Senior ESD & Third-Party Funds Specialist

Listing reference: nef_000164

Listing status: Under Review

Apply by: 21 April 2026

Contract: Permanent

Remuneration: Market Related

EE position: Yes

To lead the mobilisation, structuring and oversight of Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) and third party funding initiatives. The role focuses on building co funding partnerships, securing capital, and ensuring effective deployment of funds to support black owned SMEs in line with the NEF mandate and B BBEE Codes of Good Practice. The incumbent will play a key role in driving transformational empowerment outcomes across priority sectors and groups, including women, youth, rural and township enterprises.

• Conceptualise and design fund mandates and ESD Programmes tailored to specific sector requirements (e.g. Tourism, Green Economy, Agriculture)
• Develop, execute and maintain a capital-raising strategy targeting DFIs, commercial banks, corporates (ESD/CSI/supplier development), private equity funds, and donor agencies.
• Identify, engage, and convert funding opportunities into structured fund agreements aligned to NEF's investment philosophy.
• Develop bankable proposals, investment cases and financial models to support fundraising.
• Lead negotiations on terms, ensuring alignment with NEF impact metrics, pricing models, risk appetite, and compliance framework.
• Support internal investment teams through joint assessments, pipeline matching, and fund aligned credit structuring.
• Monitor utilisation, performance, disbursements, and return outcomes across all third party funds.
• Provide portfolio reporting to funders, internal committees, auditors, and governance structures.

• Identify key Stakeholders in priority sectors and develop a pipeline a of potential measured entities to the NEF ESD Fund.
• Ensure all managed funds and investments comply with the B BEE Act and the coded of good practice-
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with DFIs, banks, corporates, government departments, industry bodies, and investors.
• Manage partner expectations, ensure contractual compliance, and oversee regular engagement platforms (reviews, steering committees, etc.).
• Represent NEF at industry forums, conferences, funder roadshows, and ESD platforms to build market visibility.
• Coordinate cross functional collaboration with Legal, Risk, Investment Divisions, Compliance, Finance, and Marketing.
• Structure and manage ESD programmes in line with B B-BEE Codes, corporate contributors' requirements, and NEF impact objectives.
• Oversee pipeline sourcing, beneficiary screening, due diligence, and project deployment.
• Develop ESD partnership models that strengthen supply chains, create jobs, support localisation and industrialisation, and expand market access for black owned businesses.
• Ensure programme reporting, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), governance, and impact tracking.

• Deliver quarterly and annual performance reports per funder, including financial, developmental and portfolio indicators.
• Track capital raised, funds deployed, impact outcomes, and financial returns.
• Support audit processes, compliance reviews, and due diligence from external partners.
• Maintain accurate and up to date documentation
• Track tenures of all agreements due for renewal for further extension or closure
• Provide supervisory support to the Third-Party Funds unit and guide team members on fundraising tools, modelling, and partnership management.
• Lead the development and timely submission of fund proposals, ESD plans, and partnership presentations.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and service excellence within the team.
• Ensure timeous submission of quarterly reports to all relevant committees.

• Minimum 5-7 years in corporate finance, investment banking, development finance, capital raising, or fund management.
• Proven track record in fundraising, co funding structuring, or ESD fund management.
• Strong financial modelling ability (corporate/project/structured finance).
• Deep knowledge of the B B BEE Act, Codes of Good Practice, Sector Charters, PPPFA, and ESD frameworks.
• Strong negotiation, stakeholder management, presentation, and proposal writing skills.
• Ability to work in multicultural, high pressure, fast moving environments.

• Bachelor's degree in finance, Economics, Accounting, Development Finance, or related field.

• Risk Analysis & Mitigation
• ESD Frameworks & B-BBEE Compliance
• Capital Markets & Fund Structuring
• Strategic Planning & Data Analysis
• Strategic Thinking
• Stakeholder Influence & Relationship Management
• Decisive Execution
• Communication & Engagement
• Innovation & Change Leadership
• Results Orientation
• Analytical Problem Solving

• A visionary team player
• High resilience and adaptability
• Strong ethical conduct and confidentiality
• Attention to detail with system level thinking
• Professional maturity and interpersonal tact
• Self starter; comfortable working independently and collaboratively