Fresh Jobs at European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Purpose of Job

• The EBRD is seeking an experienced Country Security Officer to support its expanding operations in Nigeria. Based in Lagos, the role will be responsible for the day-to-day management of all security matters in-country, ensuring the safety of EBRD staff, consultants, visitors, and assets.
• This position will report directly to the Principal Regional Security Manager – Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and will serve as the Bank’s primary security focal point in Nigeria.

Additional Information:

• The role is based in Lagos with regular domestic travel.
• Candidates must have existing legal authorisation to work in Nigeria.
• Security clearance and background checks will be part of the selection process.

Background

• The positions encompass both “hands on” security operational activities and a requirement to contribute to strategic planning. This is achieved via a thorough understanding of the risks faced by EBRD staff when performing duties for the Bank and how to effectively mitigate these risks to a level acceptable to the EBRD.
• The Bank operates within the United Nations Department of Safety and Security framework and, hence, there are important relationships to be maintained with UN offices, as well as an understand of and ensuring compliance with UN standards.
• UN, embassies’, consular and other IFI relationships are leveraged to provide support, intelligence and response capabilities in our regions.
• The role involves significant interactions with Bank staff at all levels, sometimes in difficult and stressful environments.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Country-Level Security Oversight

• Implement and maintain appropriate security measures for all EBRD premises and staff residences in Nigeria, aligned with EBRD and UNDSS standards.
• Manage local security contracts, physical access control, and electronic security systems.

Staff Safety & Mission Support

• Provide security briefings and oversight for staff and consultants travelling or based in Nigeria.
• Work closely with the SSA Regional Security Manager to support mission planning, approve travel, and ensure readiness for emergency situations.

Incident Response & Emergency Preparedness

• Maintain and regularly update Nigeria-specific emergency and evacuation plans.
• Support the SSA Regional Security Manager in coordinating crisis responses, including drills and simulations.

Threat Monitoring & Risk Reporting

• Monitor political, criminal, and terrorism-related threats affecting operations in Nigeria.
• Deliver clear and timely security assessments and incident reports to the SSA Regional Security Manager and relevant Bank departments.

Liaison & Stakeholder Engagement

• Establish effective working relationships with host government security agencies, UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), other IFIs, diplomatic missions, and vetted private security providers.
• Represent the EBRD at security coordination forums and ensure effective local collaboration.

Capacity Building & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with mandatory EBRD and UN training and security clearance requirements.
• Support the SSA Regional Security Manager in promoting security awareness and delivering structured training where required.

Profile description:

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Experience & Expertise:

• Minimum 7 years’ professional experience in corporate security, international organisations, law enforcement, military, or risk consultancy.
• In-depth knowledge of the Nigerian security landscape, especially in Lagos and Abuja.
• Demonstrated experience managing security operations in high-risk or complex environments.

Skills:

• Confident communicator with strong interpersonal skills and sound judgement.
• Ability to produce clear, concise, and actionable reports and briefings.
• Comfortable working under the direction of a regional security lead, while operating independently day-to-day.

Qualifications:

• University degree or equivalent operational experience desirable.
• Recognised security certification (e.g. CPP, PSP, MSc Security & Risk Management) preferred.

Language Requirements:

• Fluent in English (written and spoken); additional Nigerian languages and French are an advantage.

go to method of application »

Background

• The Project life cycle involves several stages from origination to signing, followed by implementation and monitoring until full completion and repayment or exit. All the stages involve different tasks such as business marketing, project due diligence analysis, structuring and approval, negotiation and signing of project agreements, disbursement and monitoring.
• The role of the Principal Banker is to contribute, as a senior project team member, to the structuring, implementation and monitoring of complex transactions, and to lead, as an operation leader, the development of less complex debt and equity transactions, and the effective implementation and monitoring of an assigned number of portfolio projects, in line with the Bank’s operational objectives.
• The Principal Banker supervises, both as senior team member and as operation leader, more junior colleagues to ensure efficient processing of deal flow and portfolio monitoring. The Principal Banker is able to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders in relation to business development, project execution, implementation and monitoring, policy dialogue, co-financing arrangements and donor funding, as applicable. A substantial degree of independence is given to the Principal Banker, and he/she is expected to ensure effective project teamwork and progressively take on overall responsibility for increasingly complex transactions.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Structuring and Execution

