Economic Development Associate at Maletchaba Human Capital

About the position

We are looking for a candidate to join as an Economic Development specialist in a rapidly growing Infrastructure Investment, Asset Management and Advisory team. This position will be based in Johannesburg, but might involve some short term travel from time to time, and fills an integral role that involves working closely with the rest of the investment, asset management and advisory team to execute a wide variety of challenging and exciting engagements related to the planning, development, delivery and operations of major economic and social infrastructure projects.

Key responsibilities will include:
- Analyse and document the potential economic rationale for implementing programmes and projects;
- Identifies and quantifies the economic consequences of all financial flows and other impacts on a programme or project;
- Details the calculation of opportunity costs of all inputs and outputs, including on foreign exchange, marginal cost of public funds; opportunity cost of public funds; low, medium and highly skilled labour; skills development of labour; tradable and non-tradable inputs and outputs;
- Develops economic impact financial models that measure the impact on gross domestic product, corporate revenues, corporate projects, investments, imports, exports, personal wages, jobs, etc, using various input-output models (I/O models) and econometric and general equilibrium models;
- Provides a breakdown of economic costs and benefits of projects into financial costs and benefits, and various externalities;
- Designs, manages and coordinates the planning and implementation of various Economic Development Programmes including employment creation strategies; skills development strategies; healthcare optimisation; localisation and industrialisation strategies;
- Understands and incorporates policy prescripts in relation to South Africa's economic development framework in planning internal programmes, including an understanding of the Native Land Act (1913); Group Areas Act (1950); Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP); Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) Strategy; Employment Equity Act (1998); Skills Development Act (1998); National Skills Development Strategy (2001); BEE Act (2003); Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (ASGISA); Codes of Good Practice; etc.
-Meets with various representatives and community officials to determine needs and goals for overall growth and development of plans, support activities and programmes;
- Suggests changes to existing economic development policies;
- Keeps abreast of legislative developments which may impact economic development programs, policies and/or procedures and implements approved follow-up action;
- Identifies and mobilises funding for the implementation of economic development programmes;
- Develops strategies for the implementation of economic activities, schedules and guidelines;
- Monitors economic development programmes and expenditures ensuring programmes are implemented within the established limits;
- Provides information on economic development programmes;
- Provide high quality economic development advice to the various project teams to ensure economic development is maximised;
- Engage and manage external economic development consultants;
- Liaise and lead in negotiations with third parties and their advisers on matters connected with the various projects.
- Such other duties that may be required from time to time within the general scope of the position. The role description should develop along with the changing demands of the project objectives and priorities.

To qualify for the role, you must have:
B.Com Economics; Economic Development; Accounting; Statistics & Data Science; Bachelor of Business Administration;
- Preferably a post graduate in Development studies or Development Finance;
- Minimum 5 years professional working experience in similar position.
- Strong experience in advising and running economic development projects;
- Experience and/or knowledge of government policy and policy-making as it relates to economic development;
- Strong commercial knowledge on energy matters.
- Relevant experience in economic development;
- Has strong knowledge of the South African economic development regulatory environment
- Strong written and verbal communication/presentation skills
- Team oriented, collaborative, respectful, positive, flexible style and a strong work ethic
- Strong leadership skills, particularly communication, adaptability, decisiveness and positivity

Desired Skills:

• understanding of the Native Land Act (1913)
• Group Areas Act (1950)
• Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP)
• Growth
• Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) Strategy
• Employment Equity Act (1998)
• Skills Development Act (1998)
• National Skills Development Strategy (2001)
• BEE Act (2003)
• Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (ASGISA)
• Codes of Good Practice