opportunities from a project developer / sponsorship perspective.
• Defining project concept and scope.
• Developing deal execution implementation plans.

Technical Responsibilities

• Support efficient risk management of programmes, provide opportunities for investments in projects and improve the quality of the IF loan book by:
• Mitigating the technical and commercial risk associated with projects.
• Facilitating a better understanding, evaluation and valuation of project risks.
• Collaborating with the Head of Strategic Partnership and Origination, perform initial technical reviews and appraisals of projects or initiatives for potential inclusion in the IF pipeline.
• Prepare projects to ensure that they are bankable by mitigating the technical and commercial risks associated with projects.
• Overseeing the implementation of technical aspects and coordination of programme oversight functions.
• Engaging with multidisciplinary teams within IF and with project owners/sponsors, including technical, legal and financial experts, to facilitate projects reaching financial closure.
• Examining and authorising all technical documentation to ensure solutions are viable, investment ready, and sustainable.
• Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of proposed solutions and analysing alternative approaches to determine the most efficient solution that supports the national socio-economic priorities.
• Providing technical inputs into financing agreements, negotiations, and closure-related activities while ensuring that all technical prerequisites are met.
• Providing technical input to support the development of contractual and regulatory frameworks, ensuring alignment with project design, structuring, execution, and governance requirements.
• Defining the technical parameters, criteria, and specifications necessary for inclusion in the procurement strategy outlined in the Project Information Memorandum.
• Preparing investment proposals and feasibility studies for management and the Board of Directors to consider.

Programme Management

• Monitor a portfolio of large-scale infrastructure projects and programmes involving multiple stakeholders from cradle to completion.
• Engage project stakeholders and align roles of key players.
• Manage the procurement of resources to achieve programme objectives within planned timeframes and manage the respective contracts.
• Design, develop and implement complex project/programme plans, budgets, resources and dynamic scope and deliverables according to the clients and funders' agreements. Effectively providing investor with the assurance that their investment in agreed projects/programmes will be successfully and timeously completed.
• Identify and implement measures to prevent project/programme delays by actively engaging and managing multiple project/programme offices.
• Prepare/develop project costing and cost control methodologies and procedures to ensure that projects/programmes are completed within budget and time.
• Design and review the implementation of projects/programmes as agreed. These would include:
• The preparation estimates and detailed programme plans for all phases of the programme.
• Implementation plans with outputs, activities, responsibilities and time frames.
• Programme budget and report against budget.
• Resource plan and allocation of responsibilities.
• Supporting and aligning if programmes and work plans.
• Provide status reporting regarding programme milestones, deliverables, dependencies, risks and issues, communicating across leadership and identified stakeholders.
• Perform other strategic duties as assigned.

Oversight & Compliance Monitoring

• Support the Asset Management and Treasury (AMT) Unit in monitoring the projects' implementation to ensure compliance with facility agreements and contractual obligations (Construction, O&M, etc.) by conducting technical reviews and risk assessments to identify and mitigate potential project execution issues.
• Provide regular technical and programme management reports to AMT on project progress, potential risks with mitigation strategies, and compliance gaps to assist in tracking project milestones, disbursements, and performance indicators to ensure timely execution.
• Engage with project owners, contractors, and other stakeholders to address technical and programme-related challenges.
• Resolving contractual disputes or deviations related to project execution.
• Managing change requests and ensure alignment with financial and contractual commitments.
• Provide technical insights to enhance project monitoring frameworks and contribute to the development of best practices for programme and asset management within the IF.

Key Measurements of Outputs

• Value of bankable projects.
• Successful management and implementation of agreed projects / programmes:
• Percentage of performance targets met as per business plan
• Quality of delivery of projects / programmes
• Investor satisfaction of invested projects / programmes
• Clean audit

Expertise & Technical Competencies    
Minimum Requirements:

Postgraduate qualification in Engineering.

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in infrastructure projects/programmes funding and financing with a proven track record.
• A track record in sourcing viable and bankable projects, structuring and closing investments in SA.
• Proven ability to oversee and manage large-scale infrastructure projects and programmes and PPPs.
• Demonstrated ability to work on new or innovative projects/programmes and the ability to bring ideas from conception to completion.
• Managing projects and programmes involving multiple stakeholders.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the complex legal and regulatory environment for infrastructure and infrastructure procurement in SA.
• Proven track record of leading and preparing good quality reports, documents and presentations for Executive Management, the Board and high-level stakeholders.
• Sound knowledge and good grasp of the infrastructure landscape, financial markets, political economics, macroeconomics as well as socio-economic development issues, challenges and opportunities in South Africa and the rest of Africa.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the complex regulatory environments of municipalities/metros, state-owned enterprises and other government entities in South Africa including a good understanding of the PFMA.
• Proven ability to put yourself in the client’s / funders shoes and understand the motivations that underlies behaviours of interest.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex strategic initiatives and projects to successful execution.

Desirable Requirements:

• Qualification in Project / Programme Management and certification with Project Management Institute (PMI) or South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP).
• A project/programme management experience in the public infrastructure sector.

Deadline:26th February,2026