Director of Public Sector Operations – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Reference Number: SPBLR-DoPSO-001

Nature & Scope:

Our client, a large financial institution in Riyadh, Saudi Arabi, is currently seeking to employ a Director of Public Sector Operations to be based in Riyadh.   In this role, you will be responsible for leading the Bank’s sovereign and public sector operations cycle in full alignment with international multilateral development bank (MDB) standards, ensuring strategic country alignment, development effectiveness, fiduciary integrity, environmental and social sustainability, and financial soundness.

The Director is accountable for end-to-end sovereign operations management — from country engagement and pipeline development to appraisal, Board approval, supervision, results reporting, and portfolio performance optimisation — in accordance with the Bank’s Establishment Agreement and Board-approved operational policies.

Responsibilities:

1. Country Strategy & Sovereign Engagement

• Lead the operationalization of Country Strategy Papers (CSPs) or equivalent country partnership frameworks.
• Align project pipelines with national development plans, SDGs, and the Bank’s corporate strategy.
• Maintain high-level engagement with Ministries of Finance, Planning, and sector ministries to identify priority sovereign interventions.
• Ensure appropriate geographic and sector diversification consistent with Board-approved strategic priorities.

2. Project Origination, Appraisal & Quality Assurance

• Oversee sovereign project identification and concept review processes through structured quality-at-entry frameworks.
• Ensure comprehensive appraisal covering:
  • Economic rate of return (ERR) and financial analysis
  • Debt sustainability considerations
  • Environmental & Social Safeguards (ESS) compliance
  • Procurement readiness
  • Institutional capacity assessment
• Chair or oversee internal Operations Committees to ensure readiness prior to submission to Executive Management and Board approval.
• Ensure that all projects meet international MDB quality assurance standards prior to Board presentation.

3. Sovereign Financing Structuring & Fiduciary Integrity

• Coordinate with Treasury/Financial Management on:
  • Pricing frameworks and interest rate determination
  • Concessionally levels (where applicable)
  • Disbursement mechanisms
  • Loan repayment structures
• Ensure compliance with sovereign lending policies and debt sustainability frameworks.
• Maintain fiduciary oversight over procurement, financial management, and disbursement processes in collaboration with relevant departments.

4. Portfolio Supervision & Implementation Support

• Oversee active portfolio supervision using risk-based monitoring frameworks.
• Monitor disbursement ratios, project performance ratings, and implementation progress.
• Identify problem projects early and lead restructuring, extension, or corrective action processes when necessary.
• Coordinate closely with Regional Offices to ensure effective in-country supervision and government coordination.

5. Development Effectiveness & Results-Based Management

• Ensure full integration of Results-Based Management (RBM) principles into sovereign operations.
• Establish measurable output, outcome, and impact indicators aligned with corporate results frameworks.
• Oversee periodic Implementation Status & Results Reports (ISRs) or equivalent reporting tools.
• Ensure systematic post-completion evaluation and lessons-learned integration.
• Report on the development impact metrics to Executive Management and the Board.

6. Risk Management & Portfolio Quality

• Collaborate with Risk Management to assess:
  • Sovereign credit risk
  • Political and macroeconomic risk
  • Operational and fiduciary risk
  • Environmental and social risk exposure
• Monitor country risk profiles and recommend exposure adjustments when necessary.
• Maintain portfolio quality consistent with MDB benchmarks for non-performing loans (NPLs) and risk ratings.

7. Governance, Safeguards & Compliance

• Ensure operations comply with:
  • Environmental & Social Safeguards policies
  • Procurement guidelines
  • Anti-corruption and integrity frameworks
  • Internal audit and evaluation standards
• Uphold transparency, accountability, and zero tolerance for fraud and corruption.
• Facilitate internal and external reviews, including Independent Evaluation functions.

8. Innovation, Partnerships & Co-Financing

• Promote co-financing arrangements with bilateral and multilateral partners.
• Explore blended finance and innovative financing mechanisms to enhance development impact.
• Strengthen partnerships with regional development institutions and international financial institutions (IFIs).

9. Reporting & Board Engagement

• Prepare high-quality Board documentation for sovereign loan approvals.
• Present operations to Executive Management and Board Committees when required.
• Provide periodic portfolio performance and development effectiveness updates to the Vice President for Operations.

10. Leadership & Departmental Management

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of economists, financial analysts, engineers, and sector specialists.
• Promote technical excellence, accountability, and knowledge sharing.
• Ensure continuous professional development within the department.

Requirements: Qualification and Skill

Education

• Master’s degree (required) in Economics, Development Finance, Public Policy, Finance, Engineering, or related field.
• PhD in a relevant discipline is highly desirable.

Experience

• 15–20 years of progressive experience in sovereign lending, development finance, or public sector investment operations.
• At least 10 years in senior leadership roles within an MDB, IFI, or international development institution.
• Demonstrated experience leading Board-level sovereign loan approvals.
• Strong exposure to Results-Based Management (RBM), Environmental & Social Safeguards (ESS), and fiduciary frameworks.

Technical Competencies

• Sovereign lending operations lifecycle expertise.
• Country strategy and macro-fiscal analysis.
• Economic and financial appraisal of public investments.
• Development effectiveness measurement and RBM.
• Environmental & Social Safeguards oversight.
• Debt sustainability and sovereign risk analysis.
• Strong project management capability.
• Deep knowledge of international economic and social development standards.

Language

• Arabic (Required), English (Required), French (Highly Desirable)

Benefits and Contractual information:

• Permanent Contract
• Willing and able to relocate to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Suitably qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

Closing Date: 09 March 2025

If you wish to apply for the position, please send your CV to Shearidan Pearman at [email protected]

Please visit www.caglobalint.com for more exciting opportunities.

Shearidan Pearman

Recruitment Manager – Banking and Finance | Africa & Middle East

CA Global Finance

CA Global will respond to short-listed candidates only. If you have not had any response in two weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful however your CV will be kept on our database for any other suitable positions.

CA Global Headhunters is an international staffing company with a specific focus on recruitment in Africa. Our extensive, diverse candidate network built up over 10 years comprises the most skilled and experienced candidates. We recruit talent of the highest standards across African sectors, including Mining, Oil & Gas, Engineering, Banking, Finance, Legal, Insurance, Commodities, and Agriculture. As African markets continue to grow and develop, so too does our skill and expertise, ensuring that we deliver the best service to both clients and candidates.

Thanks to our access to global networks and resources, we understand our clients’ cultures, operations, business strategies, and industries. We are always on par with the latest technologies and trends which assist us in sourcing the best talent for clients. Whatever stage of the project lifecycle, we can put forward the right candidates with the right skills.