Principal Project Development Specialist

About the role

The Principal Project Development Specialist will lead the technical and engineering aspects of infrastructure project preparation across South Africa, the SADC region and selected African countries. Reporting to senior management, the role ensures projects meet the division’s annual disbursement targets and strategic objectives while maintaining high quality and bankability standards.

Key responsibilities

• Provide technical inputs to develop project development strategies that unlock infrastructure opportunities.
• Design projects aligned with annual disbursement targets and strategic goals.
• Lead technical, engineering, and environmental components to achieve bankable feasibility.
• Develop detailed workplans and schedules for feasibility studies, Environmental and Social Impact Assessments, and risk assessments.
• Oversee preliminary and detailed design work, including capacity sizing, layout planning, technology selection, and constructability evaluations.
• Provide technical guidance to the project development team, ensuring consistent quality standards.
• Draft Terms of Reference and technical procurement specifications for external consultants and advisors.
• Lead procurement processes in line with DBSA governance and bankability standards.
• Review projects for compliance with relevant legislation.
• Engage regulators, utilities, municipalities, and ministries to secure permits, licenses, environmental approvals, water use rights, and grid connections.
• Collaborate with financial specialists to test project affordability, revenue models, commercial structures, and risk allocation.
• Develop and present bankable feasibility reports.

Required profile

Required skills