The Development Bank of Southern Africa ("DBSA”) is a development finance institution wholly owned by the South African Government. Its purpose is to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development to improve the quality of life of the people in South Africa, SADC and Rest of Africa by providing financial and non-financial investments in the social and e...
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Job Description
- The Public Relations Officer is responsible for developing and executing strategic communication and public relations functions that enhance and protect the Bank's reputation, manage its public image, and foster positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders. This role involves overseeing internal and external media relations, and crisis management to support the Bank's mission and objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Planning
- Develop and implement integrated public relations and communication strategies aligned to the Bank’s corporate strategy and market positioning.
- Formulate and implement comprehensive annual and multi-year communication plans with clearly defined objectives, performance indicators, priority audiences, and coherent messaging frameworks that support the Bank’s strategic and developmental outcomes.
- Provide strategic counsel to management on public relations priorities, reputational considerations, and emerging communication risks and opportunities.
- Plan, manage and optimise the public relations and communications budget responsibly to ensure alignment with the Bank’s priorities, efficient allocation of resources and maximum impact.
Communication Management
- Manage and proactively strengthen the Bank’s reputation across traditional, digital, and stakeholder platforms.
- Oversee consistent corporate messaging and brand positioning across all internal and public-facing communications.
- Develop high-quality content and communication for press releases, reports, speeches, website content, and communication materials.
- Manage internal communication initiatives where external messaging alignment is required.
- Drive compliance with governance, regulatory, and approval processes for internal and external communications.
Media and Public Relations
- Build and maintain strong relationships with media outlets to ensure positive coverage of the Bank’s activities.
- Draft and distribute press releases, ensuring timely and accurate dissemination of information.
- Monitor media coverage and analyse its impact on the Bank’s reputation, and where required, implement responses to mitigate adverse impact.
- Support engagement with key internal external stakeholders, including employees, government, regulators, investors, partners, and communities.
- Manage responses to public, media, and stakeholder enquiries in a manner that upholds the brand and reputation of the Bank.
- Advise executives and management on public relations, media engagement, and reputational risk matters to ensure informed and consistent external communication.
- Provide training, coaching, and awareness sessions to executives and employees on media protocols, brand positioning, crisis communication, and appropriate public engagement.
- Develop and disseminate communication guidelines, toolkits, and key messaging to support staff in representing the Bank effectively across all platforms.
- If required, act as a spokesperson for the Bank, delivering clear, accurate, and consistent messages to the media and stakeholders in line with approved communication strategies and governance protocols.
- Coordinate and manage spokesperson activities, including preparing talking points, key messages, and briefing notes for executives and designated representatives.
- Oversee and direct all public statements, interviews, and responses to media enquiries in line with the Bank’s strategic objectives, brand positioning, and reputational risk management requirements.
Crisis Management
- Develop and implement crisis communication plans to protect the Bank’s reputation during adverse events.
- Maintain clear and consistent communication with stakeholders during crises.
- Coordinate communication responses during reputational risks or crises to protect the Bank’s credibility.
- Provide rapid, accurate, and consistent messaging during high-risk or sensitive situations.
Stakeholder Management
- Foster positive relationships with key stakeholders, including government entities and the public.
- Implement mechanisms to gather and respond to stakeholder feedback.
- Support engagement with key internal and external stakeholders, including employees, government, regulators, investors, partners, and communities.
- Coordinate public-facing events, briefings, and stakeholder communication initiatives.
- Manage responses to public, media, and stakeholder enquiries in a timely and professional manner.
People Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning to maximise individual and collective potential.
- Drive talent development initiatives, including coaching, performance management, and career pathing, to build and retain a skilled and motivated team.
- Provide direction and management to the team, to enable strategy execution.
- Attract, retain, develop talent and ensure sufficient capacity and capability in critical functions, supporting diversity strategies and initiatives as well.
- Promote DBSA values and a culture of high performance through implementing performance management in line with the planned strategic objectives, goals, quality standards and agreed key performance measures using sound performance management principles.
