View Vacancy - Economics and Business Environment Officer (83/19 PTA)

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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Chancery

Main purpose of job:

This is a high profile policy position working on economics and business environment issues at the British High Commission. Although based in the Political and Prosperity teams, this is a role with extensive engagement across the High Commission and UK government in London.

Half of your time will be spent providing high-quality analysis and reporting on the South African economy and economic policy, including implications for UK objectives in South Africa. The other half will be working to improve the UK commercial experience in South Africa, by translating your knowledge of the economy and economic issues into accessible advice on the business environment for UK firms and colleagues developing programmes.

You will need to develop strong relationships with UK businesses, understanding their views and concerns to: produce analysis and reporting; craft strategies for using Prosperity Fund resources to address these with the SA Government; and advise our Prosperity Fund programmes delivering economic reform work, on what works best in an economic context, and how that work can benefit UK firms.

The job holder should have a good grasp of the wider South African economic and political context, and the impact of developments in the global economy on South Africa and its impact as an economic actor in the region

Roles and responsibilities:

Economic analysis  

  • Produce regular analysis of macroeconomic developments and their impact on South Africa. Topics typically covered include quarterly GDP releases, sovereign credit rating decisions, budgets, MPC decisions, economic growth, unemployment etc. 
  • Deliver regular analysis on economic policy issues that affect the business environment and the economy. Topics typically covered include legislation, developments in state-owned enterprises such as Eskom, labour relations and other policy developments. You will work closely with policy leads and colleagues in Cape Town and London
  • Lead, alongside the Department for International Development and other colleagues, on the UK-South Africa relationship at various economic focused multilateral institutions such as the G20 and the ILO, alongside feeding into analysis of South Africa’s economic linkages in the region

Business environment

  • Advise the UK Trade Department and British businesses on future growth opportunities, trends, challenges and developments in the South African economy
  • Produce regular analysis about how our internal business environment programmes are supporting economic growth in South Africa and make recommendations for new/adjusted programme interventions
  • Provide economic analysis about how business environment issues are affecting UK firms. Translate knowledge of UK business concerns and the macro-economic context into advice to UK Prosperity Fund (ODA) programmes about our business environment support programmes and their impact on UK businesses
  • Regularly brief UK businesses on economic developments in South Africa and our Prosperity Fund economic reform programmes, in support of their increasing understanding of reforms and programming opportunities

External networks

  • Develop and maintain a network of contacts from South African politics, economics and business sectors. This will include government, industry, academics, trade unions, think-tanks, economists at multilateral organisations such as the IMF and World Bank, and counterparts at other diplomatic missions. Utilise this network in the achievement of the jobholders responsibilities. The jobholder will have the support to be creative in their approach to networking building
  • Build good relationships with key business groupings. Lead a strategy for working with them that includes draws upon the work of teams across the High Commission, Trade Office and British Council 
  • Work with external contacts to research, plan and deliver ad hoc projects and events on the policy areas that the jobholder leads on

Resources managed:

Potential management of project and event funds

  • A university degree with qualifications demonstrating competence in economics (e.g. macro/micro-economics)
  • Strong analysis, drafting and interpersonal skills

Language requirements:

Language: English

Level of language required:Fluent spoken and written English

23 December 2019
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
Africa
South Africa
Pretoria
British High Commission
R45,596.60
6 January 2020

Learning and development opportunities:

The High Commission has an excellent personal development offer and the job would suit a self-starter keen to take advantage of this. They will have the opportunity to develop their skills in economic and political analysis and will get involved in other areas of work such as communications and events. Other development opportunities could potentially include specialist training: the previous jobholder undertook training and attended conferences in London.


The British High Commission pays in full for the Key Care Plus option on Discovery Health for staff including spouses/partners and dependants.

Once you have successfully completed your probation the British High Commission will contribute 9% of your monthly salary to a Provident Fund.

Annual leave entitlement of 25 days.

Working hours per week of 36.5

This role can be based in Johannesburg or Pretoria and will be expected to travel regularly to both cities. We are open to suggestions for flexible working. The job will involve some travel, for example to Cape Town, Durban or maybe London. There is a requirement for external engagements which are occasionally out of hours.

  • Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Pretoria are subject to the Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in South Africa.
  • All applicants must be legally able to work in the country of application with the correct visa/status or work permit.
  • Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
  • Reference and security clearances checks will be conducted.
  • If you don’t already hold a valid SA Police Clearance Certificate, we recommend that you apply for the certificate at the time of your application.
  • Any questions you may have about this position will be answered during the interview, should you be invited.
  • Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework
  • Complete the application form in full as the information provided will be used for screening purposes.
  • Check your application before you submit, as you will not be able to make any changes once submitted.
  • The British High Commission will never ask you to pay a fee or money to apply for a position
Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.