Lead Infrastructure Finance (Transacting)

To lead and guide the structuring, development, execution, and implementation of complex infrastructure finance transactions and sustainable financing solutions that support economic development and infrastructure delivery. The role drives innovative financing initiatives, mobilising public and private sector funding, supporting strategic infrastructure investments, and providing specialist advisory services to internal and external stakeholders.

Job Profile (Downloadable)

Expertise & Technical Competencies

Qualifications and Experience:

Minimum Qualifications

1. A Post-graduate qualification in Development Finance, Finance, Business, Engineering or Economics.

Minimum Experience

1. A minimum of 10 years of proven experience in project finance, the financial and infrastructure finance environment at a senior professional level.
2. Experience in investing in infrastructure in emerging markets, ideally in a diversified portfolio in different sectors of infrastructure (energy, transport, etc.).
3. Experience with working on new or innovative projects and programmes, and proven ability to bring ideas from conception to completion.
4. Proven experience in project risk identification, management and mitigation.
5. In-depth knowledge of the banking sector and financial markets.
6. Comprehensive knowledge of the legal and regulatory environment for infrastructure procurement in SA.
7. Good understanding of infrastructure investments.
8. Demonstrable experience in assessing investment transaction opportunities and projects from early review to bankable debt financing deals.
9. Experience with working with deal teams and assigning resources to conclude transactions.
10. Proven ability to provide value to transactions for the benefit of and/or the client through knowledge of the subject, innovation and lateral thinking.
11. Sound experience in private and public sector investments.
12. Demonstrated knowledge of legislation, regulations, policies, processes and procedures governing the infrastructure planning and development in South Africa (e.g. PFMA).

Technical Competencies:

a) Risk Identification & Assessment Skills

• Advises on applicable aspects of risk identification and assessment.
• Assesses and links short-term tasks in the context of long-term business strategies or perspectives.

b) Business Development

• Initiates, reviews, and interprets competitor environment reviews.
• Formulates and modifies market approaches based on competitor analyses.
• Generates new business opportunities in the public and private sector delivery of infrastructure.
• Identifies and develops new markets, products and clients.
• Builds capacity to conduct project origination exercises.

c) 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.

d) Deal Origination

• Formulate and develop new and alternative financing mechanisms and concepts that can be replicated elsewhere within and outside SA.
• Conceptualise and develop innovative funding instruments (equity, venture capital, mezzanine, debt, securitisation of projects, etc.) to finance infrastructure that would otherwise not be possible, relying on the market only to develop and propose these investment opportunities. 
• Proactively develop impact concepts to take to the market.
• Formulate new products.

e) Deal Structuring

• Uses credit enhancement techniques to structure deals and optimise pricing in terms of Basel principles.
• Has a good and practical understanding of how to optimise the Capital Structure, collateral package, and debt repayment profile.
• Builds and interrogates financial models, including those with a high degree of complexity, to develop an optimal structure.
• Identifies complex structural issues that need escalation and proposes appropriate bankable structures.
• Demonstrates knowledge on advanced structuring, including the use of derivatives, syndicated loans, synthetic loans, securitisations, inflation-linked debt, credit default swaps and subordinated debt.
• Prepares specialised or tailored reports relating to new innovative instruments, gathers information from a variety of sources, analyses and includes in a report for new product approval committees.
• Compiles comprehensive specialist reports as required for inclusion into credit committee submissions.

f) Financial modelling

• Develop, build and maintain complex, integrated project finance models to support investment decision-making, transaction structuring and
  execution.
• Lead financial modelling for transactions, including scenario, sensitivity and stress testing to assess bankability, risk allocation and financial viability.
• Translate technical, legal and commercial inputs into robust financial models that accurately reflect project risks, funding structures and cash flow dynamics.
• Interrogate and validate financial models (internal and external) to ensure accuracy, consistency and alignment with transaction assumptions and market standards.
• Apply advanced modelling techniques to optimise capital structures, funding strategies and pricing of financial instruments.
• Support negotiations and Financial Close through real-time model updates, analysis and interpretation of key financial metrics (e.g. IRR, DSCR, LLCR).

g) Negotiation Skills

• Has an appreciation of cultural sensitivities and differences.
• Effectively employs a variety of advanced behavioural/interpersonal competencies to control the negotiation situation.
• Can take the lead in a variety of sensitive negotiation situations requiring high levels of tact and diplomacy.
• Can place a discrete negotiation situation within the context of a broader long-term relationship and is not threatened by conceding ground to protect the
• longer-term interests of the IF.

h) Financial Acumen

• Makes sound financial decisions after having analysed their impacts on the organisation, partner agencies, and community.
• Effectively prepares budgetary submissions and forecasts for own department.
• Knows the internal and external factors that impact resource and asset availability.
• Can interpret management account reports in an operational/commercial context and take action as appropriate to maximise revenues and control costs.

i) Reporting

• 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.

j) 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.).
• Knows various feedback mechanisms to check levels of audience understanding.

k) Problem Solving

• While remaining guided by organisational 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.

