- Location
- South Africa
- Department
- IT
- Source
- Pinpoint
Description
Economic Development Specialist
Application Deadline: 4 September 2026
Department: Economic Development
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: South Africa
Reporting To: Economic Development Director
Description
To support with the company's growth, we are seeking an Economic Development Specialist who will be responsible for the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the socio-economic development (SED) and enterprise development (EnD) strategies and plans for allocated renewable energy sites. These strategies should achieve maximum development impact for the minimum overhead spend.
Key Responsibilities
- Identification of key community stakeholders and role players in the development space
- Identification and documentation of community assets that would be critical in the implementation of development projects.
- Conducting community needs assessment workshops with key role players.
- Producing report on community needs and assets for input in strategy development.
- Identify project opportunities through consultation with relevant stakeholders.
- Conduct beneficiary assessment and selection in partnership with relevant partners.
- Document proposed projects, attaching proposed budget estimates as per Social Procedure 706.
- Present projects for approval by appropriate internal committee
- Ensure proper contracting with partners and service providers; through Memoranda of Understanding; Service Level Agreements; Funding Agreements etc.
- For infrastructure projects, ensure the beneficiaries provide and sign off on the specifications, service providers and implementation plans.
- Ensure that each project is captured on the M&E tool with appropriate KPI’s and monitoring and evaluation schedule.
- Coordinate meetings with all relevant partners to monitor and evaluate project implementation at agreed intervals or milestones.
- Ensure proper exit and sustainability strategy is developed for each of the projects.
- Ensure proper project hand over; and sign off is done for infrastructure projects.
4. Coordination and management of stakeholder mapping and engagement for each plant
- Conduct workshops with internal stakeholders to identify stakeholders.
- Develop maps for each plant with clear engagement plan.
- Review and update stakeholder maps annually
5. Development and maintenance of grievance handling mechanism for each plant
- Establish plant-based tools for reporting, recording and collating grievances.
- Ensure implementation of grievance handling procedure and as per Social Procedure 714
6. Compilation of all ED related reports (ED Plan, Monthly & Quarterly Reports)
- Contribute ED reports to monthly Assets reports.
- Assembling & compilation of the information for ED plan
- Contributing to quarterly reporting to the Department of Energy
- Compilation of Annexure A/B Check Sheet
- Delivery of reports by due date
- Assist with the approval of media releases and communications strategy.
- Monitor month to month plant RMP status (Building/Maintenance/Recovery) to inform consultant activities.
- Updating of RMP status within monthly reports
Skills and Competencies
• Good interpersonal skills to liaise with a variety of stakeholders and service providers.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; in particular, presentation skills at all levels
• Ability to thrive in an unpredictable environment.
• Creative and innovative thinking
• Strong skills within excel and other MS Office platforms.
• Strong multi-disciplinary business administrative skills
• Cross functional teamwork competencies
• High level of integrity
• High attention to detail
Experience, Knowledge and Qualifications
• Minimum of 2-3 years’ experience in the Economic Development-related field, of which 2 years would ideally be within the South African Renewables Industry
• Demonstrated knowledge of:
o The South African Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Programme
o Enterprise and Socio-Economic Development best practices
o Monitoring and Evaluations systems maintenance
o Media and Public Relations in the context of reputation management
o Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, ideally with isiXhosa and Afrikaans
• Exposure to and knowledge of:
o Microsoft office 365 suite
o Enterprise Resource Management systems
o Visual design best practices
o Web development and online deployment would be an added advantage.
o Sustainable development best practices
• Valid driver’s licence