D&S Manager

Your role

As D&S Manager,

1. you are responsible for the organisation, management and supervision of the Development and Sustainability (D&S) Unit, which is accountable for the development effectiveness (DE) and environmental & social (E&S) risk management of BIO’s investment projects. The Unit also manages the Business Development Support Fund (BDSF), BIO’s facility providing grants to finance Feasibility Studies (FS) and Technical Assistance (TA) programmes. The Gender and Climate Specialists are also part of the team;
2. you ensure the team adequately provides quality development impact assessment, E&S, BDSF, Climate, Gender, Human Rights and other sustainability support in investment projects by (i) being operationally involved in certain investment projects and actively contributing to the team’s knowledge management, and by (ii) supporting and overseeing the work performed by the team to achieve individual, team and company objectives;
3. you report to the CEO and ensure the strategic guidelines set by the Company in terms of sustainability are implemented at the level of the D&S Unit.

Tasks and responsibilities:

1. Team management

E&S (3 E&S Officers):

• You coordinate the work of the 3 E&S Officers by allocating the projects based on priorities and level of expertise. They assume final accountability in terms of quality of E&S outputs across the investment cycle and related documents.
• You chair the E&S Watchlist Committee (projects under E&S difficulties).
• Together with the team, you develop and execute strategies and policies related to E&S matters.
• You get involved in complex projects when required, including internally and with clients.

Development and impact management (2 DE Officers):

• You steer the team strategically and ensure the development agenda is aligned with BIO’s Strategic Impact Targets and development expectations.
• You contribute to reporting activities and share accountability for final development impact reporting to shareholder and stakeholders.

BDSF (2 BDSF Officers):

• You are responsible for the strategic steering, final approval of the BDSF projects and final approval of BDSF reporting towards shareholders.
• You provide strategic advice and ensure the BDSF activities fit well within BIO’s investment strategy, and contribute to the non-financial additionality of BIO’s interventions.

Climate and Ecological Transition (1 Climate Specialist):

• You coordinate the deployment of the Climate and Ecological Transition Strategy (developed in 2023), including BIO’s climate finance agenda ambition.
• You provide strategic support to ensure that the climate agenda is well aligned with BIO’s investment strategy and monitoring operations.
• You develop and support the implementation of a carbon footprint evaluation strategy.

Gender & Human Rights:

• You coordinate and contribute to the development and implementation of Gender and Human Rights strategies, providing support and strategic advice to the officers in charge of the policies.

You handle knowledge Management across the D&S Unit.

2. External representation on D&S matters

• You contribute to BIO’s external relations with Belgian development cooperation actors as well as with the Association of European Development Finance Institutions EDFI on D&S matters.
• You lead the climate finance mobilisation agenda with the Climate Specialist.
• You participate and/or make sure the team is represented in meetings and conferences on relevant topics.

3. Collaboration and Representation Tasks

• You liaise with other managers to ensure a fruitful and effective collaboration on investment projects.
• You coordinate the representation of the teams on all D&S matters regarding investment projects, both internally and externally.

4. Personal implication

• Depending on the needs of the team, the D&S Manager will be required to carry out some of the projects. They will actively participate in the writing of notes and in projects follow-up.

Profile

Qualifications:

• You have an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or higher) in economics, environmental engineering studies or international development studies. International Development Cooperation studies are a plus.
• You have at least 10 years of relevant experience in sustainability-related matters and impact management, or environmental and social assessments related to the private sector business activities, in at least one of BIO’s investment sectors.
• Experience in working in a development cooperation organisation is a strong asset.
• Experience in managing a team/project is a strong asset.
• Knowledge/application of EDFI standards as well as IFC Performance Standards is a strong plus.
• Experience in Impact measurement and management systems (OPIM, IRIS+, HIPSO, etc.) is a strong plus.
• Good understanding of Technical Assistance programmes and grant funding operations is an asset.
• You have the ability to reflect strategically and articulate the work within a commercial approach, support clients to identify opportunities to improve their E&S performances and create positive development impact.
• Knowledge of blended finance and guarantees /risk-sharing mechanisms in the development finance space is a strong plus.
• Knowledge of and interest in BIO’s mission, private sector development and impact investing is required;
• Experience in working in frontier markets is a plus.
• You are fluent in English, working knowledge of French, Dutch and Spanish is an asset.
• You are willing to travel about 15% of the time.

General skills:

• Ambition to work in a value-based organization that embodies the values of open-mindedness, responsibility, determination and sustainability
• You are pro-active and autonomous, able to set priorities and to take responsibilities;
• You have excellent networking and communication skills (spoken and written);
• You have strong people management and interpersonal skills;
• You are pragmatic and solution-oriented;
• You are able to understand the business needs, issues and priorities underlying the D&S work;
• You are intellectually curious and not afraid of complex questions;
• You are rigorous and well organised with an eye for detail and high quality work.