Commercial Associate

Oxford Economics; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

A global research and consulting firm is seeking a Commercial Associate based in Cape Town, South Africa. The role involves developing commercial strategies, engaging with clients, and supporting market research efforts in African regions. Candidates should have a background in economics or business, strong communication skills, and at least 2 years of relevant experience. Proficiency in MS Office and CRM systems is preferred.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years work experience in a similar role is advantageous.
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams and tight deadlines.
• Comfortable working in an international environment.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing and implementing commercial strategies.
• Support pricing and client proposition development.
• Engage with clients to gather feedback for product improvements.

Skills

Business opportunity identification

Client needs understanding

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong communication skills

Analytical capability

Proficiency in MS Office

Commercial acumen

Interest in African markets

Education

Bachelor's degree in Economics, Finance, Business, or related field

Tools

MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce)

Job description

Commercial Associate

Application Deadline: 31 October 2025

Department: Africa Sales

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

Description

Oxford Economics Africa specializes in political and macroeconomic research in Africa. We investigate and interpret the economic and sovereign risk, and political and macroeconomic conditions, of 54 African countries to caution against pitfalls and guide investors towards opportunities.

Oxford Economics Africa has a strong reputation for independence and quality and has a highly qualified team of economists, econometricians, quantitative analysts, political analysts, and editors, who are all experts in their field and have decades of experience in covering Africa.

As a Commercial Associate, you’ll play a pivotal role in driving growth for our Africa portfolio. You will support the commercial strategy, work with stakeholders internally and externally, and help bring our subscription research offerings to market. Please note, this role is based in Paarl.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in developing and implementing commercial strategies for research deliverables tailored for African markets.
• Support pricing, go-to-market, and client proposition development.
• Help manage campaigns and prospect analysis.
• Engage with clients / potential clients to understand their needs, gather feedback, and translate into product improvements.
• Help manage proposals, bids and responses across regions.
• Monitor competitor offerings and product lines.
• Track performance of commercial activities (sales pipelines, conversion rates, revenue contributions) and report on KPIs.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Tertiary education required - bachelor’s degree in economics, Finance, Business, International Relations, or related field will be advantageous, but not essential.
• Demonstrated ability to identify business opportunities, understand client needs, and contribute to revenue growth strategies.
• Minimum 2 years work experience in a similar role will be an advantage.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams (researchers, economists, consultants, sales, and marketing) will be advantageous. Experience engaging with clients, partners, or policymakers is a plus.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex concepts for commercial audiences and tailor messaging to different stakeholders.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) required; familiarity with CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce ) would be a plus.
• Comfort working in an international environment, across time zones and cultural contexts.
• Strong analytical capability.
• Excellent commercial acumen: able to see both the technical side and business value of research / data offerings.
• Experience (or strong interest) in African markets, emerging markets, or comparable high-growth settings.
• Strong communication skills: able to engage with both technical experts and business / client stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams, tight deadlines, and collaborate across teams.
• Proactive, curious, and solution-oriented mindset.

Oxford Economics is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.