- Contribute to building synergies and cooperation across functions in the DBSA.
- Live the DBSA values.
Reporting and Monitoring
- Produce accurate, insightful reports and continuously monitor key metrics to assess progress against objectives.
- Analyse data to identify trends, inform strategic decisions, and provide stakeholders with clear, actionable information that supports ongoing performance improvement and accountability.
- Prepare reports for committees and governance structures on critical public relations events.
Key Measurements of Outputs
- Delivery of integrated public relations and communication strategies and plans that demonstrably support the Bank’s corporate strategy, development mandate, and market positioning within approved timelines and budgets.
- Measurable improvement and sustained strength in the Bank’s reputation, brand consistency, and media sentiment across traditional, digital, and stakeholder platforms.
- Quality, clarity, and consistency of internal and external communications, including effectiveness of messaging, content standards, and alignment across all communication channels and platforms.
- Effectiveness and quality of media relations, including timely, accurate media outputs, constructive media coverage, and professional handling of media and public enquiries.
- Compliance with governance, regulatory, and approval processes, including effective management of reputational risk and credible communication responses during crises or sensitive situations.
- Quality and impact of stakeholder engagement, reflected in positive stakeholder feedback, successful public-facing initiatives, and responsive, professional communication with key audiences.
- Performance, capability, and engagement of the communications team, evidenced by achievement of objectives, talent development, collaboration across the Bank, and demonstration of organisational values.
Expertise & Technical Competencies
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations or Communications or Journalism, or Marketing
Experience
Minimum Experience
- A minimum of 10 years’ progressive experience in public relations, corporate communications, or journalism within medium to large organisations, including demonstrated responsibility for strategic communication planning, media relations, reputation management, and stakeholder engagement.
- Experience in acting as a spokesperson or communicating on behalf of the organisation.
- In-depth demonstrated experience in media engagement, reputation management, and crisis communication.
- Excellent stakeholder and media relationship management.
- Proven track record in a leadership role managing PR teams and projects within the corporate environment.
- In-depth understanding of PR practices and methodologies.
- Familiarity with the media landscape in South Africa and a strong network within the environment.
- Extensive experience engaging with the CEO, Executives, Board members, and senior stakeholders across multiple sectors.
Desired Requirements
- Previous experience in the financial services or development finance sector.
- A postgraduate degree in Public Relations or Communications or Journalism, or Marketing
- Public relations experience at international level
Deadline:24th March,2026
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Job Description
- Execute technical project development from early-stage preparation through to bankable feasibility, ensuring projects meet the technical, environmental, social, regulatory, and commercial requirements for investment decision-making and financial close. The role is responsible for Project Development and Technical Execution, Due Diligence and Regulatory Compliance, Financial and Commercial Assessment Support, Bankable Feasibility Report Development, Relationship Management and Stakeholder Relations and other tasks as assigned by the line manager from time to time.
Key Responsibilities
Project Development and Technical Execution
- Provide technical inputs in the development of project development strategies to unlock infrastructure projects in South Africa, SADC and select African Countries through project preparation.
- Design projects that support the annual disbursement target and the division's strategic objectives.
- Develop detailed project development workplans and schedules covering feasibility studies, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), technical designs, grid and geotechnical studies, and permitting processes.
- Execute projects within the scope, technical specifications, quality standards, milestones, deliverables, and resource requirements for project development activities.
- Prepare pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, including engineering designs, cost estimates, implementation models, scheduling and risk assessments.
- Draft preliminary and detailed design work, including capacity sizing, layout planning, technology selection, and constructability evaluations.
- Provide technical solutions that are aligned to appropriate technology standards, lifecycle cost considerations, operational performance requirements, and sustainability principles.
- Provide inputs into Terms of Reference (ToR) and technical procurement specifications for external consultants, engineers, and technical advisors.
Due Diligence and Regulatory Compliance
- 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.
