Principal Programme Development Specialist at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Job Description    

• Lead the origination, structuring, and development of strategic infrastructure programmes and projects. The role provides deep technical, legal, or financial expertise tunlock bankable projects and support DBSA’s investment pipeline. It alscontributes tinnovative programme design, stakeholder engagement, and institutional capacity-building taccelerate infrastructure delivery and investment readiness.

Key Responsibilities    
KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

Strategic Planning

• Contribute tthe development and refinement of DBSA’s infrastructure strategy.
• Align programme initiatives with national priorities and DBSA’s investment objectives.
• Identify risks and opportunities tinform strategic direction.
• Support long-term planning and institutional positioning.
• Contribute tthe design of sector-specific programme frameworks.
• Support the development of investment policies and programme governance models.

Lead Programme Origination and Structuring

• Identify and structure complex infrastructure programmes and projects.
• Provide subject matter expertise (legal, technical, or financial) tsupport project development.
• Lead feasibility assessments, risk analysis, and stakeholder alignment.
• Support negotiations, governance approvals, programme preparation funding, and project development fundraising.
• Drive development of bankable projects, including feasibility studies, permitting, and sponsor support.

Programme Development

• Lead the development of programme origination strategies tunlock infrastructure projects in South Africa, SADC and select African Countries through project preparation.
• Develop sector-specific strategies tpromote the development of projects aligned tthe development priorities of the DBSA.
• Conduct market research and needs analysis tascertain the gaps and requirements
• Understand legislation impacting infrastructure development, e.g., the Division of Revenue Act, conditional infrastructure grant guidelines, sector governance frameworks, etc.
• Profiling and identifying the gaps for infrastructure development for South Africa, SADC and select African countries.
• Comprehensively map industry or sector opportunities tgenerate a list of potential programmes tbe developed.
• Conduct in-depth macro-level feasibility assessments tprovide insight intthe programmes:
• National, Provincial and Local landscape sector-specific challenges.
• Environmental and regulatory assessments.
• Community structures and needs.
• Identify, originate and design projects/programmes at a macrlevel that support the annual disbursement target and the division's strategic objectives.
• Develop pilot projects ttest the design, measure the success of the programmes and review the design for final development and execution handover.
• Support programme implementation, identifying funding needs for the programme and development of funding structures for projects developed through the programme.
• Prepare and present programme development proposals for approval by various committees.
• Develop funding strategies and initiate innovative fundraising and partnering initiatives.
• Provide a steady flow of deals intthe Programme by:
• Identify and structure project opportunities from a project developer/sponsor perspective
• Define project concept and scope
• Engage with clients and obtain a mandate as a project developer
• Support efficient risk management of projects (programmes), provide opportunities for equity investments in projects and improve the quality of the loan book by:
• De-risk the technical and commercial risk aspects of projects
• Facilitate a better understanding, assessment and pricing of project risk
• Ensure DBSA has the right of first refusal tfinance projects that are prepared through the programmes developed
• Actively manage programmes developed:
• Manage pilot projects for the programme and initiate the preparation thereof
• Identify service providers required tundertake project preparation on projects developed
• Appraise projects and programmes (prepare proposals for DBSA’s governing structures for approval)
• Structure the PMgovernance and structure
• Negotiate MoA with programme owner
• Develop profiles for PMresources and initiate the recruitment process
• Provide comprehensive reporting on expenditure and progress on all programme management offices (PMO).

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients at global, regional, and local levels, including businesses, banking and multilateral partners and government officials tfurther develop specific project preparation opportunities.
• Manage expectations from programme owners and ensure third-party programme mandates are understood by the DBSA teams
• Liaise with Investment divisions' peers tdevelop a pipeline for the DBSA market at large.
• Contribute tthe development of the DBSA’s brand and reputation through positioning the bank as a partner of choice for end-to-end infrastructure development and financing across Africa.

Expertise & Technical Competencies    
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Qualifications
Minimum Qualification

• A postgraduate degree in Engineering, Law, Finance, Accounting, Finance or related field.

Desirable Qualification

• A postgraduate qualification, CA or CFA or MBA.

Experience

Minimum Experience

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in infrastructure programme development and financing with a proven track record in deal origination, sourcing viable and bankable projects, structuring and closing investments in SA and the rest of Africa.
• Demonstrated excellence in the field of business origination and development.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the complex financial and regulatory environments across Africa.
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the infrastructure market, financial markets and the macrlandscape.
• Experience in engaging with high-level politicians, dignitaries and stakeholders in South Africa and the rest of Africa.
• Experience working with innovative financing models and public-private partnerships.
• Exposure tstrategic planning and policy development in infrastructure sectors.
• Familiarity with investment governance processes and programme preparation funding mechanisms.

Desirable Experience

• Project finance, private equity and/or venture capital experience and track record.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and managing complex programme portfolios.

Deadline:24th December,2025