The EIB, the European Union’s bank, is seeking to recruit for its EIB Global Directorate (GLO), International Partners Department (IP), Sub-Saharan Africa – Public Sector Division (SSA PUB SEC), East and Southern Africa Unit (E&S) at its headquarters in Luxembourg, an (Associate) Loan Officer*.

This is a full time position at grade 4/5 for which the EIB offers a permanent contract.

*internal benchmark: (Associate) Officer Lending Operations

Panel interviews are anticipated for beginning of October 2023.

Purpose

The (Associate) Loan Officer carries out EIB public sector operations in Eastern and Southern Africa in order to finance projects that support EU development and cooperation policies outside the European Union taking end to end responsibility for their identification, appraisal, negotiation, approval and follow-up, up to and including first disbursement.

You will provide input to and implement the strategy for EIB public sector operations and country relations in assigned countries, in line with International Partners (IP) Department objectives and guidelines. You will maintain EIB Global’s relations with a range of partners and counterparts including support to high-level meetings. You will contribute to maintaining appropriate visibility of EIB Global’s activities in sub-Saharan Africa.

Operating Network

This post will be linked to the Unit covering operations and countries in Eastern-and Southern Africa but may according to the needs, cover any activity of the Division within its Sub-Saharan Africa wide action radius. The job will request full flexibility to travel and operate in different countries in the area.

Accountabilities

Transaction origination process:

• Track developments and monitor his/her target market,
• Develop and maintain relationships with a network of promoters, borrowers and other (financial) institutions
• Screen proposals and identify lending opportunities that best meet EIB objectives

Lending process:

• Evaluate, at an early stage, the quality of potential projects and their chance of success, including as appropriate consultation in particular with the Projects Directorate (PJ), Compliance Directorate (OCCO), Risk Management (RM) and Legal (JU)
• Evaluate the project and credit risk of proposed operations including leading and coordinating the work of external advisers and the EIB project team
• Lead and coordinate the lending process in cooperation with other Divisions and Directorates, prepare reports and lending proposals in cooperation with the appraisal team and be responsible for the approval process on selected operations
• Negotiate terms and conditions of loan and other project documentation in coordination JU and other services

Disbursement and monitoring:

• Lead the disbursement process and fulfilment of contractual conditions, in coordination with the Implementation Team. Follow-up developments of the project, in coordination with relevant services, in particular PJ, OCCO, RM, and the Portfolio Management and Monitoring Team (PMM)
• Evaluate the needs for ancillary instruments, including blending with investment grants and technical assistance, and carry out the preparation, approval and implementation of such instruments in coordination with colleagues in the Bank, EU Delegations and DG INTPA
• Carry out due diligence and, in the event of any restructuring and/or contractual modifications prior to first disbursement, conduct negotiations in liaison with RM, PMM and JU in order to maintain the quality of the loan portfolio and ensure the effective implementation of the financed project

Optimization of operating tools and working methods:

• Innovate and suggest improvements to existing tools, systems and products in response to changes in the operational framework
• Ensure correct input of data relating to own area of activity into the management information system in order to contribute to the continuous improvement of working methods and development of products
• Share his/her own information and experience in the management of lending operations with other members of the team in order to enlarge the knowledge and competencies of the team

Value added, cost management and return on operations:

• Ensure the quality and overall value added of lending operations; make sure that the financial terms set by the Bank match the risk profile and the type of operation, in order to protect the Bank’s interest and ensure that operations are as cost efficient as possible in the given context and provide for the risk on an overall basis

Communication and high-level relations with partners:

• Produce relevant information documents in the form of briefings and data to support EIB Global management discussions with external counterparts and high-level meetings
• Contribute to external communications such as press releases, speeches, external reports about the area of activity

EU Programming Process and implementation:

• As needed, constructive dialogue with the EU Delegations, DG INTPA, the EEAS

Qualifications

• University degree (minimum an equivalent to a Bachelor) in Finance, Economics or a business-related discipline
• Minimum three years of relevant professional experience in the banking, financial or development sector
• Good knowledge of financial analysis as well as proven experience in credit risk assessment and interpretation of legal documentation.
• Experience in working with (sub-Saharan) Africa would be a strong advantage
• Good knowledge of processes and procedures related to the administration, control and monitoring of lending operations
• Knowledge and work experience with Development Finance would be an advantage
• Good understanding of financial products (equity, loan, guarantees)
• Good understanding of the EU policy strategy in sub-Saharan Africa, EU actions/activities in the region and the EC budgetary process would be an advantage
• Good inter-personal, communication and representational/diplomatic skills
• Good knowledge of standard computer tools
• Excellent knowledge of English and/or French (*), with a good command of the other. Knowledge of Portuguese would be an asset

Competencies

Find out more about EIB core competencies here

(*) Unless stated explicitly as a required qualification, a good command of French is not a pre-requisite for hire. As both English and French are however official working languages of the EIB, proficiency in both languages is a pre-requisite for your future career development. Any language clause in your contract must be fulfilled in order for you to be eligible for a promotion (either via the annual appraisal cycle or via an internal selection process). Proficiency is understood to mean the attainment of level 5 of the Inter Institutional language courses, corresponding to B1.2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). The Bank offers appropriate training support.

“We are an equal opportunities employer, who believes that diversity is good for our people and our business. We encourage all suitably qualified and eligible candidates to apply regardless of their gender identity/expression, age, racial, ethnic and cultural background, religion and beliefs, sexual orientation/identity, disability or neurodiversity.

Applicants with specific needs are encouraged to request reasonable accommodations at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact the EIB Recruitment team [email protected] who will ensure that your request is handled.”

By applying for this position, you acknowledge the importance of maintaining the security and integrity of the Information of the EIB Group. In case of selection for the position you agree to comply with all measures (policies, controls, document classification and management) implemented by the EIB Group to prevent unauthorised disclosure of any information or any damage to the EIB Group reputation.

Deadline for applications: 4th September 2023

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