- Engage with regulators, utilities, municipalities, and line ministries to secure required permits, licenses, environmental approvals, water use rights, grid connection approvals, etc.
- Adhere to all legislative, sector policy, and regulatory conditions that are embedded in feasibility outputs.
- Maintain a risk register covering technical, environmental, commercial and execution risks and provide risk mitigation strategies.
Financial and Commercial Assessment Support
- Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to support programme implementation, identifying funding needs for the project development.
- Provide technical inputs to prepare bankable feasibility data packs to enable financial modelling, investment appraisal, and structuring.
- Work closely with financial specialists to test project affordability, revenue models, commercial structures, and risk allocation frameworks.
Bankable Feasibility Report Development
- Consolidate all technical, environmental, social, regulatory, commercial and cost data into a bankable feasibility report suitable for due diligence, financial modelling, structuring, and investment decision-making.
- Prepare presentations and submissions for Investment Committees and transaction preparation governance structures.
Relationship Management and Stakeholder Relations
- Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, global and regional private businesses, banking and multilateral partners and government officials to further develop specific investment opportunities.
- 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.
- Identify clients’ pain points and coordinate DBSA’s solution offerings to address them.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering and/or in the Built Environment (Civil, Construction Management or Quantity Surveying).
- Registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) as a professional engineer (PrEng).
Minimum Experience
- A minimum 8 years’ experience in infrastructure project development/preparation in the built environment, public sector management, advisory service or consulting experience.
- Experience in dealing with development finance institutions at the various levels of government and business.
- Demonstrated expertise in financial modelling and feasibility analysis.
- Extensive experience in structuring project finance deals.
- Successful track record in business development and stakeholder management.
- Understanding of infrastructure project development, feasibility and structuring.
- Understanding of financial modelling and project finance structuring.
- Knowledge of regulatory frameworks and industry best practices.
Desirable Requirements
- 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).
Deadline:31st March,2026
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Job Description
- Provide end-to-end administrative support, consolidate reports and maintain the records management system for the unit. Provide end-to-end administrative support, consolidate reports and maintain the records management system for the unit.
Key Responsibilities
Key Performance Areas:
General Administration
- Provide administrative support to the unit:
- Manage day-to-day administrative activities
- Manage diaries and arrange meetings
- Organise refreshments when required for meetings
- Make logistics arrangements for internal and external engagements
- Take minutes, distribute for inputs and follow up on actions required
- Perform administrative duties including typing and editing of reports, confidential correspondence and general documentation, filling, faxing, photocopying, and administrative work.
- Perform secretariat functions for the internal committees that are part of the unit structures, ensuring compliance with governance prescripts.
- Draft, format, and proofread correspondence, reports, presentations, and other documents.
- Coordinate and assist in the preparation of cluster/unit submissions to the board, business review, management committees, and ad-hoc resolutions from division-specific committees (secretariat).
- Administer the local and international travelling arrangements and the processing of claims for the units.
- Attend to general queries made to the Head and team members, answer and screen incoming calls.
- Support ongoing team projects by updating trackers, following up on deadlines, and organising documentation.
- Administer procurement processes and facilitate the submission and processing of invoices and claims.
- Coordinate, collate and assist in the preparation of reports and presentations for unit submissions.
- Coordinate internal audit and monitoring activities, including periodic review of the division and units.
- Manage office supplies, stationery, and equipment, ensuring stock availability.
- Collaborate with the events unit to coordinate plans for external stakeholders’ events.
- Assist with processing invoices, purchase orders, travel requests, and claims.
Reporting and Database Administration
- Assist in the coordination/preparation and alignment of unit/s balanced scorecard (BSC), and track and monitor plans to provide reports to the team.
- Coordinate the preparation of the divisional/unit budgets and monitor the spending together with the budget owner.
- Undertake project management tasks and provide project administration support on allocated projects.
- Prepare and present reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets and other items affecting the division/unit.
- Develop and maintain an advanced record-keeping (manual/electronic) and filing system to ensure an updated central repository and database for unit documents.
