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 Fund’s commitment to fostering economic growth and development through enhanced trade finance solutions. The Head of Sovereign Trade Finance is instrumental in shaping the Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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