Work as an Economic Development Specialist at Globeleq South Africa

Work as an Economic Development Specialist at Globeleq South Africa

Job Context

For more than 20 years, Globeleq has been a long-term investor, developer, owner and operator of diversified power projects in Africa, where the company is one of the largest Independent Power Producers. With nearly 1500MW of generation capacity in operation across 14 power plants in 6 countries, 760MW in construction or near operation and >2000MW in development, Globeleq is one of the largest independent power producers solely focused in Africa. Globeleq is 70% owned by British International Investment and 30% by Norfund, the development finance institutions of the UK and Norway, and has a proven track record for supporting the ongoing development of the African power sector.   

Globeleq’s various generation technologies include gas, wind, solar PV, battery energy storage (BESS), and geothermal sources. The company is also actively pursuing new opportunities which are emerging from the energy transition, including desalination projects powered by renewables, as well as green hydrogen and ammonia projects. 

The Economic Development Specialist is 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. 

The Economic Development Specialist is responsible for stakeholder engagement at local and provincial level in respect of the allocated sites. This includes coordinating and monitoring performance of reputation management activities. 

This role requires frequent travel to various plant sites. 

Key Responsibilities

Conducting community needs’ assessments and mapping of community assets:

• 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

Identification and structuring of Socio-Economic and Enterprise Development projects:

• 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 

Implementation:  monitoring and evaluation of SED and ED projects:

• 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

Co-ordination 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 

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 

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

Monitoring of Reputation Management Programme (RMP) for relevant plants:

• 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, Knowledge and Expertise

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong project management skills        
• 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 a National Diploma in Social Sciences and/or Development studies or equivalent NQF level
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in Economic Development related field of which 1 year would ideally be within South African Renewables Industry
• Demonstrated knowledge of:

1.  The South African Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Programme
2.  Enterprise and Socio-Economic Development best practices
3.  Monitoring and Evaluations systems maintenance
4.  Media and Public Relations in the context of reputation management
5.  Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, ideally with isiXhosa, Sepedi and Afrikaans    

• Exposure to and knowledge of: 

1.  Microsoft office 365 suite
2.  Enterprise Resource Management systems 
3.  Visual design best practices 
4.  Web development and online deployment would be an added advantage
5.  Sustainable development best practices      

• Valid driver’s licence

About Globeleq

Globeleq develops, owns and operates power plants utilising various technologies across the African continent. With many years of international industry experience, the support of committed shareholders, and long-standing project, technology, finance and government partnerships, Globeleq has the financial strength, management and operational expertise to power Africa to realise its potential.

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