Programme Management Specialist

Job Description

The Infrastructure Fund (IF) announced by the President in September 2018 addresses the need for a dedicated blended financing facility for infrastructure programme projects. The aim of the IF is to transform public infrastructure financial provisioning using “blended” finance - combining capital from the public and private sectors and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs)/Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). This will be dedicated to meeting the financing requirements for hybrid projects.

The mandate of the Infrastructure Fund has been captured in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the National Treasury, Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), and the DBSA, entered into on 17 August 2020. The Programme Management Specialist is responsible for designing and implementing multiple programmes leading to funding opportunities for the IF. These programmes, amongst others, are large-scale infrastructure projects and programmes that involve Public Private Partnerships.

Key Performance Areas:

1. Strategic Support

• Develop, implement and monitor a portfolio of large-scale infrastructure projects and programmes involving multiple stakeholders from cradle to completion.

• Facilitate early and privileged access to the pipeline of large infrastructure projects to position the organisation for improved funding opportunities and strategic deal participation.

• Prepare investment proposals for management and the Board of Directors to consider.

2. Deal Flow and Origination

Support the steady flow of deals in the IF through:
a) Project Preparation Support
o Partner with project owners, sponsors, and public institutions to transform concepts into bankable opportunities.
o Provide technical input into prefeasibility and feasibility studies, designs, and cost estimates.
o Identify and address technical, environmental, social, and commercial gaps affecting bankability.
o Ensure alignment with sector standards, regulatory frameworks, and investment criteria.
o Support project structuring to attract blended finance and private sector participation.

b) Technical Due Diligence & Appraisal
o Conduct independent technical due diligence for projects under credit/investment review.
o Review design, technology choices, cost assumptions, and construction/operational plans.
o Assess alignment with international standards (FIDIC, IFC Performance Standards, ECSA, national building codes).
o Prepare technical reports and red-flag assessments for investment committees.

c) Risk Assessment & De-risking
o Identify and evaluate technical, commercial, regulatory, and implementation risks.
o Recommend risk mitigation measures (e.g., performance bonds, insurance, O&M structures).
o Assess the accuracy of risks factored into financial models and pricing to support bankability.
o De-risk the technical and commercial risk aspects of projects.
o Facilitate improved understanding, assessment and pricing of project risks.

d) Monitoring & Implementation Oversight
o Verify the fulfilment of technical conditions precedent to support disbursement.
o Monitor construction progress, completion testing, and commissioning milestones.
o Conduct site visits, review progress reports, and flag deviations (cost overruns, delays, technical failures).
o Recommend corrective actions to safeguard project performance and repayment.

e) Portfolio-Level Support
o Provide sector technical insights to guide pipeline development and portfolio strategy.
o Develop benchmarks, cost libraries, and sector guidelines to support future projects.
o Capture lessons learned from completed projects to strengthen institutional knowledge.

3. Programme Management

• Design, develop and implement project/programme plans, budgets, resources and deliverables according to the clients' and funders' agreements.

• Identify and implement measures to prevent project/programme delays by actively engaging and managing multiple project/programme offices.

• Prepare/develop project costing methodologies, cost control procedures and financial monitoring systems to ensure that projects/programmes are completed within budget and on time.

• Prepare detailed programme documentation, including phased plans, implementation schedules, budgets and variance reports, resource allocations, and work plans aligned with IF objectives.

• Provide status reporting regarding programme milestones, deliverables, dependencies, risks and issues, communicating across leadership and identified stakeholders.

• Lead the procurement of adequate resources to achieve programme objectives within planned time frames.

Perform other strategic and other duties as assigned.

Key Measurements of Outputs:

1. Value of bankable projects

2. Quality of investment book

3. Number of new clients and projects

4. Number of potential projects worked on

5. Management of client relationships and key stakeholders

6. Investor satisfaction with invested projects/programmes

7. Clean audit

Qualifications and

Experience:

Minimum Requirements

1. A Bachelor's…