Head: Business Development Unit

SUMMARY:
We are looking for a Head: Business Development Unit. The purpose of this role is to generate deal flow and build a robust pipeline of prospective transactions for underwriting across various sectors. The incumbent of this role will also be responsible to coach & mentor junior staff. This role is instrumental in ensuring that new transactions align with the company's
mandate, risk appetite and strategic objectives.

POSITION INFO:

• Develop and execute strategic business development plans aligned to the Corporation's growth objectives.
• Develop and sustain a robust pipeline of high-quality projects and transactions through proactive origination and business development.
• Comprehensively map industry and sector opportunities to generate a list of prospects.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, global, regional and local private businesses, banking and multilateral partners, and government officials to further develop specific underwriting opportunities.
• Work closely with the underwriting team to find innovative solutions that address client transactional needs and provide support.
• Collaborate with internal teams to design, develop and refine the company's products and services.
• Liaise with the medium- to long-term underwriting and short-term insurance trade teams to ensure seamless handover and continuous oversight of transactions post-application.
• Conduct market research to identify appropriate business opportunities that match the company's products and eligibility requirements.
• Play a proactive facilitation role in matching business opportunities with relevant clients to unlock potential deal flow for the company.
• Pursue various business initiatives to increase the company client base across different market segments and geographies.
• Contribute to internal and external knowledge-sharing platforms by providing specialist input in areas of expertise and championing a culture of client-centricity.
• Provide leadership and management to direct reports to ensure effective execution of their roles in alignment with the corporate strategic plan, annual performance plan and balanced scorecard objectives.
• Ensure sufficient execution capabilities exist within the Business Development Unit.
• In collaboration with other business units, establish, execute and manage the distribution channels of the company's products.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders such as partner banks, development finance institutions, export councils and industry associations.
• Manage the end-to-end sales process, from lead generation to deal closure.
• Champion the adoption of innovative digital solutions, including online portals and automated processing systems, to enhance customer experience and improve operational efficiency.
• Prepare regular reports on business development activities, including performance, market trends and potential growth areas.
• Present business development strategies and progress updates to the Executive Committee and Board Committees.
• Represent the company's at industry forums and networking events.
• Develop and manage business unit budgets and financial forecasts.
• Carry out any other duties assigned by executive management.

Qualifications & Experience

• A minimum of an Honours degree in a commercial or technical discipline, including but not limited to Economics, Accounting, Finance, Banking, Science, Law, or Engineering.
• A postgraduate qualification, preferably a CA(SA), CFA, MBA, or Marketing qualification, will be advantageous.
• A minimum of 8 years' transactional experience in deal origination and deal structuring within the financial services sector, with a proven track record in business development and originating successful transactions.
• Knowledge and understanding of the business operations of Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) will be an added advantage.