Project Finance Structuring Specialist

Africa Career Desk; Midrand; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) in Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa, seeks a Senior Project Finance Structuring Specialist to design bankable project-finance solutions, including blended finance and PPPs, and provide advisory support across multi-sector investments.

The role focuses on structuring, due diligence, and stakeholder engagement to drive project financial closure. The ideal candidate has 8+ years in project finance and a proven track record delivering infrastructure finance.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in project or infrastructure finance.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative and sustainable financial structuring solutions to unlock projects.
• Implement financing instruments: blended finance, PPPs, guarantees, local currency funding, derivatives.
• Conduct detailed due diligence and appraisal of transactions.
• Advise on contracts with financial structuring implications.
• Test market readiness with developers, investors, DFIs, and OEMs.
• Map financing options across commercial, concessional, blended, and climate sources.
• Design blended finance structures to de-risk projects.
• Engage DFIs and climate funders; prepare concept notes and pitches.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, banks, multilateral partners, government.
• Provide inputs to ensure bankability and project closure.

Skills

Project finance knowledge

PPP structures

Blended finance

Climate finance

DFI engagement

Bankable infrastructure

Client relationship management

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Job description

Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Midrand, South Africa

• Southern Africa

Role type

Infrastructure & Project Finance

Experience

Senior

Deadline

1 Sep 2026

Summary

Senior structuring role developing bankable project-finance solutions including blended finance, PPPs, guarantees, funding structures and transaction due diligence.

About The Role

The Project Finance Structuring Specialist at DBSA provides expert financial structuring and advisory support for investment projects, driving informed investment decisions and project financial closure by designing innovative financing solutions and advising on multi-sector funding strategies. DBSA (Development Bank of Southern Africa) is a development finance institution that promotes sustainable development and infrastructure delivery across Southern Africa and the broader continent.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and implement innovative and sustainable financial structuring solutions to unlock and accelerate development projects
• Implement innovative financing instruments, including blended finance, PPPs, guarantees, local currency funding, derivatives, and other financial solutions
• Conduct detailed due diligence and appraisal of proposed transactions, including commercial, financial, risk, and institutional analysis
• Provide input into the preparation and negotiation of project contracts, with a focus on financial structuring implications
• Test market readiness of projects with developers, investors, DFIs, and OEMs
• Map financing options across commercial, concessional, blended-finance, and climate-finance sources
• Design blended finance structures combining concessional debt, commercial financing, grants, equity, and guarantees to de-risk projects
• Engage DFIs and climate funders, prepare concept notes and pitch materials, and support project sponsors in funder outreach
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, banking and multilateral partners, and government officials
• Provide transaction structuring inputs to ensure bankability of projects and facilitate project closure

Key requirements

• 8+ years of relevant experience in project finance, infrastructure finance, or financial structuring
• Strong understanding of project finance, PPP structures, blended finance, and innovative financing mechanisms
• Experience with DFI engagement, climate finance, and concessional finance instruments
• Demonstrated track record in preparing and executing bankable infrastructure projects
• Ability to build and maintain senior client relationships
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills

Permanent position. Reference number: DBS251124-1. Application deadline: 1 September 2026. Location: Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa. Apply via the DBSA erecruit careers portal.