- Coordinate service providers’ database administration to ensure a central repository of information on service providers.
- Maintain updated contact lists, distribution lists, and team databases Undertake other administrative duties as assigned, from time to time.
Key Measurements of Outputs:
- Timeous and efficient team administration support.
- Quality of presentations and reports.
- Management of budget, including operational expenses.
- Documents generated accurately.
- Minimal errors with regard to administration.
- Effective record-keeping management and retrieval systems.
Expertise & Technical Competencies
Qualifications and Experience:
Minimum Requirements
- Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in office administration, Project Management or Business Administration
Experience
Minimum Experience
- A minimum of 5 years’ experience in providing administrative support to Teams in a medium to large size organisation.
- Proven experience in managing team calendars, scheduling meetings and taking and distributing meeting minutes
- Demonstrated experience in preparing reports, presentations, and correspondence for the Teams, Unit Heads, etc.
- Maintaining filing systems and records.
- Experience in coordinating travel arrangements, logistics and administration thereof.
- Proven experience in supporting procurement or expense administration
- Experience in communicating (verbal and written), and drafting reports and presentations for Executives and Board level.
- Experience in coordinating, consolidating and tracking cross-functional projects and stakeholder engagements.
- High proficiency with Microsoft Office (MS-Word, MS Excel (at an advanced level of proficiency), MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook).
Deadline:27th March,2026
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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
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Job Description
- The Legal Advisor is responsible for providing legal advice, including negotiation, drafting of various legal documents, dispute resolution through interpreting and applying relevant legislation and regulations and mitigating legal risk. The role protects the organisation’s interests through effective legal guidance, contract reviews, and dispute resolution.
Key Responsibilities
Legal Advisory Services and Contracting
- Provide legal advice and support to DBSA’s corporate units, including Corporate Services, Finance, Treasury, Procurement, Strategy, Information Communications Technology (ICT), Communications and Marketing units.
- Provide general legal advice on procurement, supply chain and tender process.
- Provide legal guidance on negotiations with the service providers and consultants.
- Participate in governance and management committees to provide legal context on legal matters raised.
- Provide support in liaising with external attorneys and prepare a comprehensive brief for attorneys.
- Draft, review and negotiate a broad scope of corporate legal contracts, including corporate operations, consultancy, software/hardware support, lease, finance and grant agreements.
- Review and verify that contractual terms adequately protect the organisation’s interests and align with applicable legal requirements.
- Maintain oversight of contractual obligations and guide contract interpretation.
Compliance and Regulatory Support
- Research and communicate the risks and legal issues involved in a broad range of commercial transactions and operational issues specific to DBSA’s corporate unit.
- Review all documents and decisions made for compliance with various legislation, policies and regulations.
- Monitor and advise on relevant legislative and regulatory developments impacting the organisation.
- Support the implementation of governance and compliance frameworks.
Dispute Resolution and Litigation
- Provide legal guidance on corporate disputes and potential litigation matters.
- Liaise and brief external legal counsel on disputes and litigation matters and provide all required information.
- Assess cases and support the organisation in resolving disputes in a cost-effective and timely manner.
Stakeholder Management
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to provide practical and commercially sound legal solutions.
- Build effective working relationships with business units to support informed decision-making.
- Provide legal training and awareness on legal and regulatory developments to internal stakeholders.
Key Measurements of Outputs
- Time taken to prepare and or review contracts, agreements and legal opinions.
- Quality and accuracy of agreements, opinions and solutions provided.
- Effective management of legal claims and litigation risks.
- Management of total case/agreement/opinion / other legal costs.
- No litigation due to contractual errors and or omissions.
- Effective monitoring of the contracts and agreements.
- Clean audit.
Expertise & Technical Competencies
Minimum Qualification
- A Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) or Legal postgraduate qualification.
- Admitted Attorney/Advocate of the High Court of South Africa.
Minimum Experience
- A minimum of 5 years of experience in commercial, financial, banking or corporate law gained at a commercial bank, law firm, DFI, corporate entity, SOE or similar institution.
