Senior Project Manager at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Job Description    

• The purpose of this role is to provide infrastructure planning expertise and support services to the planning teams and clients involved in the development of infrastructure plans in the DBSA priority sectors. This requires the provision of technical expertise, project management, advisory and monitoring services to a defined and targeted set of clients. The main objective is to catalyse funds for infrastructure development and to create a balanced pipeline of sustainable projects that are ready for implementation.

Key Responsibilities    
Infrastructure Planning

• Lead the DBSA pre-financing support services to DBSA Clients (governments, government departments, public entities and municipalities) with the Development of Sector and Infrastructure Master Plans across the key sectors in Water, Sanitation, Energy, Roads and Storm Water and Waste Management.
• Lead the DBSA support services regarding the development of medium and long-term infrastructure and asset management plans and associated operations and maintenance plans together with or on behalf of clients and potential clients of DBSA.
• Lead the provision of infrastructure planning support to DBSA clients and potential clients to develop supply and demand plans (i.e., assessment of client’s infrastructure expansion needs, growth plans and their impact on infrastructure needs); and to undertake detailed assessments of existing condition of key infrastructure assets and networks (per infrastructure category).
• Lead the provision of project management support services regarding projects that are aimed at supporting DBSA clients and potential clients to effectively align and integrate their infrastructure plans across sectors, and across spheres of government (s) for proper decision-making regarding priority infrastructure projects.

Project Advisory Support

• Provide planning advice to governments, metros and other clients to develop strategic medium-term and longterm infrastructure plans for specific growth points, existing key economic infrastructure assets (e.g., key transport nodes, regional bulk infrastructure, etc.), approved economic development zones / development corridors, in alignment with clients’ urban development plans and/ or long-term urban development visions.
• Provide technical advice on identifying national and international strategic partnerships to support South African cities to implement the integrated urban development framework.
• Support DBSA clients to identify priority projects from DBSA-sponsored infrastructure plans to be prioritised for preparation, financing, funds catalysing and implementation.
• Facilitate the catalysing of funds from third parties for infrastructure development for the benefit of the supported clients’ communities.
• Facilitate the integration of DBSA value proposition by referring projects identified from DBSA supported infrastructure plans to project preparation unit and to Coverage Division.
• Support DBSA Clients to address legal / regulatory / institutional / other issues required for project success.
• Provide advice in the development of appraisal documentation required for DBSA internal Committee approvals for specific infrastructure planning support to DBSA Clients.
• Provide technical expertise in the development of specifications and associated documentation for the procurement of third-party service providers / specialist consultants required to provide services as part of the infrastructure planning support to DBSA clients.

Project Management

• Lead the management of third-party service providers/ specialist consultants that are appointed to handle the various specialist aspects of the development process, e.g., technical, legal and etc.
• Coordinate and actively facilitate the infrastructure planning process.
• Lead the management and mitigation of risks associated with the entire infrastructure planning life cycle.
• Provide the leading role regarding the provision of regular status and progress reports on infrastructure planning support activities.
• Lead the reviewing and updating systems and procedures for managing the planning and preparation of Bank/Government sponsored projects.
• Monitor and manage the progress of project components to ensure that the overall goals, milestone schedules and budgets are achieved.
• Implement a project management discipline to ensure repeatable and consistent delivery of projects.
• Implement a suitable methodology and process to achieve the required level of project management maturity.
• Ensure that programme execution staff have the necessary certification or alignment as applicable.
• Establish and maintain of appropriate systems to support portfolio management processes.
• Facilitate and ensure proper project close out process requirements are met.

Project communication and stakeholder engagement

• Monitoring and reporting on project/programme portfolio to various committees and other identified management structures.
• Build client portfolio in order to leverage business needs of the Bank.
• Leverage the involvement of both private and public sector in projects implementation.
• Ensure timely and consistent communication on projects status to stakeholders.
• Oversee the development and implementation of a stakeholder visibility plan and stakeholder map.
• Monitor the maintenance of the documentation management system.
• Create a centre point for accessing all project information.
• Compile programme management reports and submit them to various stakeholders.

Project contract management

• Implement adopted contract management policy, practices, procedures and system.
• Oversee the conclusion of consultancy/ contractor agreements for projects according to the requirements and agreements.
• Determine the appropriate execution and contract strategies with known facts of the programme and the maturity level of the projects in the programme ensuring minimum risks to the programme.
• Follow up and ensure the resolution of contractual breaches / non-compliance.

Risk and Opportunity Management

• Identify, categorise and rank the project / portfolio risks and opportunities according to impact (environmental, social, financial, market risks etc. - depending on the nature of the project).
• Manage and mitigate operational and strategic project/portfolio/ programme risks.
• Develop a short-term strategy for the execution of risk assessments and categorization, and mitigation measures thereof.
• Conduct project performance assessments and report on progress, material risks and considerations.

