Head Rail and Logistics

The Department of Transport (DOT), supported by National Treasury (NT) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa Limited (DBSA) have established the Rail and Logistics PSP Unit for the specific purpose of implementing the PSP Programmes for port and logistics, as mandated by the Minister of Transport. The PSP Unit is governed in terms of a tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between DOT, NT and DBSA. An Oversight Committee (OC), made up of these parties, provides governance oversight of the PSP Programme.

HEAD: RAIL AND LOGISTICS PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION(PSP) UNIT

The Head: PSP Unit will report to the DBSA Group Executive: Programmes and the PSP Oversight Committee.

The Role: Responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight for the PSP Unit, driving the planning, structuring, compilation, and monitoring of PSP initiatives. The role is responsible for the development and implementation of strategies, policies and frameworks that enable meaningful private sector participation for the infrastructure development. This includes managing the end-to-end transaction advisory process, coordinating stakeholder engagement, and ensuring alignment with national development objectives and legal/regulatory requirements.

The job role plays a critical function in building a bankable project pipeline, attracting private investment and driving innovation through sustainable partnerships.

Key Performance Areas Strategic Direction:

Strategic Direction:

• Develop and implement a 3–5-year strategic plan and sustainable operating model for the PSP Unit, ensuring alignment with national and institutional priorities and achieving financial self-sufficiency and operational viability (including revenue generation, cost recovery, and approved governance structures).

Project Identification and Preparation

• Develop and assess a pipeline of viable PSP infrastructure projects (freight and passenger rail) aligned to the transport strategic priorities.

Financial Management

• Maintain cost-effective use of resources and compliance with all financial and procurement regulations.

Stakeholder Management

• Develop a stakeholder engagement strategy that maps out key players and decision-makers and forms strategic partnerships with key rail and logistics sector players.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Define key performance targets for each PSP initiative and monitor performance against milestones.

Risk Management and Governance

• Maintain a comprehensive risk register to ensure all project risks are identified, assessed, monitored and mitigated effectively.

Operations Management

• Develop and maintain operational plans, task tracking systems, and SOPs for the PSP Unit.

People Management

• Provide direction and management to the direct reports to enable the execution of the strategy and manage their portfolios effectively.
• Proactively support the bank’s diversity strategies and initiatives.
• Contribute to building synergies and cooperation across functions internally and externally.

Minimum Requirements

A postgraduate degree in Engineering, Finance, MBA or other related fields. A minimum of 12 years’ experience, 5 years of which must be in management, in a large enterprise in the transport sector, infrastructure development or a related field. A strong career track record of achievement in the medium/large enterprise, with evidence of achievement in transport projects.. Deep understanding of the South African transport sector, including the rail and port systems and networks, regulatory frameworks, and market dynamics.

*NB: refer to the Head: PSP Unit profile on the DBSA Careers website for the expanded requirements.

This is a fixed term contract position, based at the DBSA in Midrand.

Suitable candidates must submit their application through the DBSA Careers site: http://www.dbsa.org/careers

Applications must be submitted by 30 April 2026 no later than 16:30. Regrettably, late applications will not be considered.