INTRODUCTION

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB/the Bank) is seeking a dynamic professional to fill the role of Coordinator, Development Finance (CDF) in the Private Sector Division (PSD) of the Projects Department. The successful candidate will be based at CDB’s headquarters in St. Michael, Barbados.

THE DIVISION

The operations of the Private Sector Division (PSD) are anchored in the Private Sector Development Policy and Strategy which is focused on enhancing private sector ecosystems to facilitate the development of dynamic and internationally competitive, high-growth firms and fostering new expanded partnerships with the regional private sector. The focus of the Division is driven by the following three strategic priorities:

• Improving the investment and business climate in the Region

• Promoting access to finance

• Promoting equitable enterprise development, especially in the case of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs)

THE ROLE

Reporting to the Head, Private Sector Division, the Coordinator, Development Finance is responsible for planning and coordinating, through a team of Development Finance Officers (DFOs) the identification, preparation, appraisal, and supervision of loans/equities/lines of credit and technical assistance to the private sector and financial institutions. The CDF:

• provides a consistently high level of technical and procedural advice and guidance to the DFOs and Bank clients in project identification, preparation, appraisal, and supervision activities; and
• Represents the bank on key issues relating to the establishment of loans/equities/lines of credit and technical assistance for the private sector and financial institutions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Lead the development of strategy, policy, technical documents, and tools focused on increasing access to appropriate and affordable finance aligned to CDB’s Strategic Priorities and Objectives.
2. Plan the work programme under the assigned portfolio, based on objectives agreed with Head, Private Sector Division, and allocate workloads and resources to staff with a view to achieving objectives.
3. Prepare project preparation/appraisal/supervision budgets and processing schedules for assigned projects for agreement with the Head.
4. Undertake direct preparation, appraisal and supervision of the most complex and/or innovative of the projects assigned or, if circumstances warrant, delegate coordination responsibilities to experienced senior staff who can effectively perform the required role.
5. Ensure quality control of the work assigned by reviewing and processing related documents, analysing and discussing problem areas and rendering advice and coordinating discussion to resolve problems identified.
6. Participate and play a lending role in Project Identification Missions and prepare policy papers as required and undertake any tasks that forms part of the Division’s work programme on the direction of the Head or Director, Projects Department.
7. Manage the assigned team and work programme, evaluate individual team member’s performance on each assignment and provide leadership as well as the highest level of technical and procedural guidance to staff through interpretation of Bank policy, procedures, project design and organisation and management of operations.
8. Guide and mentor staff in the Division and assist the Head in Staff Performance Evaluation at the appropriate time as per guidelines, recommending as necessary appropriate internal or external training to remedy deficiencies identified.
9. Develop and build client relations at senior levels and play a promotional role in generating new business for the Bank.
10. Serve as a focal point on operational issues, relevant to his/her portfolio, to the Bank’s clients as well as its regional and international development partners.
11. Provide inputs when in the preparation and appraisal of projects by DFOs in PSDD and other areas of the Bank.
12. Support resource mobilisation strategies for the lending and investment portfolios
13. Provide insight to guide program development into new areas of interest in response to emerging demands to facilitate the development of innovative financial instruments.
14. Develop strategic partnerships within CDB (ORM, ESU, RE/EE ) and externally with key stakeholders, including other MDBs, Financial Institutions, Governments, Civil Society.
15. Organize knowledge management resources and tools to strengthen the quality of knowledge projects and to facilitate regular information dissemination/knowledge transfer internally and externally.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The Coordinator Development Finance is required to be experienced in corporate and/or project financing, preferably including trade finance, and knowledgeable of the operations of financial institutions lending to the private sector and a broad understanding of the financial sector and capacity building initiatives that support institutional strengthening.

The successful candidate should have significant experience in originating and supervising equity and debt transactions and be knowledgeable of financial trends and innovations introduced in the market by regional key players, especially in trade finance and banking, insurance, and FinTech.

The successful candidate should have:

• A Master’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics or similar.
• At least eight (8) years of relevant professional experience in financing for Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), including loan origination, credit analysis, and portfolio management. Including substantial experience managing a team.
• Sound experience in financial and economic appraisals of investment projects and structuring debt and equity transactions.
• Strong knowledge of the Caribbean financial institutions market, including market players, pricing levels, and financial sector regulations.
• Excellent credit analysis, financial modelling, accounting, planning, and organizational skills.

Function-specific Competencies

The CDF should demonstrate strong proficiency in the following competencies:

• Ability to achieve results and empower others towards achieving objectives.
• Capacity to foster a collaborative and high-performance team culture, promoting teamwork and mutual support.
• Proficiency in communicating complex financial and investment issues clearly and concisely, both verbally and in written form.
• Mastery of relevant computer applications and financial modelling tools necessary for investment analysis and project management.
• Ability to operate sensitively in a multicultural environment and build effective working relationships with clients, colleagues and other development partners.
• Ability to adapt to challenging timelines and sudden or frequent changes in priority to accomplish objectives.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts clearly and persuasively.

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

This is a full-time position with the successful candidate being contracted on a two-year basis in the first instance, with the possibility of renewal. The salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. A pension plan, life and medical insurances are included in the benefits package.

Before you proceed to apply, please consider the following requirements:

• You must be a national of one of CDB’s member countries.
• You will be required to produce evidence of any educational and professional qualifications to support your application if you are selected for an interview.
• All appointments are subject to satisfactory background checks and references.

CDB fully respects the need for confidentiality of the information supplied and assures you that we will not discuss your background and interest with anyone, including references, without your prior consent.

The deadline for submission of applications is December 17, 2023 at 11:59 pm AST.

The Caribbean Development Bank is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious, cultural background, gender, sexual orientation, or disabilities. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Bank provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities participating in the job application or interview process. Please contact us to request such accommodation