Economic Development Consultant

BMA; Durban; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private sector drive

Flexible working

Performance-based growth

Collaborative culture

Job summary

BMA in Durban is recruiting a Senior Consultant for its Industrial Development team to shape Africa’s manufacturing future. You will drive cluster development and policy-aligned initiatives across automotive, chemicals, textiles, furniture and more.

Join a high-performance team delivering measurable economic impact through public-private collaboration, with hybrid work from home, office, and client sites.

Qualifications

• Strong Excel and PowerPoint capability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement industrial cluster programmes that strengthen sector competitiveness and value chain collaboration.
• Diagnose complex industrial and economic challenges using rigorous analysis.
• Conduct applied research to inform industrial policy, cluster strategies and investment decisions.
• Facilitate workshops and strategic engagements that align diverse stakeholders around shared priorities.
• Build trusted relationships across industry, government, academia and development institutions.
• Translate complex analysis into clear, practical and compelling recommendations.
• Manage multi-stakeholder projects that deliver measurable economic and developmental impact.
• Develop tools, programmes and interventions that strengthen localisation, innovation, sustainability and competitiveness.

Skills

Excel

PowerPoint

Communication skills

Education

Master’s degree in Economics/Engineering/Commerce

Job description

Durban based | Hybrid (Work from Home + Office + Client Sites)

What's the role?

As a Senior Consultant in BMA’s Industrial Development team, you will help shape the future of manufacturing in Africa.

You will work across:

• Macro – national industrial policy
• Meso – sector strategy and industry platforms

At the heart of this role is cluster development: bringing together business, government, academia and development partners to solve shared challenges, unlock collective opportunities and build globally competitive industries.

You will translate strategy into measurable economic impact, working closely with public and private sector leaders to advance South Africa's reindustrialisation agenda through effective public-private collaboration.

Your work will span sectors including automotive, chemicals, clothing and textiles, furniture, leather, agriculture and advanced manufacturing, applying structured problem-solving, economic and financial analysis, applied research and international best practice.

You’ll join a high-performance team united by purpose: driving growth, competitiveness, and sustainability in South Africa’s industrial economy.

What will you be doing?

• Design and implement industrial cluster programmes that strengthen sector competitiveness and value chain collaboration
• Diagnose complex industrial and economic challenges using rigorous analysis
• Conduct applied research to inform industrial policy, cluster strategies and investment decisions
• Facilitate workshops and strategic engagements that align diverse stakeholders around shared priorities
• Build trusted relationships across industry, government, academia and development institutions
• Translate complex analysis into clear, practical and compelling recommendations
• Manage multi-stakeholder projects that deliver measurable economic and developmental impact
• Develop tools, programmes and interventions that strengthen localisation, innovation, sustainability and competitiveness
• Solve complex, real-world industrial challenges in dynamic and fast-paced environments

What do we do?

We build dignity and opportunity through sustainable, production-led economies, positioning Africa as a globally competitive manufacturing hub.

We partner with:

• Leading firms on value chain and business transformation

Our work spans research, policy, strategy, execution, manufacturing performance improvement, skills development, sustainability, decarbonisation and SME growth.

Who are you?

You are purpose-driven and motivated by manufacturing-led employment creation.

You:

• Believe in the power of collaboration and industrial clusters to solve complex economic challenges
• Think systemically, but stay grounded in operational reality
• Solve complex problems using data and structured thinking
• Prefer delivery over theory
• Are organised, disciplined and proactive
• Communicate with clarity and commercial insight
• Produce high-quality, polished work
• Engage confidently - from factory floor to boardroom
• Are intellectually curious and committed to continuous learning
• Value collaboration and shared success

Requirements

• Master’s degree in a rigorous, analytical discipline (e.g. Economics, Development Economics, Engineering, Geography, Industrial Psychology, Commerce) from a leading university
• 3+ years’ relevant experience (consulting advantageous)
• Strong Excel and PowerPoint capability
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Beneficial:

• Experience within manufacturing sectors

What we offer:

• Private sector drive, social impact – We combine commercial discipline with meaningful industrial development.
• Flexible working – Home, office and client-site balance to support deep work and collaboration.
• Performance-based growth – Discretionary awards and accelerated progression for strong performers.
• Collaborative culture – Structured induction, company-wide alignment rhythms and a genuinely energising team environment.

We look forward to reviewing your application.