Project team management and capacity building

• Influence project teams in respect of the prevailing institutional climate and culture to effect high productivity with regards to key projects.
• Drive project teams’ effectiveness through leadership both internally and externally with key focus on attraction and retention of project resources.
• Coach/ mentor staff at client level, providing strong and accountable practices in respect of project/programme management.

Key Measurements of Outputs

• Delivery on agreed Operations Mandate which includes:
• Annual disbursements, commitments and approvals of the non-lending Development Subsidy allocation
• Number of infrastructure plans completed
• Amount of funds catalysed for infrastructure development.
• Management of client relationships and key stakeholders: Minimum rating of 3 on client satisfaction survey.
• Implementation of effective project management governance and compliance structures.
• Quality of presentations and reports.
• Clean audit.
• Expertise & Technical Competencies    

Minimum requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering and/or in the Built Environment (Development Planning, Construction Management or Quantity Surveying) or Project Management.
• A minimum of 10 - 12 years’ experience, of which 5 years must be as a senior project manager in the built environment relating to infrastructure planning support to local government such as development of Master and sector plans for municipalities in Water, Sanitation, Energy, Roads and Storm Water, and Waste Management. Furthermore, an experience in managing the development of municipal infrastructure master and sectoral infrastructure plans and/or on advisory basis or consulting experience in the same environment is highly recommended for this position.
• The candidate’s orientation and ability in guiding the development and implementation of infrastructure master plans that address the impacts of climate change in the municipal sector will be an added advantage.
• Ability to collaborating with stakeholders to identify and prioritize infrastructure projects that address climate related risks and opportunities is desirable.
• Demonstrable track record in applying low-carbon technologies, such as renewable energy, energy-efficient systems, and green building standards, to municipal infrastructure planning is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and collaborate with international entities to achieve global sustainability objectives is desirable.
• Project Management professional with one of the following qualifications: Project Management Institute (PMI), Projects in Controlled Environments (PRINCE) and South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP).
• Experience in dealing with development finance in diverse sectors, and at the various levels of governments and business.
• Demonstrable track record of originating and delivering on project development advisory tasks/ assignments.
• Must be knowledgeable of relevant legislation, regulations, processes and procedures governing the infrastructure planning and development environment.

Desirable Requirements

• A relevant post graduate qualification: Master’s degree either Development Finance, MBA and or equivalent
• An Engineering qualification
• Demonstrable experience in the technical planning, demand and growth estimations, and planning aspects relating to infrastructure projects.
• Experience and understanding of spatial, geographic and demographic dynamics which impacts on infrastructure planning.
• Knowledge and understanding of infrastructure status quo assessments, demand projections, costing, conceptual design etc.
• Demonstrable experience in the specific aspects relating to the planning of infrastructure in the DBSA priority sectors (water, sanitation, transport, energy and ICT sectors)
• Regional experience in the planning of infrastructure (water, transport, energy & ICT) projects.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

Project Management

• Defines, plans and manages large and/or strategic projects, including those with a high degree of technical complexity, with impacts across the organisation and/or with national implications.
• Assembles and leads diverse and multi-disciplinary teams, ensuring maximum effective resource utilisation.
• Successfully manages substantial project budgets and reports directly to senior managers on the progress and results of projects.
• Identifies complex issues that need escalation and proposes appropriate corrective actions.

Business Acumen

• Takes actions to fit business strategy.
• Assesses and links short-term tasks in the context of long-term business strategies or perspectives.
• Reviews own actions against the organisation's strategic plan; includes the big picture when considering possible opportunities or projects or thinks about long-term applications of current activities.
• Anticipates possible responses to different initiatives.
• Understands the projected direction of the industry and how changes might impact the organisation.

Business Development

• Identifies lucrative market opportunities through an excellent understanding and interpretation of sector analyses, including market structure, supply and demand aspects, competitor environment, gap analysis.
• Actively participates in formulating, developing and implementing the business development strategy/ies to generate new investment opportunities in public and private sector (delivery of infrastructure services).
• Constructs business plan of bankable multi-dimensional projects, using standard and/or customised templates and processes.
• Assesses Project/ Programme Feasibility through interrogation of resource requirements (including financing, capacity, capability and related issues).
• Coordinates, controls and manages the activities and efforts required for the implementation of the plan.

Detailed Oriented

• Quickly identifies relevant and irrelevant information to support accurate decision making.
• Maps out all the logistics and details of a situation to ensure smooth and flawless implementation.
• Consistently identifies all relevant details that are not obvious in complex situations.
• Requires the highest standards for accuracy and quality for their work.
• Establishes processes to ensure accuracy and quality of services delivered by the team.

