Principal Investment Officer at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Job Description    

• The Principal Investment Officer is responsible for driving the strategic objectives of the business in collaboration with the Head, ensuring the generation of quality deal flow and the development of a strong pipeline of bankable projects for development financing. The role leads the identification, assessment, and advancement of investment opportunities, while supporting the establishment and operationalisation of the DBSA’s Trade Finance function through the development of systems, procedures, and governance processes that enable effective execution and compliance.

Key Responsibilities    
Key Performance Areas:

Strategic Outputs

• Collaborate with the team to formulate and implement the Trade Finance strategy and plan in line with the vision, strategy, and goals of the Transacting division and the Bank.
• Evaluate the feasibility of diversifying DBSA’s offering to include the trade finance product offerings, targeting new products, clients, geographies and markets.
• Provide strategic direction on the conceptualisation, planning and implementation of the Trade Finance business unit.
• Formulate a comprehensive market deployment and approach strategy, outlining product positioning, target markets, and value propositions for structured and non-structured trade finance products.
• Establish systems, procedures, and governance processes required for the effective implementation of trade finance products.

Market Strategy and Approach

• Perform comprehensive market research to understand trade finance trends, client needs, competitor offerings, and implement relevant trade finance solutions to respond to clients’ needs.
• Identify and implement the technologies, systems and tools required to support the trade finance function, including transaction management, risk assessment, and reporting systems in alignment with the ICT policies.
• Collaborate with marketing and business development teams to craft marketing content and strategies.
• Build and maintain partnerships with key stakeholders, such as exporters, suppliers, commercial banks and development banks, and agencies involved in trade and trade finance to enhance market penetrations
• Coordinate with banks and financial institutions for trade financing arrangements.
• Prepare detailed proposals and business cases for new product introductions and market expansions.
• Collaborate with analytics, finance, and treasury teams to develop a pricing methodology for trade finance-funded transactions.
• Develop templates for trade finance-funded transactions to standardise documentation and processes.

Execution of Trade Finance Transactions

• Lead the due diligence of trade finance transactions through the approval processes.
• Conduct thorough due diligence in line with AML, KYC and regulatory requirements.
• Liaise with internal teams such as credit risk, treasury, and legal compliance to facilitate a seamless trade finance transaction execution process.
• Provide innovative and flexible financial structures for complex transactions.
• Oversee the deal closure by taking responsibility for optimal financial, institutional, and legal structuring.
• Track the performance of trade finance transactions to ensure alignment with DBSA’s strategic objectives.
• Assess and mitigate key risks facing trade finance transactions and the portfolio and implementation of mitigating strategies/policies.

Risk Management and Governance

• Establish and maintain the DBSA’s trade finance governance framework, ensuring that all transactions align with internal policies and external regulatory requirements.
• Perform due diligence and risk assessments for all trade finance transactions to safeguard DBSA’s financial and operational integrity.
• Design and implement internal controls to ensure compliance with policies and procedures.
• Lead the identification and acquisition of the appropriate risk rating tools for trade transactions.
• Prepare and provide documentation/ reports for EXCO and Board(s) decision-making.
• Present reports at Investment Committees and other applicable committees.

Stakeholder Relations and Management

• Network and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to further develop specific investment opportunities.
• Engage key stakeholders to position the DBSA as a preferred trade financier.
• Build and manage relationships with key internal and external clients to increase the Bank’s reach on trade finance transactions.
• Cultivate relationships with trade finance partners, clients, and industry networks to build the unit's presence and credibility in the market.
• Engage with clients to understand their trade finance needs and propose tailored solutions aligned with the DBSA strategy.

Key Measurements of Outputs:

• Value and number of project approvals, commitments, and disbursements.
• Quality of trade finance transactions.
• % of trade finance book in priority geographies and sectors.
• Number of transactions that are committed for DBSA funding to SMMEs and black-owned.
• Approval of the Trace Finance strategy and plan.
• Implementation of the strategy and successful implementation of the strategic initiatives.
• Clients and Stakeholders' service rating.
• Demonstration of thought leadership and a recognised expert in the area of responsibility.

Expertise & Technical Competencies    
Qualifications and Experience:

Minimum Qualification

• A postgraduate qualification or equivalent in Business, Finance, Engineering or Economics (e.g., CA, CFA, MBA, MSc).

Experience

Minimum Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of demonstrable experience at a senior level in Trade Finance, Structured Trade Finance, Structured Trade or Commodity Finance (DFI, Banking or Investment environment).
• Demonstrable experience in assessing transaction opportunities and projects from an early stage to an advanced implementation stage.
• Experience with working with deal teams and assigning resources to conclude transactions.
• In-depth skills to provide value to transactions for the benefit of and/or the client through knowledge of the subject, innovation, and lateral thinking.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the financial and regulatory environments within the relevant sector and/or geography.
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the infrastructure market, financial markets, and the macro landscape.
• Experienced communicator and negotiator (expertise at senior level).
• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to close deals.
• Proven experience in collaborating with senior stakeholders in highly political environments in South Africa and the rest of Africa.

Desirable Experience

• Business development and stakeholder management in the trade finance or similar environment.

Deadline:10th December,2025