Director - Non-Sovereign Operations and Private Sector Support Department - PINS at African Development Bank - AfDB

The Complex

• The Vice Presidency for ‘Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization’ is a Sector Complex focusing on the Bank’s TYS and High 5s priority of “Industrialize Africa” and “Integrate Africa”. The Complex also plays pivotal role in the implementation of the other High 5s, namely Power Africa, Feed Africa and Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa.
• The objectives of the Complex are to: (i) develop the ‘Africa Industrialization Strategy’; (ii) provide deep sector expertise to the Regions by leveraging on experienced individuals who can be consulted on complex transactions; (iii) develop new financing instruments; (iv) act as the Bank’s Spoke person on “Industrialize Africa”.
• The Complex is also responsible for the overall coordination of the Private Sector and Non-Sovereign Operations (NSO) across the Bank, working closely with other sector Complexes. In this regard, the complex leads the development and implementation of the Private Sector Development Strategy, the Financial Sector Development Strategy, the Industrialization Strategy including the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Action Plan, the PPP Strategic Framework, and the related action plans and policy guidelines.
• These responsibilities also include business development, transaction support, Equity oversight, Corporate Portfolio Management, standards enforcement, oversight, monitoring and reporting. The Complex is at the centre of the Bank’s Privatre Sector and NSO development and delivery.

The Hiring Department / Division

• The role of the Bank’s Non-Sovereign Operations (NSO) and Private Sector Support Department (PINS) is to support the promotion of private sector development in Regional Member Countries, particularly through transaction structuring advice that ensures bankable transactions, as well as project and corporate portfolio management (e.g., evaluation, monitoring and reporting) of all NSOs, in line with the Bank’s 10 Year Strategy,  High 5s initiatives, and the Bank’s 5 year private sector development strategy 2021-2025.
• PINS will primary serve as second line of defense for all NSOs of the Bank by identifying any red flags and providing: (i) transaction structuring advice and operational support to NSO originating departments as needed; and (ii) project and corporate portfolio management (evaluation, monitoring, reporting as well as remedial management actions), (iii) a comprehensive customer relationship and project documentation database as well as knowledge management; and, (iv) various guidelines, operational procedure manuals and training initiatives.
• The Department thus provides all Sector Complexes with corporate support on NSOs and transaction guidelines.
• The services provided are therefore pooled together for use by the Bank’s NSO business origination departments.

The Position

• The position of Director of NSO and Private Sector Support Department (PINS), which reports to the Vice President, PIVP, is key to ensuring the overall effectiveness of Private Sector operations of the Bank Group.
• This is primarily through NSO project and corporate portfolio management (e.g., evaluation, monitoring and reporting, for effectiveness in several areas such as financial performance, safeguards, integrity and development impact), as well as transaction support to NSO origination departments as needed. 
• A key function of PINS is to provide Strategic Portfolio Management to further the Bank’s integrated quality assurance agenda, and knowledge management and training through support of administering the Operations Academy with a focus on NSO Pathways/Modules.

Key Functions
The key functions for the Director for Non-Sovereign Operations and Private Sector Support Department are:

