Head of Business Development (Asia)
About PIDG
At the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), we get infrastructure finance moving and multiplying – accelerating climate action and sustainable development where most urgently needed. We work with public and private partners to bridge financing gaps, directing capital and expertise into projects that promote climate resilience and sustainable growth. Working throughout the project lifecycle, we reduce financial risk, transform markets, and build local capacity, creating a deep and lasting impact.
We are a group of companies that work together to improve lives throughout south and south-east Asia and Africa. Active since 2002, more than 50% of our investments have been either in countries classified as Least Developed Countries or Fragile and Conflict Affected States. These are the countries where infrastructure gaps are the largest and most urgent and where the population is youngest and growing fastest. These are also the countries that contributed the least to climate change and yet are suffering the worse impacts, in some of the regions with the richest biodiversity left on the planet, which is quickly being depleted.
Building on a pioneering track record of integrating climate and inclusion considerations in infrastructure investment, we launched our 2030 strategy in 2023, which makes action on climate and nature, together with sustainable development through new and improved infrastructure, the central purpose of all we do.
About the role
The role holder will report directly to the Chief Investment and Project Development Officer and lead the Business Development (BD) team for the PIDG Project Development arm, in Asia. This position will be responsible for leading and managing a large team in the region, focusing on originating, developing and investing in both infrastructure projects and early-stage infrastructure companies, and working closely with development partners and co-sponsors to create bankable projects that will mobilise further investment at or after financial close. Given PIDG’s strategy to rapidly scale up the PDA, the Head of BD will also seek opportunities to originate and co-develop with high quality partners, infrastructure development platforms as well as development and investment funds.
As a leader you will be responsible for setting the direction, building commitment, and developing new skills/knowledge within the Asia BD team. A successful Head of BD will drive delivery of Asia’s project development objectives (originating new projects, negotiating robust and defensible structures and (alongside Legal) documentation to protect PIDG’s interest and reputation, closing transactions, developing projects within time and budget to achieve financial close and seeking potential exit opportunities prior to starting construction and/or during operation) whilst also consolidating and expanding the company’s internal co-development capability and establishing PIDG as a market leader in Asian infrastructure development standards.
Given the geographical spread of the PDA, you will also serve as Deputy to the Chief Investment and Project Development Officer. As Deputy you will:
- Provide senior representation of project leadership in Asia vis a vis key stakeholders including high – ranking government officials, top – management of commercial partners, financiers, etc.
- Manage the Asia Regional/Country Managers based in selected markets (including India, Vietnam, Indonesia), acknowledging also the support they will provide to other areas of the PDA Asia (Investment Management and Asset Management and Implementation); and
- Ensure a positive and cohesive culture, promote team spirit – as well as monitoring work ethics - amongst the employees in Asia in the Singapore and other country offices.
Roles & Resposibilities
- Lead origination and development of Asia’s projects to achieve financial close and hand-over to Asset Management and Implementation (and/or exit as the case may be) prior to start of construction or during operation, with direct oversight of its most challenging projects;
- Contribute to and then embed the Group’s strategy within BD;
- Define cohesive plans for the BD team and lead delivery against these to ensure performance targets of the project development arm are met;
- Structure the BD team in an efficient way according to best practices on number of direct reports, enabling effective delegation and coverage of the Asian sectors/regions effectively;
- Approve BD team budgets and spend within defined thresholds and against annual plans;
- Identify skills/knowledge gaps within BD and implement hiring / training / mentoring initiatives to address these;
- Safeguard the health, safety and wellbeing of your direct reports and BD team;
- Set clear objectives for your direct reports and then monitor and manage performance against these throughout the year;
- Represent the project development arm when engaging with senior stakeholders, government bodies and influential financiers;
- Represent project development arm as a director on the boards of SPVs and companies that the company invests in;
- Establish clear processes for the Asia BD team to follow and ensure they have the tools and the technology support to facilitate their day-to-day functions;
- Coordinate with the heads of other functions to meet organizational goals,
- As a member of the senior management team of PDA, the Head of BD (Asia) is responsible for project shortlisting, investment/divestment decision-making and recommendations to the Investment Committee(s),monitoring and oversight of progress of transactions and project development, setting and execution of company strategy and initiatives, and key management decisions.
- Through your Business Development team, you will be held accountable for:
- Developing a strong network of partners, co-developers, fund managers, financiers and others to support the origination and delivery of the project development arm ’s projects across Asia;
- Establishing business intelligence to ensure a robust pipeline for the project development arm’s potential participation.
- Securing and building a good working relationship with internal and external stakeholders;
- Identifying and evaluating new co-development opportunities;
- Structuring and securing all the necessary terms of the company’s involvement in projects and undertaking thorough due diligence;
- Challenging and contributing to project plans and budgets;
- Accurately forecasting, managing and reporting progress against project plans and budgets, including mitigation of any risks to the company;
- Supporting project development activities as required, this could include: reviewing feasibility studies; securing land, obtaining permits and approvals, facilitating negotiation of project documents such as supply agreements, construction contracts, offtake agreements; structuring/securing finance; engaging stakeholders; or monitoring and evaluating impact. For the avoidance of doubt you will guide, support and supervise all key workstreams and activities of the Asia BD team which will include all the classical workstreams of (co-)developing infrastructure projects based on proven past experience and skills stemming from at least 10-15 years of BD experience;
- Managing the company’s sale and/or exit from a project before, at, or after financial close as the case may be;
- On a strategic level support origination, development of partnerships and innovative new platforms;
- Safeguarding the company’s reputation and acting in all circumstances as an ambassador of PIDG.
Qualifications and education requirements
- Have a degree and/or professional qualification in a relevant discipline such as engineering, finance or economics from a reputable university; MBA or other Master’s degree in related discipline is preferred.
Skills and Experience
- Be an experienced leader of successful teams (15 plus years);
- Have an extensive professional network in the ecosystem of private-sector led infrastructure development and investment;
- Minimum of 15 years of experience in investment strategy, business development and corporate decision making in a dynamic and fast paced multinational environment;
- Have a proven track record of developing greenfield infrastructure projects from concept through to financial close (we would expect you to have undertaken a lead role on multiple financially closed projects in Asia);
- Be recognised within the infrastructure market as an experienced developer that operates with integrity and professionalism;
- Strong deal structuring and negotiation skills and a demonstrated understanding of key typical infrastructure development documentation (JDAs, SHAs, EPCs, PPAs,….)
- Have credibly engaged and negotiated with governments within Asia;
- Have built strong partnerships with both private and public-sector financing organisations.
Interested applicants, please send your detailed, updated resume to [email protected]. All applications will be treated with strictest confidence. We regret that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
