Investment Specialist

The position of Investment Specialist (Blended Finance) is assigned to the Guarantees and Syndications Unit within the Office of the Director General (OPSD-GSU) of the Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD). You will be based at our Headquarters in Manila, Philippines.

You will report to the Advisor, PSOD and Head, Guarantees and Syndications Unit and designated International Staff; and may supervise National Staff and Administrative Staff.

Your Role

• For eligible projects, PSOD blends donor funds at concessional terms, with financing provided on its own account at market terms (together referred to as ‘blended finance’) to private sector borrowers, to increase the development impact of its private sector operations and support progress towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• As an Investment Specialist (Blended Finance), you will originate, process, execute, and administer financing at concessional terms, including but not limited to those deployed by the LEAP 2 fund. In addition, you will contribute to the deployment of funds from LEAP 2 at market terms, support fund raising from other donors, and support the management and deployment of other donor funds.

You will:

Project Originations, Structuring and Processing

• Originate, through close interaction with ADB deal teams, a pipeline of eligible blended finance transactions and screen blended finance and parallel fund opportunities in ADB’s developing member countries.
• Analyze and structure transactions, construct arguments for the use of blended finance projects and draft and negotiate relevant documentation (e.g., concessional financing applications, term sheets, loan agreements) in accordance with blended finance principles and fund documentation. This may involve traveling with project teams for discussions with private sector sponsors, other commercial or development lenders and government and other stakeholders.
• Analyze and structure blended finance and parallel fund transactions to maximize the potential for commercial co-financing and catalyzing of additional sources of capital.
• Perform due diligence, risk analysis and mitigation in the structuring of loans and mezzanine financing instruments for third party concessional and parallel fund financing.
• Support ADB’s internal blended finance approval processes including interfacing with credit, safeguards, integrity, legal and other teams as required and applicable for the relevant third party concessional and parallel fund financing.
• Prepare TA papers and applications for TA funding (either as stand-alone TAs or components of investment) in coordination with relevant staff.

Donor relationship management and Fund raising

• Liaise with JICA as well as other donors to ensure projects are aligned with the appropriate financing mandates and fulfill conditions under co-financing agreements including approvals, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.
• Contribute to donor fund raising, negotiation, internal processing, and documentation of new donor funds.

Fund administration

• Prepare and review internal documentation and the financial models for managing LEAP 2 and other funds, report to donors through annual, quarterly, and other reporting requirements, including but not limited to LEAP.
• Coordinate with ADB’s Office of Risk Management, Treasury Department, Controllers Department, and other concerned offices for the preparation of blended finance and fund information to be provided to third parties.
• Coordinate with concerned ADB offices to resolve identified issues relating to the management of donor and parallel funds.
• Work closely with PSOD’s portfolio management division to support day to day operations in the administration, monitoring, and risk management of projects co-financed by donors.

Policy and Project Evaluation

• Comment on projects, policy and other papers related to private sector blended finance and parallel fund operations, and development across a range of key themes and sectors.
• Participate in country teams for planning and programming purposes, particularly with respect to deployment of funds for private sector development at concessional terms.
• Contribute to the creation of an enabling environment for blended finance products and process reform.

Knowledge Sharing

• Prepare discussion papers and maintain ADB’s website on blended finance topics, provide inputs to ongoing initiatives/discussions with donors about engaging the private sector in infrastructure and climate financing activities.
• Participate in and contribute to internal and external training and conferences and other activities for advocacy, dissemination and knowledge building relating to third party concessional financing.
• Maintain and share knowledge of emerging best practices in fund management and contribute to product development.
• Advise ADB staff on internal operational issues relating to blended finance, and/or ADB’s position regarding fund documents and meetings.

Staff Supervision

• Supervise Administrative Staff if applicable, and ensure the on-going learning and development of reporting staff.
• Track the performance of reporting staff providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance.

Qualifications

You will need:

• Master’s degree, or equivalent, in business administration, finance, accounting, science, engineering or related fields; or University degree and at least 5 years specialized experience relevant to the position can be considered
• At least 8 years relevant work experience in banking with private sector clients at a commercial bank (or the private sector arm of a Development Finance Institution), in sectors such as infrastructure, climate finance, or financial institutions, preferably with hands-on experience in the deployment of concessional funding towards projects in these sectors and international work experience in several countries.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Highly motivated and strong work ethic
• Excellent organizational, multi-tasking and time management skills with demonstrated ability to work efficiently and meet deadlines
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with large, culturally diverse teams at all levels

Source: https://www.adb.org/careers/240395