Project Director / Interim CEO

About the role

The client seeks a senior infrastructure executive to institutionalise a ferry and RoRo terminal project company in Zanzibar, leading it through equity‑close and financial‑close readiness and preparing for permanent operations.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the project to bankability, equity close and financial‑close readiness, coordinating construction preparation and transition to operations.
• Within the first 30 days, assess governance, establish the operating model, organisational structure, staffing plan and reporting procedures.
• Develop and maintain a Financial Close Readiness Register, Conditions Precedent Tracker, Risk Register and stakeholder engagement plan.
• Assess Phase 1A technical compliance, define Phase 1B design roadmap, EPC strategy and procurement packaging.
• Oversee interim operations, O&M strategy, contracts and transition plan, and coordinate lender and grant due‑diligence.

Required profile

• At least 15 years of experience in infrastructure development, with strong PPP concession and project‑finance background.
• Proven experience in lender coordination, EPC procurement and leading integrated technical, commercial and operational workstreams at a project‑company level.
• Preferred experience in ports, ferry terminals or maritime infrastructure, especially in East Africa and DFI‑financed projects.

Required skills

• PPP concessions and project‑finance structuring
• Lender coordination and financial‑close preparation
• EPC procurement and design risk assessment
• Risk register creation and mitigation planning
• Procurement packaging and O&M framework development
• Vessel‑contract structuring and traffic/cargo assumption analysis