Required Personal Attributes

Leadership/Behavioural Competencies:

a) Customer Service Orientation

• Tries to understand the underlying needs of customers and matches these needs to available or customised products and services.
• Adapts processes and procedures to meet ongoing customer needs.
• Utilises the feedback received by customers to develop new and/or improve existing services/ products that relate to their ongoing needs.
• Thinks of new ways to align DBSA’s offerings with future customer needs.

b) Self-awareness and 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.

c) Strategic and Innovative Thinking

• Experiments with new approaches, tests scenarios, questions assumptions and challenges conventional thinking.
• Creates new concepts that are not obvious to others, leveraging internal and external sources of information, to build incremental revenue and growth opportunities.

d) Driving delivery of results

• Sets challenging goals that will have a significant impact on the business or support the organisational strategy.
• Commits significant resources and/or time to ensure that challenging goals are achieved, while also taking action to mitigate risk.

e) 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.

*The KPA’s, competencies and relationships listed in this document are not exhaustive, and the incumbent will be expected to undertake additional duties within their capacity to meet the needs of business and/or the business unit.

Key Performance Areas:

1. Infrastructure Finance Modelling and Transactions

• Lead the preparation, structuring, negotiation, and execution of complex infrastructure finance transactions, investment operations, and financing solutions.
• Direct financial analysis and advanced modelling within multidisciplinary project teams, supporting the design of complex financial structures and credit enhancement mechanisms to mobilise commercial capital for infrastructure and development finance purposes.
• Provide strategic advisory services to internal and external stakeholders on the development and implementation of sustainable public and private sector infrastructure investments.
• Work as an integral part of the project/programme team in conducting due diligence, feasibility assessments, commercial evaluations, and financial structuring activities for infrastructure finance projects.
• Drive infrastructure projects are progressed to bankability through effective transaction structuring, risk mitigation, due diligence, and stakeholder engagement.
• Lead the execution of credit approval processes and negotiate detailed transaction terms in collaboration with Treasury, Legal, Portfolio Management, and other stakeholders.
• Support the expansion and management of IFISA’s infrastructure project pipeline and financing opportunities. 

2. Financial Structuring and Financing Solutions

• Develop and implement financial advisory solutions for the IFISA, including (amongst others)-mandated lead arranger (“MLA”) technical, financial, environmental, insurance bank services.
• Lead the development and implementation of innovative and sustainable financing instruments and funding solutions to accelerate infrastructure delivery.
• Design and deliver advanced sustainable financing structures for IFISA clients, including blended finance structures, Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), B-BBEE funding structures, local currency financing, guarantees, and derivative hedging instruments.
• Develop and implement complex financing instruments, including project bonds, green bonds, CPI-linked debt, bridging finance facilities, working capital facilities, construction performance bonds, and project preparation facilities.
• Conduct financial modelling, sensitivity analysis, scenario testing, and transaction analysis activities to support investment decisions and transaction execution.
• Support funding mobilisation initiatives through engagement with financial markets, development finance institutions, commercial banks, investors, and strategic partners.
• Provide financial advisory services relating to technical, financial, environmental, insurance, and banking solutions within infrastructure finance projects.
• Access financial markets to fund IFISA investments and operations to foster sustainable economic development, create wealth and improve infrastructure in
• South Africa by investing in infrastructure and other productive sectors.
• Guidance and mentorship of Infrastructure Finance Specialists and project teams.

3. Stakeholder and Partnership Management

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with government institutions, development finance institutions, private sector investors, commercial banks, and infrastructure stakeholders.
• Support public sector institutions in the development and financing of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and strategic infrastructure programmes aligned to
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Represent IFISA in stakeholder engagements, negotiations, industry forums, and strategic partnership discussions.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to identify investment opportunities, unlock funding, and facilitate infrastructure development initiatives.

4. Governance and Compliance

• Implement functions in compliance with governance frameworks, investment mandates, risk management requirements, and regulatory obligations throughout transaction lifecycles.
• Prepare and review investment memoranda, transaction reports, governance submissions, Board papers, and Executive Committee reports.
• Support long-term financial planning, portfolio strategy, and infrastructure financing initiatives in collaboration with Treasury and Finance teams.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of strategic initiatives, financing frameworks, and infrastructure development programmes.
• Perform additional strategic and operational duties as required by the Head of Division.

Key Measurements of Outputs:

1. Quality, accuracy, and robustness of financial models and financing solutions developed.
2. Value and number of project approvals, commitments, financial closes, and disbursements achieved.
3. Value of infrastructure investment and development catalysed through financing initiatives.
4. Value of public and private sector partnerships and funding mobilised.
5. Percentage of projects progressed to bankability and successful implementation.
6. Effectiveness of transaction structuring, due diligence, and risk mitigation processes.
7. Timeliness and quality of investment analysis, governance submissions, and transaction reporting.
8. Compliance with governance, regulatory, and credit approval requirements.
9. Stakeholder satisfaction with advisory support, financing solutions, and transaction execution.
10. Clean audit outcomes and effective resolution of audit findings.

INTERNAL LIAISON RELATIONSHIP (*The list is not exhaustive)

1. Head: Infrastructure Finance
2. Head: IFISA
3. CEO & Exco
4. DBSA Board & Committees
5. Relevant DBSA Divisions
6. IFISA Team

EXTERNAL LIAISON RELATIONSHIP (*The list is not exhaustive)

1. Infrastructure South Africa
2. National Treasury
3. Government Departments and SOCs
4. Public & Private Sector Stakeholders
5. External Service Providers
6. Development Finance Institutions
7. Capital Markets