Careers at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Job Description    

• The Senior Credit Model Developer is responsible for developing, enhancing, validating and embedding credit risk measurement methodologies, models, and analytical tools that accurately measure, monitor, and forecast credit risk across the DBSA portfolio, while supporting risk management, regulatory compliance, capital management, pricing, and strategic decision-making.

Key Responsibilities    
Credit Risk Model Development and Maintenance

• Lead the design, development, enhancement, and maintenance of internally developed credit risk measurement tools and models for DBSA’s lending portfolios.
• Develop and maintain Probability of Default (PD), Loss Given Default (LGD), Exposure at Default (EAD), expected loss, stress testing, and economic capital models across all DBSA asset classes, including Municipal, Balance Sheet Lending, Project Finance, and Higher Education portfolios.
• Monitor that credit risk models are fit for purpose, technically robust, and aligned with DBSA business requirements, regulatory expectations, and industry best practice.
• Review and enhance existing modelling methodologies, processes, and analytical frameworks to improve efficiency, accuracy, and predictive capability.
• Support the development and maintenance of the SQL risk database and associated data structures required for model development, calibration, validation, and ratings performance monitoring.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive model documentation, methodology papers, validation reports, and governance records.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing, technical capability development, and continuous improvement initiatives within the Credit Lab and broader Risk function.

Model Validation, Governance, and Regulatory Compliance

• Perform back-testing, model performance analysis, sensitivity testing, and validation activities to assess the accuracy and effectiveness of internally developed credit risk models.
• Validate technical rating calculations performed by Credit Analysts and Transaction Teams for new transactions, annual reviews, and Investment Committee submissions.
• Adhere to model governance requirements that are maintained through preparation of model documentation, governance submissions, approval papers, and reporting to the Risk Models Technical Committee.
• Confirm the accuracy of expected loss and impairment calculations developed in conjunction with Loan Management and Finance in accordance with IAS and IFRS 9 requirements.
• Provide technical input into regulatory capital calculations, including Pillar I, Pillar II, stress testing, and economic capital assessments.
• Comply with applicable governance, audit, regulatory, accounting, and risk management requirements relating to credit risk modelling activities.

Credit Risk Analytics and Advisory Support

• Provide technical credit risk analytics and modelling support to Credit, Risk, Finance, Treasury, and Investment teams.
• Support the Pricing Working Group through the provision and validation of credit risk inputs and pricing methodologies for lending transactions.
• Provide loan portfolio risk data, model outputs, and analytical insights for credit portfolio reporting, capital management, and strategic decision-making purposes.
• Consult and engage with external service providers, auditors, regulators, and technical specialists regarding modelling methodologies and model performance.
• Contribute technical expertise to strategic and operational projects requiring advanced credit risk modelling and analytical support.

Governance and Reporting

• Prepare submissions for the Technical Committee relating to model development, validation and maintenance.
• Comply with scheduled model maintenance cycles and governance requirements.
• Demonstrate model performance over time and highlight emerging issues or trends.
• Provide well-reasoned responses to questions and challenges raised by the Committee.
• Produce accurate and insightful analyses and reports that support credit and risk decision-making.
• Maintain reliability and traceability of data used in all reporting.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with management, business units, and key stakeholders to facilitate effective operational support.

People Management

• Lead and develop team members by setting clear objectives, providing constructive feedback, and fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment.
• Recognising individual strengths, facilitating professional growth, and aligning team efforts with organisational goals to enhance overall performance and engagement.
• Support capability building and technical skills development within the Credit Lab team.
• Mentor and guide junior team members on credit risk modelling methodologies, validation techniques, governance standards, and technical analysis.

Key Measurements of Outputs

• Timeliness and quality of model development, validation, back-testing, and performance reporting activities.
• Accuracy and compliance of impairment and expected loss calculations in accordance with IAS and IFRS 9 requirements.
• Effectiveness of credit risk measurement tools across all DBSA asset classes and lending portfolios.
• Quality and completeness of model governance documentation, committee submissions, and technical reports.
• Effectiveness of stress testing, economic capital modelling, and regulatory capital calculations.
• Quality and accuracy of technical support provided to Credit, Finance, Treasury, Pricing, and Investment teams.
• Accuracy, robustness, and predictive performance of credit risk models, including PD, LGD, EAD, expected loss, and capital models.
• Delivery against agreed credit model development and maintenance timelines.
• User adoption and satisfaction with credit systems and tools.
• Successful validation of credit risk data, ratings and metrics.
• Compliance with internal model governance standards and audit requirements.

