AD, Head of Transactions, TMT Sector

Purpose of Job 

The Associate Director, Head of Transactions will have a high commitment to the Bank’s mandate and institutional goals combined with the ability to foster an environment conducive to innovation and strategic thinking for the sector, and provide leadership with a consistent approach towards staff, clients and shareholders.

The role of the Head of Transactions is to support the Team Director of Telecommunications, Media and Technology (“TMT”) in achieving the Team’s annual scorecard objectives and sector strategy goals. The Head of Transactions will supervise the business origination and development of debt and equity transactions and ensure effective implementation of the Team’s project portfolio in coordination with the Corporate Debt portfolio team in line with the Bank’s operational objectives.

Jointly with the Team Director, and Regional Heads the Head will co-lead the Bank’s engagement with large clients, Government authorities and other internal and external stakeholders including country management and Policy teams contributing to setting the Team’s strategy. The role assumes innovation drive in answer to rising sector challenges and leads development of new products and processes to ensure and improve business and transition delivery for the Bank.

Background 

Telecommunications, Media and Technology is at the core of EBRD activities. EBRD aims to maximize the potential of companies in all countries it operates in by addressing their specific needs through tailored financing. Total investments in TMT account for EUR 500-600m annually in over 20 projects across EBRD’s countries of operations.

The team comprises 20 full-time professionals and works with a large number of colleagues in the EBRD Resident Offices.  

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Scorecard delivery: The Head of Transactions supports the Team Director on delivery of the Team’s annual qualitative and quantitative scorecard objectives and meeting the sector strategy goals. May be asked to sign off on behalf of the Team Director including on transactions sign off.
• Strategic Leadership: The role requires strategic leadership in various initiatives for the Team to promote the Strategic Capital Framework (SCF) priorities, in close cooperation with the Regional Heads, on the back of understanding political sensitivities in each country in coordination with relevant Directors/Heads of countries/ROs and Head of the Corporate Sector Advisory.
• Innovation: Lead the development of specific innovative products and processes for the TMT team responding to opportunities and challenges faced by clients, to ensure and improve business and transition delivery for the Bank.
• Collaboration: Lead cross-sectoral collaboration for the TMT team. Proactively foster a culture of learning and exchanging views with external partners and other teams in the EBRD. Develop and maintain close collaboration with senior officials of the respective authorities, IFIs/DFIs, donors and other stakeholders relevant to the sector. Lead engagement with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)  where relevant.
• Policy Dialogue: The role co-leads EBRD policy reform dialogue efforts in coordination with the Corporate Sector Advisory, country and Policy Strategy and Delivery in developing policy and regulatory frameworks that ensure fair and undistorted trade and investment in the sector and optimises operational integration of mainstream financing and advisory activities promoting EBRD’s mandate
• Project Supervision: Supervise a pool of more junior bankers ensuring that they lead the origination, structuring and implementation of TMT investments and complex debt and equity transactions involving multiple counterparties. Lead complex issues in coordination with Country Management, Corporate Debt Portfolio, Equity and other support units, where relevant, to preserve the Bank’s interests. [The Head of Transactions is responsible for signoffs on all Risk Sharing Framework transactions under Service Level Agreement with Risk (unless delegated to Regional Heads). Act as the escalation point for support units in respect of challenges and project issues. 
• Quality Assurance: Ensure that transactions’ due diligence, structure, and related documents are of the highest quality with clear drafting, accurate descriptions and analysis, in line with EBRD's operational principles and lessons learned; as required approve project documentation for submission to and approval by the Bank's committees and the Board (unless delegated to Regional Heads).
• Business Development: Contribute to developing a robust pipeline of projects through business development efforts.
• Team Management: Provide leadership, supervision, development, and management to direct and matrix reports ensuring a high level of performance, engagement, and commitment to the work. Provides guidance and coaching to more junior colleagues. Assist the Team Director in recruitment and in managing the resources of the team where relevant. 
• Banking Matrix: As per the banking matrix adhere to and advocate the agreed principles of Joint Accountability between Regions and Sector Banking through aligned sector coverage to the hub regions, aligned scorecards and joint people management, including performance appraisal, salary and PBC setting, as well as recruitment decisions.​
• Representation: Represent the Bank at high level Government events, flagship conferences and industry events. Represent the TMT Team in the Bank's management approval forums and the Board, in relation to the relevant projects, issues and initiatives as required. Extensive travel to meet counterparts and stakeholders.
• Champion and role model the Bank’s Workplace Behaviours and Competencies, ensuring adherence within the Team so that the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct are exhibited at all times.
• General: Carry out other relevant tasks assigned by Team Director; take leadership on specific initiatives.