• Work as a senior project team member with more experienced operation leaders on complex transactions, contributing to all aspects of project structuring and execution, including supporting the operation leader with the management of the project team;

As an operation leader:

• Lead structuring, negotiation (including review of legal documentation) and the execution of transactions, working with clients, authorities, consultants and internal units;
• Manage the resources and the workload of the project teams under their supervision;
• Oversee the project due diligence process ensuring it meets the Bank’s standards;
• Ensure quality and appropriateness of TC assistance components which support the investments or contribute to policy dialogue initiatives;
• Ensure that all transactions within their responsibility are completed within the specified time frames to a high standard (including all internal memoranda and Board reports) and in line with the policies, procedures and objectives of the Bank.

Portfolio Monitoring, Value Creation and Reporting

As a senior project team member perform all such tasks as may be assigned by the operation leader and provide constructive portfolio monitoring advice, guidance and supervision to more junior members of the project team.

 As operation leader:

• Take overall responsibility for the effective monitoring of all projects within their responsibility, including verifying the quality of regular monitoring reports; taking the lead in maintaining or supervising the management of client relationships; actively managing the resolution of any implementation/monitoring issues in cooperation with relevant Portfolio Managers; managing and supervising more junior bankers who assist in portfolio monitoring;
• Supervise implementation and monitoring of, and reporting on, relevant TC assignments to ensure their compliance with donor reporting requirements, operational objectives and that all reports are of a high quality;
• Take responsibility for ensuring timely notification of any critical portfolio issues to the relevant Portfolio Manager and/or Management, ensuring availability of adequate data and information for the Portfolio Manager and/or Management to be able to take timely decisions.

Policy Dialogue

• In cooperation with relevant units within the Bank (e.g., Policy VP, OCE) and Banking country teams (if applicable), contribute to policy dialogue, in a leading role (project level initiatives) or supporting function (national level initiatives);
• Assist in providing necessary support, in the form of relevant information or documentation or meeting participation, towards efforts to procure grants and technical cooperation funds to complement investment projects or required as part of policy dialogue efforts.

Business Development

• Assist with marketing and business development efforts in the relevant sector and countries to build reputable market contacts in order to develop a broad deal flow and cross selling of the Bank’s competencies;
• Assist with the critical screening of project proposal flow that is generated through business development efforts, liaising with other colleagues and teams within the Bank to identify sound and executable investments that meet the mandate of the Bank.

Staff Management

• Assist in recruiting, training, coaching and mentoring junior bankers, in coordination with the team Director and Associate Directors, Senior Bankers, involving them in all aspects of the project cycle (appraisal, execution, implementation, monitoring and business development), ensuring adequate quality of project work and appropriate workload distribution amongst the project team members; contribute to their professional and competency development.
• Develop productive relationships within the organisation to able to work effectively in a country/sector matrix structure and in a multi-cultural working environment.
• Directly accountable for the engagement and effective overall management of the Team including recruitment, compensation, performance management, coaching and development. Where matrix reporting is in place, work jointly with the country counterpart when setting objectives and completing performance appraisals for relevant staff.
• Champion and role model the Bank’s Behavioural Competencies and Corporate Behaviours, ensuring adherence within the team(s) so that the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct are exhibited at all times.
• The responsibilities of the Principal Banker are designed to allow for the development of transaction expertise and expansion of responsibilities, leading to assuming the role of Senior Banker.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Strong quantitative/numerical skills are critical with the ability to interpret financial information and to design and use financial models.
• Credit analysis skills, with the ability to interpret accounts, understanding local and international accounting principles and practice of credit analysis.
• Computer literacy, conversant with Microsoft Office and spread sheet packages including financial analysis and modelling modules.
• Excellent understanding of relevant systems and processes.
• Stakeholder management skills.
• Coaching, mentoring & leadership skills.
• Relationship management and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work to deadlines and under time pressure.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Good command over one of the languages of EBRD’s countries of operations is an advantage

Experience & Knowledge:

• Significant experience in real estate financing or real estate development from an investment or commercial bank, IFI, private equity firm, asset management firm, or auditing/financial consulting firm operating to international standards.
• Practical experience of participating in and leading complex transactions in the real estate and hospitality sectors through the full project life cycle is required.
• Exposure to commercial real estate and hospitality sectors in EBRD countries of operation is essential.