Expertise & Technical Competencies    
Minimum Qualification

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Informatics, Mathematics, Risk Management, Accounting, Statistics, Actuarial Science, Finance or a related field.

Minimum Experience

• A minimum of 8 years’ experience in Credit risk model development, statistical modelling and validation in a credit risk management environment.
• Proven experience developing, validating, and maintaining credit risk models, including PD, LGD, EAD, expected loss, and stress testing models.
• Experience in credit management in the banking and/or financial services sectors.
• Demonstrated experience in PD, LGD and EAD model development.
• Solid experience in Basel compliance and IRB approach model development.
• In-depth knowledge of Project Finance simulation modelling as well as scorecard models.
• Solid understanding of IFRS 9 standards and regulatory risk modelling.
• Detailed knowledge of Capital management. Experience in calculating Pillar I and Pillar II credit risk capital, stress testing scenarios and Economic Capital calculations.
• Practical knowledge of Credit Risk Management.
• Solid experience in Microsoft Office (MS-Word, MS Excel (at an expert level of proficiency), MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook).
• Advanced data manipulation and management skills. Demonstrated experience in SAS and/or SQL for model development and data manipulation.
• Solid experience in Stakeholder Management.

Desirable Requirements

• A Postgraduate Degree in Informatics, Mathematics, Risk Management, Accounting, Statistics, Actuarial Science, Finance or a related field.
• Knowledge of financial structuring and doing business in the Rest of Africa.
• Experience in working with SOEs, DFIs and public finance institutions.
• Experience in risk-based pricing models.

Deadline:30th July,2026

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Job Description    

• The purpose of the Research Specialist is to provide high quality applied research support that is directly aligned Bank’s strategy. The role advances the Bank's catalytic DFI positioning by generating evidence-based insights that inform investment decisions, deepen sector intelligence, and support capital mobilisation across the infrastructure value chain. 
• The Research Specialist further contributes to thought leadership on DFI financing tools, infrastructure, economics, climate and sustainable development, reinforcing DBSA’s reputation as a leading knowledge institution in development finance.

Key Responsibilities    
Research Agenda Design, Execution and Dissemination

• Provide inputs into and execute the annual research agenda as approved by IDKC Board. in alignment with the DBSA's Corporate Strategy, responding to strategic priorities across all sectors in the DBSA, including energy transition, municipal finance, regional
• integration, and climate resilience.
• Translate strategic research priorities into concrete research projects supporting the Bank's Insights, Execution and Enablement (IEE) function and senior leadership decision-making (CEO, Exco, and Board).
• Deliver short-turnaround research briefs, background papers, and Board Enrichment platform inputs that provide timely evidence Bank's investment pipeline, sector strategies, and policy positions.
• Lead the peer review and editing of research outputs to ensure credibility, intellectual rigour, and alignment with DBSA quality standards.
• Facilitate the dissemination of research outputs through Knowledge Sessions, publications, and other institutional platforms to build internal and external awareness.

Applied Research, Econometric Analysis

• Apply econometric principles and a solid understanding of infrastructure development within the Bank’s operational sectors to support operations.
• Strengthen research outputs by aligning with Insights, Execution & Enablement (IEE) and automation priorities.
• Drive thought leadership by staying abreast of domestic, regional, and international research agendas.
• Conduct applied econometric and quantitative research to inform operational decision-making across the Bank’s core sectors, including energy (renewables, just transition, and transmission infrastructure), transport and logistics, water and sanitation, ICT and social infrastructure, spanning South Africa, the SADC region, and the Rest of Africa (ROA).
• Produce research and intelligence on finance instruments, including climate related financing such as green/sustainable bonds to support DBSA's climate finance mobilisation objectives and alignment with the South Africa Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP).
• Apply advanced data analytics, geospatial analysis, and econometric modelling tools (R, Stata, SPSS, Eviews or equivalent) to large, multi-source datasets including administrative, financial, and spatial data.
• Generate sector-specific intelligence on energy transition scenarios, infrastructure investment models, and regional economic integration to strengthen the Bank's strategic positioning and thought leadership.
• Monitor and integrate emerging global research methodologies, DFI best practices, and innovation in infrastructure economics into the Bank's research approaches.

