Head, Sovereign Trade Finance Function
Vacancy Number: 2283
Department/Unit: Public Sector Operations / Sovereign Trade Finance Function
Date of Issuance: July 22, 2025
Deadline of Applications: August 21, 2025
Required Languages: English
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
Grade: Management
Job Category: H1
Recruitment Status: International
Contract Duration: Two-year fixed term appointment, with the possibility of renewal
Job Profile
The Head of Sovereign Trade Finance will lead the newly established Sovereign Trade Finance Function, focusing on sovereign-guaranteed trade finance operations, including import-export financing, structured commodity finance, and risk-sharing arrangements. The role requires developing and maintaining strong relationships with clients and partners, business origination and transaction preparation, oversight during implementation, managing teams, and innovation.
The Head of Sovereign Trade Finance Function will lead a team of professionals who contribute to, and eventually take ownership of, implementing selected and innovative sovereign-guaranteed trade finance operations across various regions. The role includes direct contributions to internal and external dialogue, and support related to policy and institutional frameworks. Additionally, the Head of Sovereign Trade Finance Function plays an active role in contributing to knowledge sharing activities across the Fund.
This role is pivotal in advancing the OPEC Fundโs commitment to fostering economic growth and development through enhanced trade finance solutions. The Head of Sovereign Trade Finance is instrumental in shaping the Fundโs trade finance agenda and expanding its impact across partner countries.
Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
Lead the origination, design, execution and implementation of sovereign-guaranteed trade finance operations strategy and business plan within the Public Sector Operations department, in alignment with the OPEC Fundโs mission to support socioeconomic development.Oversee the design and execution of sovereign-guaranteed trade finance operations, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of clients and market dynamics.Align sovereign-guaranteed trade finance operations with the Fundโs current and future action plans.Contribute to policy discussions and institutional arrangements that support trade finance initiatives.Country and Client Relationship Management
Manage relationships with eligible counties, coordinating and undertaking high-level visits and meetings.Coordinate with the relevant departments on the developing of Country Partnership Strategies (CPSs) and Framework Agreements (FAs) to guide trade solutions.Market trade finance instruments to sector players in eligible countries.Keep abreast of the latest economic, political, social, and regulatory developments affecting the business environment in eligible countries.Develop annual plans and engage in high-level negotiations with key countries/clients.Partnership Development
Establish and maintain relationships with government counterparts, development finance institutions, commercial banks, and other relevant strategic partners.Collaborate with partners to develop co-financing and risk-sharing arrangements.Represent the OPEC Fund in international forums and conferences to promote its trade finance initiatives and ensure the Fundโs visibility as a strategic partner in international development.Business Origination and Pipeline Management
Lead the origination of sovereign-guaranteed trade finance operations, including import-export financing, structured commodity finance, supply chain support, and risk-sharing programs.Lead the development of a pipeline and oversee the development of concept proposals for potential sovereign-guaranteed trade finance operations, and monitor progress against operational plan targets.Promote trade finance products through marketing missions and networking.Deal Structuring, Approval Processing, and Implementation
Oversee the due diligence process and the development of credit memoranda (CM) for operations and coordinate with the relevant departments, where applicable, to obtain required inputs for a comprehensive CM to be submitted to the relevant committees for approval.Ensure deals are structured in compliance with OPEC Fundโs policies, rules and guidelines.Coordinate with relevant departments for successful implementation and timely disbursement of approved operations.Operational Portfolio Management and Follow-up
Ensure compliance with internal policies, international standards, and regulatory requirements across all trade finance activities.Oversee the sovereign-guaranteed trade finance operations portfolio.Support regular client calls and close monitoring to ensure timely repayment and resolve past due in coordination with relevant departments.Ensure high customer satisfaction by providing good relationship management throughout the deal cycle (i.e., before, during, and after the operation approval).Integrated Trade Solutions and Cross-Selling
Promote integrated trade solutions and cross-sell OPEC Fundโs products in various markets.Identify opportunities for trade development solutions.Advise business partners on OPEC Fundโs trade finance designed for trade promotion and facilitation.Team Leadership
Lead and mentor a team of trade finance professionals, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.Oversee talent development, performance management, and capacity building within the team.Promote knowledge sharing and collaboration across departments to enhance operational efficiency.Innovation and Digitalization
Promote the adoption of digital tools and platforms to improve efficiency and transparency in trade finance operations.Drive process improvements and support the digitization of workflows, monitoring, and risk management systems to ensure the Fund remains at the forefront of innovation.Qualifications and Experience
Masterโs degree in Economics, Finance or a (closely) related field. A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience, including at least seven (7) years of progressive experience in trade finance. Preferably, five (5) of those years should have been gained at an international development institution or international commercial bank engaged in trade finance.Proven track record in managing complex trade finance operations and developing strategic partnershipsStrong understanding of international trade finance instruments, risk mitigation techniques, and regulatory frameworksExcellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skillsStrong communication skills with the ability to represent the OPEC Fund externally at all levelsFluent in English. Good working knowledge of Arabic, French or Spanish is an added advantage.Competencies
Communication - The ability to relay ideas, information and messages effectively and succinctly to a variety of audiences.Leadership & People Management - The ability to guide and empower team members effectively; cultivate a positive work climate; delegate tasks skillfully and nurture team members' growth. Results Orientation - The ability to set ambitious targets for self and the team; drive progress toward objectives; initiate actions to achieve desired outcome, Creativity, Initiative & Innovation - The ability to nurture novel concepts and inventive approaches; take calculated risks to foster innovation; identify chances for process enhancements and expansion. Trustworthiness, Ethics & Governance -The ability to act with integrity and transparency; safeguard confidentiality; demonstrate ethical decision-making and interactions; to adhere to organizational regulations and ethical benchmarks, foster a culture of compliance and strong governance; ensure team members understand and adhere to protocols. Business Alignment - The ability to align team objectives and undertakings with broader organizational aims; make decisions contributing to the organization's strategic direction.