Principal Project Preparation Officer at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Job Description    

• The purpose of this role is to lead the preparation of projects from the end of pre-feasibility through to the commitment of project preparation funding to increase the DBSA’s investment pipeline and disbursements in priority sectors in South Africa, the SADC Region and Selected African Countries in line with the approved Project Preparation Strategy.

Key Responsibilities    
Project Preparation Planning

• Contribute to the development of the strategic and operational direction to prepare projects in collaboration with Governments, State-Owned Entities (SOEs), Regional Economic Communities (e.g. SADC), the Private Sector and other Project Preparation Facilities.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop a pipeline of quality projects in priority sectors and focus countries:
• Economic cost-benefit analysis.
• Confirm the development impact of the project and structure accordingly.
• Conduct innovative structuring of complex transactions.
• Appropriate structuring of the project (project finance or corporate finance) to finance, own, operate and maintain the project.
• Liaise with a multidisciplinary team to support programme implementation, identifying funding needs for the project development.
• Provide inputs to prepare bankable feasibility data packs to enable financial modelling, investment appraisal, and structuring.

Project Preparation Implementation

• Identify sectoral and product experts and specialists required to undertake the necessary project preparation work.
• Conduct financial and commercial assessments to test project affordability, revenue models, commercial structures, and risk allocation frameworks.
• Appraise accepted projects for the preparation facility by preparing early review reports and appraisal reports and present them to DBSA decision-making structures for approval consideration.
• Verify the contents of the appraisal report, including the scope of work, terms of reference and outstanding preparation work needed to advance the project to bankability stages.
• Negotiate with the sponsor on the preparation facility agreement and oversee the implementation of feasibility study activities in line with the preparation facility's implementation plan.
• Prepare presentations and submissions for Investment Committees and transaction preparation governance structures.
• Provide guidance and support to junior team members to ensure effective execution of their functions.

Due Diligence and Regulatory Compliance

• Review projects for compliance with legislation impacting infrastructure development.
• Coordinate with relevant specialists for Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and associated management plans in accordance with IFC/World Bank standards, local regulatory requirements, and climate-resilient development principles.
• Validate and adhere to all legislative, sector policy, and regulatory conditions that are embedded into feasibility outputs.
• Maintain a risk register covering commercial and execution risks and provide risk mitigation strategies.

Relationship Management and Stakeholder Relations

• Facilitate continuous communication with clients/ projects that the DBSA has funded to adequately support the Division’s monitoring function.
• Network and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to develop specific investment opportunities further.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients at global, regional, and local levels, including businesses, banking and multilateral partners and government officials, to further develop specific project preparation opportunities.
• Manage relationships at various levels with the relevant project stakeholders, partners, and lead promoters, in accordance with the project’s preparation objectives and products.
• Undertake other tasks as assigned by the line manager, from time to time.

Key Measurements of Outputs

• Number and quality of Project Preparation Appraisal Reports (PAR) submitted, approved and committed.
• Quality loan book as represented by reduced non-performing loans.
• % of the loan book in priority geographies and sectors.
• Number of new clients and projects.
• Number of potential projects worked on.
• Management of clients.
• Demonstration of thought coaching and or mentoring to transfer skills.
• Clean Audit.

Expertise & Technical Competencies    
Minimum Qualification

• A Postgraduate Degree in Business, Economics, Engineering, Finance or related.

Minimum Experience

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in appraising, negotiating and committing project preparation in support of corporate finance, or structured finance transactions in a financial institution.
• Understanding of international economic & financial relations, specific experience in doing business in South Africa and outside South Africa is a requirement.
• Experience in dealing with development finance institutions at the various levels of government and business.
• Demonstrated expertise in financial modelling and feasibility analysis.
• In-depth experience in project finance, mergers and acquisitions, equity finance experience and or property finance structuring.
• Understanding of infrastructure project development, feasibility and structuring.
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks and industry best practices.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience in working with Development Finance Institutions.
• A post-graduate qualification e.g. CA(SA), CFA or MBA

Deadline:31st March,2026