Company: The OPEC Fund for InternationalDevelopmentDepartment/Unit:Date of Issuance:Deadline of Applications:Required Languages:Contract Type:Grade:Job Category:Recruitment Status:Contract Duration:Public Sector Operations / Sovereign Trade Finance FunctionJuly 22, 2025August 21, 2025Fixed Term ContractManagementH1InternationalTwo-year fixed term appointment, with the possibility ofrenewal.Job Profile:The Head of Sovereign Trade Finance will lead the newlyestablished Sovereign Trade Finance Function, focusing onsovereign-guaranteed trade finance operations, includingimport-export financing, structured commodity finance, andrisk-sharing arrangements. The role requires developing andmaintaining strong relationships with clients and partners,business origination and transaction preparation, oversight duringimplementation, managing teams, and innovation.The Head of Sovereign Trade Finance Function will lead a team ofprofessionals who contribute to, and eventually take ownership of,implementing selected and innovative sovereign-guaranteed tradefinance operations across various regions. The role includes directcontributions to internal and external dialogue, and supportrelated to policy and institutional frameworks. Additionally, theHead of Sovereign Trade Finance Function plays an active role incontributing to knowledge sharing activities across the Fund.This role is pivotal in advancing the OPEC Fund's commitment tofostering economic growth and development through enhanced tradefinance solutions. The Head of Sovereign Trade Finance isinstrumental in shaping the Fund's trade finance agenda andexpanding its impact across partner countries.Duties and Responsibilities:Strategic LeadershipLead the origination, design, execution and implementation ofsovereign-guaranteed trade finance operations strategy and businessplan within the Public Sector Operations department, in alignmentwith the OPEC Fund's mission to support socioeconomicdevelopment.Oversee the design and execution of sovereign-guaranteed tradefinance operations, ensuring they meet the evolving needs ofclients and market dynamics.Align sovereign-guaranteed trade finance operations with theFund's current and future action plans.Contribute to policy discussions and institutional arrangementsthat support trade finance initiatives.Country and Client Relationship ManagementManage relationships with eligible counties, coordinating andundertaking high-level visits and meetingsCoordinate with the relevant departments on the developing ofCountry Partnership Strategies (CPSs) and Framework Agreements(FAs) to guide trade solutionsMarket trade finance instruments to sector players in eligiblecountriesKeep abreast of the latest economic, political, social, andregulatory developments affecting the business environment ineligible countriesDevelop annual plans and engage in high-level negotiations withkey countries/clientsPartnership DevelopmentEstablish and maintain relationships with governmentcounterparts, development finance institutions, commercial banks,and other relevant strategic partners.Collaborate with partners to develop co-financing andrisk-sharing arrangements.Represent the OPEC Fund in international forums and conferencesto promote its trade finance initiatives and ensure the Fund'svisibility as a strategic partner in internationaldevelopment.Business Origination and Pipeline ManagementLead the origination of sovereign-guaranteed trade financeoperations, including import-export financing, structured commodityfinance, supply chain support, and risk-sharing programsLead the development of a pipeline and oversee the developmentof concept proposals for potential sovereign-guaranteed tradefinance operations, and monitor progress against operational plantargetsPromote trade finance products through marketing missions andnetworkingDeal Structuring, Approval Processing, andImplementationOversee the due diligence process and the development of creditmemoranda (CM) for operations and coordinate with the relevantdepartments, where applicable, to obtain required inputs for acomprehensive CM to be submitted to the relevant committees forapprovalEnsure deals are structured in compliance with OPEC Fund'spolicies, rules and guidelinesCoordinate with relevant departments for successfulimplementation and timely disbursement of approved operationsOperational Portfolio Management and Follow-upEnsure compliance with internal policies, internationalstandards, and regulatory requirements across all trade financeactivitiesSupport regular client calls and close monitoring to ensuretimely repayment and resolve past due in coordination with relevantdepartmentsEnsure high customer satisfaction by providing goodrelationship management throughout the deal cycle (i.e., before,during, and after the operation approval)Integrated Trade Solutions and Cross-SellingPromote integrated trade solutions and cross-sell OPEC Fund'sproducts in various marketsIdentify opportunities for trade development solutions.Advise business partners on OPEC Fund's trade finance designedfor trade promotion and facilitation.Lead and mentor a team of trade finance professionals,fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.Oversee talent development, performance management, andcapacity building within the team.Promote knowledge sharing and collaboration across departmentsto enhance operational efficiency.Innovation and DigitalizationPromote the adoption of digital tools and platforms to improveefficiency and transparency in trade finance operations.Drive process improvements and support the digitization ofworkflows, monitoring, and risk management systems to ensure theFund remains at the forefront of innovation.Qualifications and Experience:Master's degree in Economics, Finance or a (closely) relatedfield.A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience,including at least seven (7) years of progressive experience intrade finance. Preferably, five (5) of those years should have beengained at an international development institution or internationalcommercial bank engaged in trade finance.Proven track record in managing complex trade financeoperations and developing strategic partnershipsStrong understanding of international trade financeinstruments, risk mitigation techniques, and regulatoryframeworksExcellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagementskillsStrong communication skills with the ability to represent theOPEC Fund externally at all levelsFluent in English. Good working knowledge of Arabic, French orSpanish is an added advantage.Communication - The ability to relay ideas,information and messages effectively and succinctly to a variety ofaudiences.Leadership & People Management - Theability to guide and empower team members effectively; cultivate apositive work climate; delegate tasks skillfully and nurture teammembers' growth.Results Orientation - The ability to setambitious targets for self and the team; drive progress towardobjectives; initiate actions to achieve desired outcome,Creativity, Initiative & Innovation - Theability to nurture novel concepts and inventive approaches; takecalculated risks to foster innovation; identify chances for processenhancements and expansion.Trustworthiness, Ethics & Governance -Theability to act with integrity and transparency; safeguardconfidentiality; demonstrate ethical decision-making andinteractions; to adhere to organizational regulations and ethicalbenchmarks, foster a culture of compliance and strong governance;ensure team members understand and adhere to protocols.Business Alignment - The ability to align teamobjectives and undertakings with broader organizational aims; makedecisions contributing to the organization's strategicdirection.Click the button below to visit the original announcement on the recruiting organization's website.
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