About the Position

Launched in 2019, DFC continues to strategically grow, including its expanded overseas footprint of U.S. government employees and contracted advisors. Latin America is a strategic region for the DFC, and there is potential to increase private investment in the region by facilitating the establishment, execution, and monitoring of high-quality transactions across DFC priority sectors (i.e., energy, infrastructure, critical minerals, health, agriculture, and financial services). The Contractor will be an integral part of DFC's efforts to expand its portfolio of transactions in the region and mobilize private capital towards high-quality deals with strong development impact. 

This position falls under DFCs Office of the Chief Operating Officer (OCOO). OCOO is a key part of DFC's role in supporting sustainable economic growth, health, energy, infrastructure, food and water security, climate change mitigation and resilience in Latin America. Working under the Regional Managing Director (RMD) within OCOO, the contractor assists in sourcing, vetting, and supporting the structuring of transactions across its product offerings – from direct equity to loans, guarantees, political risk insurance, and technical assistance. The contractor shall provide subject matter expertise, consulting, and professional services as needed. Guided by the RMD, the contractor will work closely with investment teams based in Washington, DC and other DFC/inter-agency staff in the region to understand and execute Agency and sector-specific priorities and investment requirements. 

Assignments could be ad hoc, varying by situational need and project. Directions on which tasks to focus on will come from the Regional Managing Director. In general, the contractor will support OCOO in its management of often complex and sensitive finance projects in the region. At this level, the contractor provides critical support to OCOO business development, analysis of commercial and economic issues, supporting DFC when no need for agreements outside of already established parameters is expected. Work is conducted in Latin America/Central America/Carribean and will focus on a broad range of sectors including energy, healthcare, technology, affordable housing, infrastructure, climate finance, nature-based solutions, telecommunications and service industries, water and sanitation, manufacturing, agribusiness, and on-lending to micro finance and banking institutions. 

Responsibilities

Market Research and Analysis; Sourcing potential clients: 25% 

• Lead, organize, and develop market intelligence and analysis on potential clients and other business development leads in DFC's focus sectors (e.g., energy, infrastructure, agriculture, health, and financial services) and cross-sectoral priorities (e.g., climate gender inclusion). 
• Identifies sources of potential information and devises methods and strategies to identify opportunities and challenges in assigned countries and sectors; develop relationships and manage robust communication networks with potential deal leads and other key stakeholders. 
• Identify key potential clients or client groups, associations, industry sectors, regions, and/or target markets on which DFC marketing efforts should focus on line with DFC priorities 

Sourcing and Developing Transactions: Diligence and Underwriting: 60% 

• In close coordination with the Regional Managing Director, perform early-stage analyses of the proposed projects' commercial viability and development impacts. 
• Conduct in-depth analyses of new transaction proposals to determine their financial, technical, economic, legal, and political feasibility, and share recommendations on such analysis with the DFC's Regional Managing director to determine whether the proposals should proceed for additional scrutiny. 
• Work with and modify sponsor-provided financial projections to assess logical model construction and adequacy of business case assumptions for the proposed DFC financing and/or insurance. As necessary, as part of the due diligence process and were requested by DFC officers, creates financial models and conducts sensitivity analyses to test project assumptions and key economic drivers. 
• Consult, as required by DFC, with recognized industry experts on the technical aspects of proposed projects. To that end, obtain information through field visits, correspondence with officials of the host country, private firm representatives, U.S. AID and Embassy personnel and other sources needed to analyze applications for DFC financing assistance. 
• Support DFC negotiations with key interested parties on DFC loan terms, including collateral security and completion support, and policy requirements. Assist and advise DFC in the coordination of project financial plans and co-creditor or re/insurance arrangements with other creditors, such as development banks (including but not limited to IDB and other development finance institutions active in LatAm), IFC, MIGA, U.S. Export-Import Bank, and commercial or investment banking institutions.
• Perform initial financial due diligence of potential transactions, assist in structuring viable financing, and supports DFC's screening, committee, and other approval processes as necessary
• Review proposals submitted for all DFC programs to determine their suitability. In those cases where projects do not qualify for DFC assistance, the contractor refers sponsors to other appropriate entities for assistance.
• Exercise a high level of tact and diplomacy in counseling clients who do not qualify for DFC support. 
• Coordinate with the relevant DFC business lines in Washington, DC, to develop screening memos to present to the appropriate business line
• Work with client to fulfill DFC requirements and complete screening and other application requirements. In coordination with DFC deal teams, work with Credit Policy and Development Policy to support negotiations with key parties on DFC financing terms, including collateral security and completion support, and policy requirements.
• Work with key stakeholders in country to push transactions through screening to commitment, as needed.
• Support DFC in the preparation of recommendations and required papers and correspondence. Supports DFC deal team to present loan proposals to the various DFC approval committees. 
• Support DFC deal teams with reviews and comments on contracts, obtaining appropriate agency clearances and in obtaining investor's signature and fee, where requested. 

Internal and External Stakeholder Engagement: 15% 

• Serve as senior point of contact for DFC in the country, when designated 
• Support business development, sourcing, diligence, and evaluation trips of key DFC personnel in DC and DFC leadership, as is necessary 
• Maintain communication with U.S. and foreign corporations, U.S. and foreign commercial banks, relevant business associations, and development finance institutions as required for research and marketing, as well as due diligence, transaction execution, and post-close monitoring of the regional portfolio 
• Cooperate and collaborate with other DFC managers of business development programs and other initiatives (e.g., policy coordination group) to help assure their successful operation and implementation 
• Participate in regional, industry-specific conferences or functional task forces to provide marketing advice as required. Leverage the U.S. inter-agency to support U.S. and international companies investing in the Northern Triangle Region. Supports visiting DFC executives 

Education And Certification:   

• Master's degree in business studies, international relations, finance, business, economics, political science, or a related field, with an optional CFA. 

Required Qualifications: 

• 3-5 years of experience working in an investment role (as an originator, analyst, underwriter, etc.) 
• Experience with financial modeling and financial statement analysis 
• Local solid networks and years of living and working in South or Central America, with an emphasis on Brazil, Mexico, and likely El Salvador 
• Expert understanding of emerging market venture, debt, growth capital, private equity markets, political risk insurance, and other investment products 
• Expert skill in analyzing business plans for equity and debt investments in emerging markets and the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of prospective company managers in carrying out the proposed business plan 
• Ability to negotiate and structure complex finance agreements 
• Skill in working with key internal and external stakeholders strategically and discreetly 
• Broad and comprehensive knowledge of international business practices 
• Working, often independently or with minimal supervision, on simultaneous projects, in a complex environment, and under deadlines 
• Excellent English and Spanish and/or Portuguese speaking, reading, and writing skills 
• Demonstrated ability to produce written materials that are clear and succinct 
• Delivering customer service and resolving customer queries 

Preferred experience: 

• Evaluating or responding swiftly to requests for financial support from entrepreneurs, personnel, or businesses 
• Experience evaluating and responding to requests to a development finance institution for financial support 
• Broad and comprehensive understanding of development finance and the work of development finance institutions 
• Experience working with USG or DFC as well as other development finance institutions 

Other requirements: 

• The contractor may be required to travel to DFC headquarters in Washington, DC for fingerprinting and to receive a PIV card.