Export & Agency Finance (EAF) Senior Vice President – Frankfurt Branch

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BBVA is a global company with more than 160 years of history that operates in more than 25 countries where we serve more than 80 million customers. We are more than 121,000 professionals working in multidisciplinary teams with profiles as diverse as financiers, legal experts, data scientists, developers, engineers and designers.

BBVA Corporate & Investment Banking is seeking an experienced, high-caliber structured finance leader to serve as Head of Export & Agency Finance (EAF) – Frankfurt Branch within Europe's leading ECA franchise. The unit plays a central role in originating, structuring, executing, and documenting Export Credit Agency (ECA)-backed and agency-supported financing transactions, delivering tailored solutions for cross-border trade, export projects, and infrastructure lending.

About the job:

This position is structured across a two-phase operational progression:

• Phase 1 (Structuring, Execution & Documentation Focus): Serve as the primary execution and legal documentation engine in Frankfurt for ongoing pipeline transactions and cross- border opportunities originated in destination markets. Focus on overseeing end-to-end transaction execution from mandate through to signing and financial close, driving facility agreement negotiations, managing transaction timelines, and coordinating internal and external stakeholders.
• Phase 2 (Origination, Market Expansion, Pipeline Development & Team Leadership): Drive regional business development across DACH (Germany, Switzerland, Austria). Actively  identify and originate ECA-backed and agency financing opportunities across dedicated sectors and client portfolios in coordination with internal stakeholders, contribute directly to business strategy and product innovation, build relationships with corporate clients, sponsors, exporters, and financial institutions, manage post-closing portfolio activities, and recruit, develop the team in EAF Frankfurt Branch in line with the established strategy.
  

Primary regional ECA coverage includes Euler Hermes (Germany), SERV (Switzerland), and OeKB (Austria), with secondary coverage covering Atradius (Netherlands) and KUKE (Poland).

Key Responsibilities

Origination, Client Relationship Management & Business Strategy (Phase 2 Focus):

• Opportunity Identification & Sector Origination: Identify and originate ECA-backed and agency financing opportunities across dedicated sectors and a dedicated portfolio of clients, in close coordination with relevant internal stakeholders.
• Client & Sponsor Coverage: Develop and maintain strong, long-term relationships with corporate clients, sponsors, exporters, and financial institutions across DACH in coordination with the related in-house bankers.
• Business Strategy & Pipeline Development: Contribute actively to overall business strategy, pipeline development, and product innovation to expand BBVA's market share in agency-backed financing.
• Direct Client Pitching & Mandate Acquisition: Pitch financing solutions directly to corporate, financial institution, and sovereign clients, leveraging strong commercial negotiation skills to secure transaction mandates.
• ECA & Agency Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain high-level relationships with key Export Credit Agencies (Euler Hermes, SERV, OeKB, Atradius, KUKE).

Transaction Execution & Milestone Management (Phase 1 Priority):

• End-to-End Execution Leadership: Oversee the execution of ECA-backed financings (buyer credits, supplier credits, guarantees, ECA insurance) from mandate through to signing and financial close.
• Timeline & Critical Milestones: Manage transaction timelines, critical milestones, and workstreams to drive efficient and timely deal delivery.
• Internal Stakeholder Governance: Coordinate internal stakeholders (risk, credit committees, legal, compliance, and syndications) to ensure timely approvals and full alignment with bank risk parameters and regulatory standards.
• Destination Market Deal Execution: Function as the technical execution and documentation hub in Frankfurt for cross-border export finance deals originated in destination markets by global BBVA desks.

Documentation & Facility Agreement Negotiations (within Phase 1 Priority):

• Facility Agreement Negotiations: Lead the negotiation of facility agreements, term sheets, and related complex finance documentation, ensuring terms accurately reflect approved credit conditions and risk requirements.
• External Coordination: Coordinate closely with external counsel, borrowers, ECAs, and participating lenders throughout the documentation process.
• Funding & CP Oversight: Oversee conditions precedent (CP) management, legal completion, and initial funding processes.
• Post-Closing Activities: Support and manage post-closing portfolio modifications, including amendments, waivers, extensions, and refinancings.

Candidate Profile & Requirements

• Origination & Relationship Management: Proven track record identifying and originating ECA-backed opportunities across dedicated sectors, managing relationships with corporate clients, sponsors, exporters, and financial institutions, and contributing to business strategy and pipeline development.
• Direct Client Pitching & Mandate Acquisition: Proven experience pitching financing solutions directly to corporate, financial institution, and sovereign clients, backed by strong commercial negotiation skills and a track record of securing transaction mandates.
• Professional Experience: 8-10+ years of structured export finance, project finance experience within an international CIB platform.
• Execution & Documentation Track Record: Proven expertise in handling complex ECA transactions from mandate through signing and financial close, leading facility agreement negotiations, and coordinating external counsel, borrowers, ECAs, and  participating lenders.
• Post-Closing & Governance Capabilities: Hands-on experience managing conditions precedent, funding processes, credit memo preparation, term sheet negotiations, and post-closing activities (amendments, waivers, refinancings).
• ECA & Agency Knowledge: In-depth working knowledge of ECA structures, products, and insurance policies, specifically regarding Euler Hermes, SERV,
  OeKB, Atradius, KUKE.
• Languages: Fluent in English and German (professional business level, written and spoken). Spanish is an asset.

Skills:

Business Negotiations, Deal Execution, Relationship Management, Structuring