- Demonstrated experience in corporate legal advisory, including procurement law, strategic relationships, commercial contracting, employment law, ICT contracting and corporate governance.
- Understanding of a highly regulated environment, such as a DFI, finance services institution or state-owned entities.
- Understanding of PFMA, Treasury Regulations, PAIA, POPIA and PPPFA.
- Proven experience in contract drafting, legal risk management, dispute resolution and regulatory compliance.
Desirable Requirements
- A postgraduate qualification in law.
- Experience working with a State Owned Entity, financial services or banking industry.
Deadline:31st March,2026
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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
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Job Description
- The Head Technical Planning and Design role is accountable for strategic leadership and management of planning, designing, and the implementation of technical projects within the Infrastructure Delivery Division. The incumbent is responsible for developing strategic plans, overseeing project execution, and ensuring that all technical designs meet the bank's standards and regulatory requirements. The Head of Technical Planning and Design plays a crucial role in driving innovation and efficiency in infrastructure development. In addition, lead and contribute to the origination and development of infrastructure development opportunities in the targeted sectors driven by Business Development.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Focus
- Lead the development and execution of strategic plans for technical projects, ensuring alignment with the Bank's overall strategy, development and business objectives.
- Identify and prioritise strategic initiatives and deliverables that focus resources on high-impact infrastructure development opportunities and measurable outcomes.
- Develop and maintain short-term and long-term technical planning, design roadmaps, systems and procedures aligned to organisational strategy, operational priorities and approved budgets.
- Drive effective communication and implementation of the strategy across internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment, engagement, and accountability.
Technical Planning and Design
- Lead the planning and design of scalable, secure, and compliant infrastructure solutions that support operational resilience, business growth, and regulatory compliance.
- Establish and implement technical planning frameworks, processes, systems, and procedures to guide Infrastructure Delivery Division (IDD) project execution.
- Oversee and approve high-level and detailed technical designs to ensure architectural integrity, technical feasibility, and adherence to internal standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
- Maintain governance frameworks and technical controls for planning and design processes to ensure consistency, accountability, and effective risk management.
- Conduct technical assurance reviews to evaluate design quality, strengthen controls, and drive continuous improvement in infrastructure planning and design practices.
Project Management and Resourcing Planning
- Oversee the planning and delivery of infrastructure projects from concept through implementation ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and technical standards.
- Ensure projects are adequately resourced with the relevant teams and appropriate skills required to deliver expected outcomes.
- Monitor projects performance to ensure delivery within agreed timelines, budgets, quality and regulatory requirements
- Identify, monitor and mitigate technical and project risks to minimise disruptions and ensure successful project execution.
Innovation and Improvement
- Identify and evaluate emerging technologies that can enhance infrastructure capabilities to ensure the Bank remains at the forefront of innovation, improves operational efficiency, and strengthens its competitive edge.
- Drive innovation in infrastructure design, automation, and service delivery to increase scalability, reduce manual effort, and improve speed and reliability of services. Innovation in these areas supports digital transformation, enhances customer experience, and enables the Bank to respond quickly to changing market demands.
- Measure the impact of new technologies and methodologies on project outcomes to ensure continuous improvement, justify investments, and guide future strategic decisions.
Stakeholder Management and Collaboration
- Act as the primary liaison with internal business units, regulatory authorities, external stakeholders and service partners.
- Ensure clear and concise communication and build trust and credibility with internal and external stakeholders.
- Provide expert advice to senior leadership on planning, design, and technical projects requirements.
- Collaborate across functions to ensure that technical planning and design solutions support operational needs and organisational objectives.
- Leverage cross-functional and business data to inform strategic, operational, and domain-specific decisions.
- Focus on value creation for the business, and functional stakeholders.
- Procurement and Contract Management of External Stakeholders
- Manage and maintain strategic relationships with external contractors, service providers, and suppliers to ensure the delivery of high-quality technical planning and design services.