Planning & Organizing

• Coaches’ others on advanced planning and organising skills.
• Plays a role in transferring advanced planning and organising skills and knowledge to others.
• Identifies and acts on opportunities to partner with other units in the department to achieve desired results.
• Develops partnership agreements that ensure win-win outcomes for all parties.
• Develops integrated plans for the work unit and others that interfaces with the function’s budget.

Reporting & Communication

• Designs, reviews and improves reporting processes and provides guidance.
• Leads production of complex environment reports, takes an editorial role, determines content and level of detail, and ensures consistent messaging and branding.
• Is relied on by others to help them write complex technical and non-technical documents and briefs.
• Can determine which aspects of this knowledge area need to be transferred to others to achieve organisational goals.
• Coaches’ others and transfers communication skills and knowledge to others.
• Able to communicate complex problems or concepts, by making them simple and understandable for others.
• Adapts language to the level of the audience to ensure that the message has a positive impact and is interesting to the audience.
• Is articulate, demonstrates a wide range of vocabulary, and is confident when talking to large/high level audiences.

Negotiation

• Understands and can apply basic negotiating skills and techniques, e.g., obtaining a full understanding of the other party's agenda and needs before disclosing own perspectives.
• Possesses an understanding of various unspoken communications from other parties and can decipher hidden agendas.
• Is able to successfully conclude negotiations which require the development of an emotional as well as factual argument.
• Is able to develop mutually beneficial potential solutions.

Presentation Skills

• Knows how to deliver arguments persuasively by employing a range of advanced presentation techniques (e.g., the appropriate use of body language, how to close a presentation so that the audience continues to think about the subject matter etc.).
• Has knowledge of various feedback mechanisms to check levels of audience understanding.

Problem Solving

• Identifies complex problems based on a broad range of factors, many of which are ambiguous or difficult to define.
• While remaining guided by organizational values, identifies optimal solutions, thinking first in terms of possible approaches and flexibilities in the system vs. blind adherence to rules or procedures.
• Implements solutions to complex problems, then evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of solutions and identifies needed changes.

Written communication

• Understands that different writing styles are required for different documents or audiences.
• Write effective correspondence, prepares questions and reports, statements of circumstance and briefing notes.
• Reviews others’ documents for clarity and impact.
• Has a solid mastery of writing principles such as grammar, sentence construction etc.

Verbal communication

• Able to present a theme in writing in an ordered, intelligible manner with well-structured and relevant supporting detail.
• Able to understand topic switches and use vocabulary of attitude.
• Reasonably fluent in speaking.

Required Personal Attributes    

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES

Teamwork & Cooperation

• Acts to promote a friendly climate and good morale and resolves conflicts.
• Creates opportunities for cross-functional working.
• Encourages others to network outside of their own team/department and learn from their experience.

Leading and empowering others

• Creates the conditions that enables the team to perform at its best (e.g., setting clear directions, providing appropriate structure, getting the right people, obtain needed resources).
• Monitors performance against clear standards, and addresses performance issues promptly and takes action to get performance back to desired levels.
• Proactively asks for feedback on own performance from team members, aiming to become more effective.

Driving delivery of results

• Identifies and implements a business opportunity that will have a long-term impact on the business (which may include the organisation’s reputation or brand image). Monitors progress and adapts the plan, if necessary, to ensure optimal benefit to the business.
• Makes decisions, sets priorities, or chooses goals based on inputs and outputs: makes explicit considerations of potential profit, return on investment, or cost benefit analysis.
• Based on the cost-benefit analysis, makes decisions of entrepreneurial risk nature.

Achievement orientation

• Undertakes challenging assignment and strives to complete them.
• Sets priorities and chooses goals on the basis of calculated costs, anticipated benefits and improvement of performance.
• Aims at exceptional performance, setting out to achieve a unique standard.
• Constantly analysis outcomes to ensure the achievements of business goal.
• Identifies short-term opportunity or potential problems aiming to achieve better outcomes.

Customer Orientation

• Tries to understand the underlying needs of customers and match these needs to available or customized products and service.
• Adapts processes and procedures to meet on-going customer needs.
• Utilises the feedback received from customers, in order to develop new and / or improving existing services / products that relates to their on-going needs.
• Thinks of new ways to align DBSA’s offering with future customer needs.

Integrity

• Is willing to end a business relationship because it was associated with unethical business practice.
• Is capable of challenging senior management (in an appropriate and respectable manner) in order to act on espoused values.
• Self-awareness & self-control
• Withholds effects of strong emotions in difficult situations.
• Keeps functioning or responds constructively despite stress.
• May apply special techniques or plan ahead of time to manage emotions or stress.

Deadline:24th  June,2025