Qualifications & Skills / Experience & Knowledge

• Extensive experience with and deep understanding of the TMT sector, its global trends, challenges and financing needs.
• Previous experience in origination and execution of a significant number of complex deals.
• A track record of progressively responsible leadership experience in multicultural setting and a sustained record of achievement.
• Strategic thinking, open to innovation.
• Extensive experience with and deep understanding of the EBRD's mandate (and its implications for the contribution of the work of the Team), Country of operations (COOs) specifics and their development challenges, financing needs, strengths and weaknesses.
• Proven experience of persuasive engagement, ability to influence a range of stakeholders acting as a facilitator and negotiator able to build and maintain effective working relationship, understand different viewpoints and to communicate complex issues succinctly and clearly; not afraid to constructively challenge the conventional wisdom and collaborate with others building trust to move forward the agenda.
• Strong marketing and representation skills; ability to interact as a respected counterpart of business leaders, Government, donor, and IFI. Experience in building credible contacts in political, business and civil society circles.
• Highly developed negotiation skills and ability to identify the trade-offs inherent in any strategic decision.
• Strong general business acumen. Proven skills and track record in autonomous decision-making capacity at a senior level.
• Managerial experience, strong management, leadership, communication, coaching and interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to achieve outstanding performance.
• Strong diplomatic skills and judgement on integrity matters.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English with strong advocacy skills. 

Challenges

• Key challenge is to function as an effective team player with a strategic vision and thought leadership, be a strong manager able to look beyond the immediate constraints and see the bigger picture.
• The Head of Transactions needs to balance the above role with that of developing an effective platform through which they can take responsibility and deliver a wide and constantly changing number of deliverables.
• Ability to innovate.
• Ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment.

What is it like to work at the EBRD? / About EBRD 

Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience! You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, and use your talents to make a real difference to people's lives and help shape the future of the regions we invest in.  

At EBRD, our Values – Inclusiveness, Innovation, Trust, and Responsibility – are at the heart of how we work. We bring these to life through our Workplace Behaviours: listening well and speaking up, collaborating smartly, acting decisively with full commitment, and simplifying to amplify our impact. These principles shape our culture and define our success. We seek individuals who not only share these values but are also committed to embedding them in their daily work, fostering a positive and high-performing environment. 

The EBRD environment provides you with: 

• Varied, stimulating and engaging work that gives you an opportunity to interact with a wide range of experts in the financial, political, public and private sectors across the regions we invest in. 
• A working culture that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity. Our workforce reflects a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, bringing fresh ideas, energy, and innovation and enhancing our ability to serve our clients, shareholders, and counterparties effectively.
• A hybrid workplace that offers flexibility to teams and individuals; that is based on trust, flexibility and connectedness. 
• An environment that places sustainability, equality and digital transformation at the heart of what we do. 
• A workplace that prioritises employee wellbeing and provides a comprehensive suite of competitive benefits. 

Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does.  As such, the EBRD seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment. The EBRD encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of the EBRD member countries to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic background or disability.   

Please note, that due to the high volume of applications received, we regret to inform you that we are unable to provide detailed feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted (for further consideration).