- Lead the procurement and contracting process for outsourced services in collaboration with the Supply Chain Management unit, ensuring full compliance with procurement policies, procedures, and applicable legislation.
- Negotiate, manage, and monitor vendor contracts to optimise service quality, cost-effectiveness, and performance against agreed service level agreements (SLAs).
- Conduct regular quality control inspections of outsourced services and building works to ensure standards are consistently met or exceeded.
- Enforce compliance with all relevant internal standards, regulatory requirements, environmental regulations, and procurement legislation.
- Oversee and track the timely completion of outsourced works, addressing delays or deficiencies to ensure satisfactory delivery.
Performance Monitoring and Reporting
- Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for infrastructure planning and design to measure effectiveness, ensure alignment with strategic goals, and drive continuous improvement.
- Report on project status, resource utilisation, and strategic alignment to ensure transparency, accountability, and informed stakeholder engagement.
- Identify data-driven insights to improve planning accuracy and design efficiency to enhance forecasting, reduce waste, and optimise resource allocation.
- Utilise data and trends to inform strategic decision-making and continuous improvement in Infrastructure delivery.
People Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning to maximize individual and collective potential.
- Drive talent development initiatives, including coaching, performance management, and career pathing, to build and retain a skilled and motivated team.
- Drive a culture of innovation and continuous improvement across the division to support strategic agility.
- Contribute to building synergies & cooperation across functions in the DBSA.
- Live the DBSA values.
Reporting and Governance
- Establish and enforce robust governance frameworks and reporting mechanisms to ensure transparency, compliance, and effective decision-making across all operations.
- Ensure timely and accurate reporting of key performance indicators, risks, and progress against strategic objectives to relevant internal and external bodies.
Digital Transformation
- Champion and drive digital transformation initiatives, leveraging technology to enhance operational efficiency, improve service delivery, and unlock new value streams within the DBSA.
- Foster a mindset of innovation, identifying opportunities to adopt emerging technologies and best practices to modernise processes and deliver impactful solutions.
- Lead the integration of digital technologies and data analytics to improve and enhance technical planning and design.
Key Measurements of Outputs
- Timely development and implementation of strategic plans for technical projects to achieve profitability margins per project and overall, per area.
- Achievement of high-level and detailed design, architectural integrity and technical feasibility with value engineering savings and aligned with strategic objectives.
- Effective risk mitigation, adherence to budget, cost control, resources optimisation, and robust implementation of robust policies and procedures.
- Full compliance with standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices, environmental regulations, and internal operational standards.
- Cost-effective management of suppliers, adherence to SLAs, timely completion of outsourced works, and rapid response to technical planning and design related emergencies.
- Accurate, timely, and data-driven reporting to leadership, supporting informed decision-making and continuous improvement.
- Effective collaboration and advisory support to internal and external stakeholders, ensuring technical planning and design solutions align with organisational objectives.
- Achievement of team KPIs, talent development, retention, succession planning, and fostering a high-performance, collaborative, and value-driven culture.
- Achievement of a clean audit outcome for technical planning and design operations, with no material findings or unresolved audit issues.
Expertise & Technical Competencies
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Requirements
- Postgraduate degree in Engineering or Construction Management or Infrastructure/Urban Planning or Architecture or relevant discipline
Desirable Requirements
- Professional Engineer Certification
EXPERIENCE
Minimum Experience
- A minimum of 12 years’ experience in technical planning, architecture, and solution design with at least 5+ years in management.
- Proven exposure to large-scale infrastructure projects (e.g. construction, bulk water, housing, energy, etc.).
- Demonstrated experience in technical design, planning frameworks and project execution.
- Experience in lean and agile methodologies to manage large-scale projects.
- Demonstrated experience in managing multi-disciplinary technical teams.
- Experience in procurement and contract management, including working with contractors and service providers.
- Proven ability to work with high level stakeholders including regulators, government entities and private sector partners.