Stakeholder Engagement, Knowledge Leadership and Policy Influence

• Develop and maintain relationships with sector specialists, as well as, among others, operational units, and strategic divisions (including IDD, Project Preparation, and Climate Finance) to ensure research relevance and uptake across the infrastructure value chain.
• Initiate, develop, and manage research partnerships with other DFIs, multilateral development banks (MDBs), think tanks, academia, and government agencies — from conceptualisation through to publication and launch.
• Engage regulators, government departments, the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Council (PICC), and industry bodies to align research with national policy priorities (such as NDP Vision 2030, National Infrastructure Plan 2050, Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan).
• Contribute to DBSA's thought leadership outputs including sector reports, working papers, policy briefs, and opeds that advance evidence-based public discourse on infrastructure development, development finance and social and development impact.

Institutional Capacity Building, Knowledge Management and Research Integration

• Design and deliver research training programmes that build institutional analytical and policy analysis capacity across DBSA business units.
• Champion the integration of sustainability principles, and just transition frameworks into the Bank's research methodologies.
• Drive knowledge-sharing initiatives including seminars, internal knowledge sessions, and cross-functional learning platforms to build a culture of evidence-based decision-making aligned to DBSA’s strategic priorities.

Key Measurements of Outputs

• Delivery of a high-quality annual research agenda that is approved, on time, and aligned to DBSA's Corporate Strategic priorities.
• Produce and publish at least 2 high-quality research articles in different accredited journals.
• Production and timely dissemination of research outputs (reports, policy briefs, sector analyses, Board papers)
• Successful completion of short-turnaround research projects and input into the Board Enrichment themes as requested by the Chief Economist.
• Quality and rigour of applied econometric and quantitative analyses supporting operational decision-making across the sectors of the DBSA, including energy transition, municipal finance, regional integration, and climate finance.
• Depth and impact of external partnerships and networks with DFIs, MDBs, think tanks, universities, and government research entities.
• Demonstrated contribution to DBSA's positioning as a thought leader in infrastructure development finance — including publications, conference presentations, and contributions to national/continental policy discourse.
• Effectiveness of knowledge dissemination through Knowledge Sessions, training programmes, and cross-functional capacity building initiatives.
• Integration of ESG Sustainability, just transition, and climate finance considerations into research outputs and institutional frameworks.

INTERNAL LIAISON RELATIONSHIP (*The list is not exhaustive)

• Executives
• All business units and other relevant divisions
• DBSA Investment Committees and others

EXTERNAL LIAISON RELATIONSHIP (*The list is not exhaustive)

• Third Parties/Service providers
• DFIs, Knowledge partners, Think tanks, local/international organisations
• Research houses and data providers
• Government Stakeholders

Expertise & Technical Competencies    
Minimum Qualification

• A postgraduate qualification (Master’s degree) in Economics, Development Studies, Public Policy, Social Sciences, or closely related field.

Minimum Experience

• A Minimum of 8 years’ experience in applied research in economics, infrastructure, development finance, or related fields.
• Proven experience designing and executing research agendas, including short-turnaround projects aligned to institutional priorities.
• Strong proficiency in econometric and quantitative methodologies, with hands-on experience in tools such as R, Stata, SPSS, or EViews.
• Advanced capability in analysing and managing large, complex, multi-source datasets (administrative, financial, geospatial, and survey data).
• Sound knowledge of infrastructure development and financing across key sectors (energy, transport, logistics, water and sanitation, ICT).
• Strong policy analysis skills, with the ability to translate research into actionable recommendations for leadership and stakeholders.
• Proven track record in producing high-quality research outputs (reports, policy briefs, investment papers, and publications).
• Experience engaging senior stakeholders (executives, clients, regulators, and government) to align research with policy and investment objectives.
• Strong project and partnership management skills, including budgeting, delivery of multiple initiatives, and collaboration with external partners.

Desirable Requirements

• A PhD or Doctoral qualification in Economics, Development Studies, or a related discipline.
• Direct experience working in a DFI, MDB, or development finance context (e.g., AfDB, World Bank Group, NDB, or similar).
• Experience in research on municipal finance reform, local government infrastructure delivery.
• Working knowledge of infrastructure project lifecycle origination, preparation, appraisal, financing, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Exposure to continental and regional research agendas in Sub-Saharan Africa and the SADC region.

Deadline:27th July,2026