Job Summary
Overview:
Responsible for leading economic development coordination and sector support at a regional office level. The role entails activities relating to:
- Identification of economic development opportunities;
- Undertaking of/or facilitation of project/programme feasibility assessments;
- Designing and structuring of economic development interventions;
- Identification and empowerment of beneficiary participants and stakeholders;
- Development of appropriate project/programme funding model,
- Facilitation of funding including resource mobilisation;
- Leveraging of third party and partner resource contribution;
- Directing and monitoring of the implementation of regionally designated economic development programmes/projects;
- Fepresenting the Entity in relevant economic development and sector support forums including District Development Model based structures/forums; and
- Management of stakeholders and partners relating to the economic development space.
- The economic development function involves activation and support of high potential industry value chains clusters and sectors.
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor's Degree in Commerce or Development Studies
- 8+ years work experience in an economic or development management environment
- 5+ years in a management, supervisory or consultancy level.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Planning and Governance
- Provide input to the organisational strategy, as well as reviewing organisational activities and recommend corrective actions if necessary.
- Develop unit operational plans and align all activities undertaken in the unit to ensure delivery of corporate objectives.
- Enhance and implement treasury systems, processes, procedures, tools, and control systems.
- Implement controls within the section which minimize potential risk to stakeholders.
- Ensure monthly, quarterly, and annual reports are prepared accurately, maintained, and submitted timeously to all stakeholders.
- Participate in management forums within the entity contributing expertise to enable sound decision making.
- Facilitate inter-departmental communication through appropriate structures and systems.
- Manage preparation and support of all internal and external audits.
- Develop and manage relationships with all internal and external stakeholders.
Economic Development Coordination for Eastern Cape
- Develop Project Concept documents, and present proposed projects for approval by Executives / EXMA / Board.
- Enhance and implement treasury systems, processes, procedures, tools, and control systems.
- Manage and co-ordinate economic development projects for the EC Province and conduct viability assessment studies on each project.
- Strengthen relations with relevant stakeholders for the implementation of the identified projects, and secure contracts/SLAs.
- Manage and coordinate Project Steering Committees (PSCs) for the provision of oversight and information-sharing sessions.
Facilitation and Leveraging of development opportunities
- Identify catalytic economic development projects and conduct preliminary viability assessments.
- Develop a viable project pipeline for the regions to create an atmosphere of development and an enhanced production.
- Facilitate and leverage economic development opportunities that are linked to mega/catalytic developments.
- Present project funding proposals to Project Committee for approvals.
- Mobilise for resources, develop and submit funding proposals to various entities to ensure project success.
Economic Sector Support
- Establish strategic relationships with National, Provincial and Local Government.
- Identify opportunities for procurement from the Government Departments and municipalities for strategic sourcing.
- Develop a SMME database in line with Government strategic sourcing priorities.
- Determine support requirements for SMME's i.e. funding, non-financial and capacity requirements (factors of production).
- Facilitate access to market for SMME products as well as linkages with government and municipalities.
Budget Management of Unit
- Manage and control the capital and operational budget of the Unit to ensure effective and efficient functioning within budgetary constraints.
- Evaluate the unit’s performance against the approved budget and addressing deviations/variances.
- Monitor, recommend and implement corrective measures to rectify deviations/acts contrary to budgetary provisions, financial regulations, audit requirements and departmental procedures.
- Authorise requisitions, payments, etc. regarding expenditure as delegated, and prepare budget transfer requests and submit for approval.
- Prepare and present reports detailing the status of expenditure and availability of funds for current and short-term interventions.
- Sound planning and forecasting of capital expenditure within area of responsibility
Customer and Stakeholder Management
- Conduct stakeholder mapping and relationship building sessions for purposes of establishing expectations and feedback on regional performance.
- Manage internal / external stakeholder engagements to inform economic development planning and project implementation approaches and manage expectations.
- Gauge the performance of projects and recommend areas that need improvement and changes to achieve the expected outcomes.
- Prepare and report on performance against targets, explain variances and propose corrective measures.
- Present Economic Development Plans to Stakeholders to encourage inclusivity and invite progressive inputs for the benefit of all.
- Communicate sub-unit operational plans and strategy to relevant stakeholders.