- Experience in project and programme management including resourcing, risk and delivery oversight.
Desirable Experience
- Project Management Certification (e.g. PMP, PRINCE2) and design tools.
- Familiarity with BIM (Building Information Modelling) and digital twin technologies.
- Experience with sustainable design and green building standards.
Deadline:3rd April,2026
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Job Description
- The Principal Syndication & Financial Solutions Officer drives the DBSA’s syndication strategy by facilitating the structuring, execution and balance sheet optimisation structures for infrastructure development projects. The role collaborates with the frontline division in arranging and syndication opportunities, by crowding in commercial,b developmental, credit insurers and institutional investors. The role drives financial solutions such as balance sheet optimisation in support of long-term financial sustainability and balance sheet growth.
Key Responsibilities
Key Performance Areas:
- Syndication, Balance Sheet Optimisation Strategy & Market Research
- Contribute to the development and implementation of the syndication strategy.
- Conduct research on key DBSA investment focus countries, including public/private sector clients, regulatory frameworks, DBSA investment sectors, macro/micro-economic trends, and financial markets.
Conduct research on DBSA’s key sub-Saharan Africa investment focus countries, covering:
- Public and private sector clients and players.
- Political landscape and regulatory frameworks.
- DBSA investment sectors and macro/micro-economic trends.
- Financial markets (currencies, fixed income, interest rates).
- Primary and secondary debt/equity market dynamics.
- Analyse research findings to generate actionable insights for internal decision-making and internal and external business use.
- Develop financial and dynamic instruments for balance sheet optimisation and risk capital limits.
- Keep updated on syndication market trends, including new structured products and services offered in the market and associated deal flow in sub-Saharan Africa.
Execution of Syndicated Transactions
- Collaborate with the Frontline Division, coordinate syndicate participants in all transactions where DBSA is appointed Mandated Lead Arranger (MLA) (or co-MLA).
- Support the frontline to secure Mandated Lead Arranger (MLA) rights at an early stage in project development, particularly for projects financed by DBSA or third-party managed funds.
- Plan potential targets for syndication through funded and unfunded distribution.
- Provide structuring guidance to investment officers and participate in presenting proposals and mandate letters to clients.
- Mobilise credit risk insurance and related guarantees at origination, to amplify the Bank’s risk-bearing capacity at entry of operations into the portfolio, through risk transfer, co-guaranties, and re-guaranties from commercial and official insurers.
- Execute primary and secondary debt and equity syndications, respectively, to develop and issue internal and investor transaction price guidance.
- Structure transactions, develop investment cases, and prepare documentation for presentation to the Investment Committee (IC) and Board and Credit Investment Committee (BCIC) or other committees.
- Provide input during the Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) phase to enhance syndication transaction structuring and bankability.
- Draft, negotiate, and execute Lenders’ Advisor Agreements, as well as Project and Financing Agreements.
- Collect and publish Conditions Precedent documentation as required.
- Execute all pertinent documents to close secondary debt and equity instrument transactions.
- Develop and periodically update debt and equity investors as well as preferred transferee databases.
- Compile and issue and/or collate client and/or investor Expressions of Interest (EOIs) and transaction term sheets.
- Originate and manage the process, provide input and collaborate with other DBSA Divisions and/or Business Units, as appropriate, in the drafting/negotiation/execution of DBSA Mandated Lead Arranger (MLA) or other mandates.
- Develop and/or review and update transaction teasers/Information Memoranda (IMs) and financial models for corporate/project/structured finance transactions in collaboration with the Coverage, Transacting, Credit and Sector Specialist Business Units.
- Collaborate with Treasury and Frontline Divisions, arrange, schedule and facilitate debt and equity client/investor road shows.
- Document and disseminate internally and/or externally all call reports and client/investor input during syndication/distribution roadshows/book runs.
- Identify, secure and assign senior/junior syndicate participants, including setting and making pro-rata debt allocations.
- Create and populate physical or electronic transaction data room(s) and collaborate with other DBSA Divisions and/or Business Units to manage the transaction due diligence process.
