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.