About This Opportunity

East Africa's energy and infrastructure landscape is transforming at extraordinary pace. Uganda and Tanzania's oil and gas sectors are emerging onto the global stage; Kenya's geothermal and renewable energy expansion continues to attract international capital; and the pipeline of regional infrastructure projects — ports, rail, power transmission, and digital connectivity — represents a multi-decade financing opportunity. Ecobank's East Africa CIB function is seeking a Relationship Manager to lead coverage of the Oil & Gas and Energy & Infrastructure sectors — two of the most commercially significant verticals in the region.

This is not a generalist banking role. It demands genuine sector expertise — the ability to understand upstream and downstream oil and gas dynamics, power purchase agreement structures, project finance mechanics, and the regulatory environments governing energy investment across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and beyond. The RM's credibility with C-suite clients depends on this depth.

Professionals who develop sector-specialist CIB experience in East Africa's energy markets are building one of the most marketable profiles in African banking — with clear pathways to Head of CIB, Country Head, or sector-focused advisory roles.

JOB PURPOSE

The Relationship Manager operates within the Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) business in a highly competitive and regulated banking environment, with responsibility for managing and growing relationships with large corporate and institutional clients in the Oil & Gas and Energy & Infrastructure sectors. The role is central to the Bank's revenue generation and balance sheet growth objectives and requires close collaboration with internal product partners, risk functions, operations, and Group teams to deliver integrated financial solutions. The position entails regular engagement with senior client executives and key decision makers and requires strong commercial judgment, risk awareness, and adherence to the Bank's credit, compliance, and governance frameworks while supporting sustainable and profitable client relationships across the corporate portfolio.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Client Relationship Management

• Own and manage a portfolio of large corporate clients in the Oil & Gas and Energy & Infrastructure sectors, acting as the primary point of contact and trusted financial advisor.

• Develop and execute account plans for each key client relationship, setting clear revenue and relationship deepening targets.

• Engage regularly with C-suite and senior management of client organisations to understand business needs, identify opportunities, and position Ecobank's full suite of products and services.

• Proactively identify cross-sell opportunities across product areas including trade finance, treasury, cash management, debt financing, and advisory services.

Business Development

• Generate new business by prospecting and converting target clients in the Oil & Gas and Energy & Infrastructure verticals.

• Originate and structure credit facilities, including revolving credit lines, term loans, project finance structures, and trade finance solutions tailored to sector-specific needs.

• Collaborate with product specialists (transaction banking, treasury, DCM, syndications) to develop and deliver integrated client proposals.

• Represent Ecobank at industry events, trade forums, and client roadshows to build market presence and brand visibility.

Credit & Risk Management

• Lead the preparation and presentation of credit applications, ensuring sound analysis of client financials, industry risk, and repayment capacity.

• Monitor credit exposures within the portfolio, identifying early warning signs and escalating emerging issues in line with credit risk policy.

• Ensure compliance with all KYC, AML, and regulatory requirements applicable to clients in the Oil & Gas and Energy sectors.

Revenue & Portfolio Performance

• Drive revenue growth through increased wallet share, new product adoption, and fee-based income generation.

• Monitor portfolio performance against budget targets, maintaining high levels of net interest income (NII), non-funded income (NFI), and return on risk-adjusted capital.

JOB PROFILE

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Engineering, or a related field; MBA or professional finance qualification (CFA, ACCA) is preferred.

• Minimum 5–8 years of experience in corporate banking, investment banking, or energy finance, with direct coverage of Oil & Gas or Infrastructure clients.

• Demonstrated ability to originate, structure, and close complex credit transactions.

• Deep understanding of the East African banking landscape and regulatory environment.

• Knowledge of Oil & Gas sector economics, project structures, and industry risk factors.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong commercial instincts and business development skills.

• Excellent credit analysis and financial modelling capabilities.

• Ability to build and sustain C-suite relationships.

• Strong communication and presentation skills.

• High level of risk awareness, integrity, and compliance orientation.

Applying for This Role

• Sector specialisation is non-negotiable: Applications without direct Oil & Gas or Energy & Infrastructure client coverage experience will not be competitive. Be explicit about your sector exposure.
• Build a pipeline narrative: Prepare a structured summary of transactions you have originated or contributed to closing — deal type, size, your specific role, outcome. This is what the panel will probe.
• ESIA and DFI familiarity: Knowledge of environmental and social impact assessment requirements, DFI co-financing structures, and power sector regulatory frameworks (KERC, UEGCL, TANESCO) will demonstrate genuine sector depth.
• MBA or CFA is preferred: Candidates without a postgraduate qualification should have an exceptionally strong deal track record to compensate.