Collaborate with or through Frontline, Liaise with co-MLAs and/or the Lender Group to:
- Develop the scope of work for, select, negotiate and contract with, and appoint Lenders’ Advisors.
- Appoint an Agent Bank(s), Security Agent(s) and other role players customary to debt transactions.
- Liaise with the Loan Management Unit and the Agent Bank(s) for the drawdown and closing of primary and secondary market debt and equity instruments.
Structured finance solutions
- Collaborate with Credit Risk and Frontline units to design/ support the financial products to provide structured finance solutions to clients to meet their evolving needs. Products include lending instruments, guarantees, derivatives, equities, credit enhancements and risk mitigation instruments to mobilise financing for projects.
- Support Frontline Division with mobilisation of capital through the deployment of guarantee instruments via partial credit and risk guarantees to complement lending instruments and attract private financiers to Sovereign projects’ financing
- Working closely with risk mitigation providers such as other MDBs, ECAs and the insurance market to provide risk mitigation instruments on large projects
- Providing support on financial and technical expertise on transactions involving originating, structuring, appraising, negotiating, and restructuring in support of investments across various sectors
- Deal execution, including transaction structuring, modelling and negotiation of transaction documentation
- Support investment officers to ensure compliance with relevant product policies and guidelines
- In charge of revision of the Bank’s existing products, including leading the revision of the Bank’s guarantee policy with new features to reflect evolving market structures, including accompanying Operational Guidelines.
Stakeholder Engagement and Management
- Build relationships and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to position DBSA as the preferred bank for infrastructure financing.
- In addition to working closely with the Frontline Division, form a strong alliance with the Treasury Division, Risk Division and Portfolio Management.
- Prioritise existing key clients while pursuing new client opportunities to generate non-interest fee income.
- Manage relationships with local and international banks, non-bank financial institutions, and syndication desks.
- Prepare pitch decks and conduct client transaction pitches/presentations.
Key Measurements of Outputs:
- The number and value of Mandated Lead Arranger (MLA) (or co-MLA) mandates secured from clients.
- The number and value of syndication and distribution transactions approved by the Investment Committee (IC) and Board, and Credit Investment Committee (BCIC).
- The number and value of successfully arranged and distributed transactions through collaborative effort with other Divisions and Business Units within the DBSA.
- The non-interest fee income generated by the Syndication and Distribution unit.
Expertise & Technical Competencies
Qualifications and Experience:
Minimum Qualifications
- A Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Mathematics, Accounting, Engineering or Economics.
Minimum Experience
- A minimum of 10 years of broad financial markets experience, including, but not restricted to, appraising, negotiating and closing Project Finance, Corporate Finance or Structured Finance transactions or acting in a debt and/or equity instrument sales and distribution role in a financial institution.
- Experience in securing infrastructure investment deals in relevant sectors/geographies in SA and/or Africa.
- Experience in leading, initiating and developing new business strategies and opportunities to create a pipeline of development impact projects, ensuring deal flow and bankability.
- Experience in securing deals of appropriate size for the sectors and geographies in question.
- Strong networks and relations with clients, global and regional private investors and banks to identify and source viable projects/investments.
- Successful track record in leading project teams with high-level stakeholders and qualified professionals.
- Experience in developing/reviewing, and using corporate/project/structured finance financial models.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the complex financial and regulatory environments across Africa.
- In-depth knowledge and understanding of the infrastructure market, financial markets and the macro landscape.
- Demonstrable experience in identifying client challenges and playing an active part in finding innovative solutions.
- Experienced communicator and negotiator (expertise at senior level).
- Strong negotiation skills with the ability to close deals.
- Proven experience in working with senior stakeholders in highly political environments in South Africa and the rest of Africa.
Desirable Requirements
- Postgraduate qualification or CA, CFA, MBA.
- Experience with the syndication of debt and/or equity instruments.
Deadline:2nd April,2026
Method of Application
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