• Debt Asset Management: Manage the Bank’s NSO debt portfolio assets for all the NSO originating departments: the financial sector, energy, transport, agriculture, social, industries and trade sectors. Activities undertaken therein include asset monitoring, undertaking of project supervision, processing of loan disbursements and project waivers/amendments/consents, rescheduling, and minor restructurings, in close collaboration with the Bank’s Special Operations Unit where appropriate.
• Equity Transaction support: Provide support and expert advice to project officers on equity investments, including evaluation of proposals, investment-process management, as well as continuous evaluation of the effectiveness of Bank representation at Advisory Committees. The equity evaluation process for private equity funds is being revamped, and the equity unit may be responsible from origination to portfolio management, leveraging sector teams when sector expertise is required.
• Debt and Guarantee Transaction Analysis support: Provide Advisory services to project officers on debt and guarantee transaction design, project bankability assessment, capital structuring, project credit enhancement, financial leveraging, and financial modelling. Also advise on the use of concessional resources to improve project bankability.
• Equity Asset Management: Manage the Bank’s equity portfolio (direct equity investments and private equity fund participations) including through active asset monitoring, undertaking of annual and extended supervision activities, and preparation of supervision reports. As part of active portfolio management, proactively seeking equity exits in alignment with strategy, by sourcing prospective buyers and engaging in price negotiations.
• Administration of Committee Secretariats: Host and administer the secretariats of the Equity Deal Flow Committee and the Technical Investment Committee (TIC).
• Review of Transaction and Legal Documentation: Supporting provision of portfolio insights drawn from lessons learnt, assisting in the review of legal documentation of new debt and equity investments, and providing transactional guidance on first disbursement.
• Equity Governance Oversight:   Managing nominations to board and advisory committees and coordinating representation on board and advisory committee meetings, as well as continuous evaluation of the effectiveness of the representation
• Back Office Portfolio Support and Monitoring of Conditions Precedent - Provision of back-office portfolio assets management to NSO sectors with independent assessment of all triggers required for first (including subsequent) disbursement, monitoring credit quality movements/transition of loans, and validating waivers requested by NSO Clients.
• Lead the Equity Working Group and participate in the Watchlist Working Group – Work in collaboration with Risk Management (PGRF), Special Operations Unit (SNOU), and Legal (PGCL), in order to ensure adequate equity valuations, early detection and reporting of warning signals, identification and participation in remedial management of underperforming and distressed assets, and enforce adequate covenant and collateral management systems
• Customer Information System: Ensure that a comprehensive transaction information database and monitoring systems are maintained with all relevant transaction documents for reference and appropriate monitoring tools to follow up on conditions, undertakings, and covenants. Also maintain a platform that allows for sharing lessons learned with the wider NSO ecosystem
• Work collaboratively and closely with the PGRF, SNOU, and PGCL, for the overall management of the Bank’s NSO portfolio.  This collaboration includes leveraging these other units to resolve distressed and underperforming corporate and project finance loans and equity exposures and identifying and managing problem projects pre and post the Watchlist.  PINS should also include NSO originating departments as appropriate, especially sharing deal insights and lessons learnt during portfolio management and special operations
• Balance Sheet Optimization: Support Bank targeted balance sheet optimization activities and transactions, that will be led by the Syndications & Mobilization (FIST) department, through the identification of existing portfolio as well as prospective assets which qualify for insurance or potential divestment (“BSO Assets”), support the valuation of BSO Assets, and participating in the negotiations and financial closure of BSO transactions
• Knowledge Management: Developing norms and standards associated with the NSO project cycle, undertaking training and capacity building actions through the NSO pathway courses delivered at the Operations Academy, conducting semi-annual meetings of AC representatives with Portfolio Officers, and onsite trainings on corporate governance.
• Design of strategies: Assist in the design of origination and portfolio management strategies by integrating portfolio trends, lessons learnt and emerging risks.
• Ensure the proper supervision and follow-up of all NSO investments in conformity with the Bank’s NSO operational policies.
• Advise the Vice-President of PIVP on private sector operations issues, as requested and/or as necessary.
• Staff Supervision: Supervise the staff of the Department, review and approve annual performance evaluations, guide staff and Divisional Heads in the Department on performance and career development issues, initiate reward programs for exceptional performance, proactively address poor performance by staff and initiate disciplinary processes for identified infractions of the Bank rules, policies, or regulations.
• Budget Responsibility: Supervise the preparation of the department’s annual budget in conformity with the directives and guidelines issued by Bank’s Senior Management; approve divisional budget proposals and ensure appropriate execution of the budget activities within the approved costs.

Competencies (Skills, Experience and Knowledge)

• At least a Master's Degree in Business Administration, Financial engineering, Banking and Risk Management, or any other relevant discipline.
• A minimum of ten (10) years (five (5) of which should be at least managerial level) of extensive and in-depth experience in private sector operations and Multilateral working environment.
• A good knowledge and experience of socio-economic, development and business environment issues in African countries.
• Extensive knowledge and proven experience in financial lending instruments and approaches, including familiarity with equity lending and guarantee mechanisms, portfolio management, and rescheduling/restructuring.
• Ability and commitment to serve and collaborate with internal clients such as NSO origination departments
• Demonstrated ability to take prudent business risks and make effective, timely and well-determined decisions.
• Proven ability to build and lead motivated and committed teams across functional boundaries and utilize talent and expertise of team members in a productive way.
• Delegates authority and responsibility with the capacity to do a task in one’s own way and encourages others to take the lead and learn new skills. Promotes sharing of expertise and supports learning opportunities across the Department.
• Demonstrated ability to present and win support for ideas; a good listener; cultural sensitivity, commitment to diversity and capacity to initiate and manage innovations or change.
• Ability to build partnership with a broad range of clients and deliver results that meet the needs and long-term interests of clients within and outside the institution and
• Strategic mindset: strong capacity to analyze actions from the perspectives of stakeholders and translate strategic thinking into compelling plans of action.
• Excellent written and verbal communications in English and/or French with a working knowledge of the other language
• Competence in the use of Bank standard software (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint).