Principal Investment Officer: Corporate Finance and Lending SA at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Job Description    

• The Principal Investment Officer is responsible for formulating and executing the strategic objectives of the business in collaboration with the Transacting Head, whilst generating deal flow and building a robust pipeline of prospective projects for development financing bankability.

Key Responsibilities    
Key Performance Areas:

Transaction Assessments

• Evaluate the feasibility of investment opportunities and project transactions with a view to ensure they are commercially viable and align with the DBSA’s strategic objectives and mandate.
• Enhance the bankability of transactions by identifying and mitigating key risks, collaborating closely with the Chief Investment Office and Financing Operations Team, including Sector Specialists, Country Risk Specialists, and Financial Analysts.
• Provide technical expertise on transactions for the benefit of clients and the organisation through innovative approaches and strategic thinking.
• Develop and prepare early-stage review proposals and related documentation in the specified format.

Transaction Execution and Credit Approval

• Collaborate with the team to structure and negotiate detailed deal terms with Treasury, Legal, and Loan Administration teams, 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.
• Manage the preparation of complex multi-jurisdictional documentation and ensure compliance with procedures, laws, and regulations for transaction implementation.
• Resolve potential constraints in the lending value chain in collaboration with the Head of Transactions.
• Capture and apply learning opportunities post-transaction to drive continuous improvement and successful deal delivery.

Lead Transaction Execution Functions

• Lead transaction teams in conducting assessments, executing deals, and driving the credit approval process.
• Coach and mentor Senior Investment Officers and Investment Officers, guiding them toward achieving transaction bankability and to enhance their skills and performance.

Relationship Management and Stakeholder Relations

• 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.
• Manage relationships at various levels with the relevant project stakeholders, partners, and lead promoters, following the project’s development objectives.
• Maintain communication with clients and manage client relations; ensure that they submit all the Bank’s requirements to facilitate the appraisal process.
• Provide feedback on the status of their application timeously and advise them on the bank’s processes and procedures, and in liaison with Finance, resolve payment and / repayment-related issues.
• Ensure continuous communication with clients/ projects that the DBSA has funded to adequately support the division’s monitoring function.
• Identify clients’ pain points together with the front-line divisions and coordinate DBSA’s solution offerings to address them.
• Network and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to develop specific investment opportunities further.
• Provide value to the Division for the benefit of and/or the client through knowledge of the subject, innovation, and lateral thinking.
• Undertake other tasks as assigned by the line manager, from time to time.

Key Measurements of Outputs:

*The list is not exhaustive

• Revenue performance in terms of Interest Income and Fees generated.
• Delivery on the agreed Operations Mandate; these include:
• Growth rate in assets of the loan book:
• Annual disbursements, commitments and approvals
• Quality of loan book
• % of loan book in priority geographies and sectors
• Number of new clients
• Number of potential deals/ pipeline
• Management of client relationships and key stakeholders.
• Management of client relationships and key stakeholders.

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.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience in appraising, negotiating, due diligence and closing project finance, corporate finance, or structured finance transactions in a financial institution.
• Experience in leading, initiating and developing new business strategies and opportunities to create a pipeline of development impact projects, ensuring deal flow and bankability.
• Experience in securing infrastructure investment deals in relevant sectors/geographies in SA and/or Africa and doing business across Africa.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the complex financial and regulatory environments.
• Proven experience in working with senior stakeholders in highly political environments in South Africa and the rest of Africa.
• Successful track record in leading project teams with high-level stakeholders and qualified professionals.
• Strong credit, financial, analytical, and financial modelling skills.
• Strong networks and relations with clients, global and regional private investors and banks to identify and source viable projects/investments.
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the infrastructure market and financial markets.
• Demonstrable experience in identifying client challenges and playing an active part in structuring innovative solutions.

Key Internal Liaison Relationships:

• Divisional Executives and Unit Heads
• DBSA Committees, e.g., Deal screen, Investment Committees, Asset/Liability Committee
• Origination, Transacting, IDD, Project Preparation, Risk, Treasury & Finance

Key External Liaison Relationships:

• National Government
• Provincial Government
• Local Government
• Knowledge partners – Universities, think tanks, local/international organisations
• Investment partners – commercial, DFIs
• SMMEs
• Sovereigns
• Service providers – e.g. EPCs, advisors, O&Ms

Deadline:18th December,2025