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

Job Description    

• The purpose of this role is to lead the preparation of projects post 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    
Key Performance Areas:

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:
• Liaise with a multidisciplinary team to support project implementation, identifying funding needs for the project development.

Project Preparation Implementation

• Identify sectoral and product experts and specialists required to undertake the necessary project preparation work.
• Conduct initial 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.
• Participate in negotiations with the sponsor on the preparation facility agreement.
• Prepare presentations and submissions for Investment Committees and transaction preparation governance structures.

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.
• Number of new clients and projects.
• Number of potential projects worked on.
• Reduction of impairments through de-risking technical and commercial risk aspects of projects.
• Management of clients.
• Demonstration of thought coaching and or mentoring to transfer skills.
• Clean Audit.

Expertise & Technical Competencies    
Qualifications and Experience:

Minimum Requirements

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

Minimum Experience

• A minimum of 6 years’ experience in appraising, negotiating and committing project preparation in support of corporate finance, or structured finance transactions in a financial institution.
• 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