Impact Investment Lead

British High Commission Pretoria; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 1 000 000 - 1 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A diplomatic mission in South Africa is seeking an Impact Investment Lead to oversee initiatives in SME investment and job creation. This role involves managing a new impact investment programme, overseeing commercial agricultural projects, and engaging with key stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have an undergraduate qualification in Economics or a similar field, strong communication skills, and extensive experience in managing large, complex projects. This position is critical for strengthening strategic investment relationships between the UK and South Africa.

Qualifications

• Experience of applying project coordination and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to manage and deliver large projects with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Deliver and manage an impact investment programme supporting SMEs.
• Oversee the commercial agriculture programme for job creation.
• Engage external stakeholders to support high-growth firms.
• Develop a narrative on UK support for SMEs and job creation.

Skills

Understanding of SME investment challenges

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Project coordination and risk management

Experience in large complex projects

Team player driven by values

Education

Undergraduate qualification in Economics or related field

Job description

Join to apply for the Impact Investment Lead role at British High Commission Pretoria. The British High Commission in South Africa delivers a portfolio of activities to support the broad-based and inclusive growth needed for poverty reduction in South Africa. Strategic priorities within the Economic Development team include job creation through supporting trade and investment, including with SMEs, improving the business environment and economic reform, driving productivity in key sectors through employment interventions, improving digital access and sustainable urban development. The Impact Investment Lead will head the British High Commission's policy and programming engagement on key impact investment issues working directly with South African government departments, regulators and businesses to provide technical advice, strategic engagement and build productive bilateral relationships in these high-priority areas. The role will also lead the implementation and management of the SME investment programme in South Africa, announced by the Prime Minister in November **** and have oversight of the Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA) programme in South Africa. The role presents a unique opportunity to contribute to advancing the UK‑South Africa relationship on impact investment for development and prosperity, at a time when these issues are of increasing importance. You will work in an agile and flexible way, occasionally providing support in areas outside of your day‑to‑day role. You may be asked to provide short‑term cover to colleagues within the Economic team, take on additional responsibilities or be support during a crisis.

Roles and responsibilities

• Delivering (as Project Responsible Owner – PRO) a new impact investment programme in collaboration with Anglo American's Impact Finance Network, as announced by the Prime Minister in November ****. The programme will provide advisory services supporting SMEs to raise capital as well as a catalytic capital facility. This will require an ability to apply programme management, financial management, procurement, coordination, monitoring, risk management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Oversight of the commercial agriculture programme supporting pre‑commercial farm expansion and job creation, including designing and implementing follow‑on programming.
• Acting as focal point for internal and external communication on programme activities, ensuring programme visibility is properly managed. This will include supporting the organisation and delivery of key visits, related to the implementation and promotion of the relevant projects.
• The post‑holder will be expected to regularly join key meetings and to provide regular updates on the programme's progress.
• Leading engagement with external stakeholders on opportunities to further support high‑growth, high‑potential firms with job creation potential, including with government, the investment community, business development organisations, other development partners, academics and think tanks.
• Standardising/aggregating results measurement for FCDO job creation and investment impact interventions in SA, working with UK based leads and including incorporating international standards.
• Cross‑BHC coordination on support to SMEs and job creation activities: Leading coordination internally on SME investment and job creation, e.g. by working as part of the broader South Africa Economic Development Team and with HQ central teams including PSCMD and the Impact programme, to ensure programme delivery is learning from best practice and is coherent with broader UK objective.
• SME investment and job creation Policy: Work across the British High Commission to help develop, own and promote a collective narrative on UK support to SMEs and its role in driving job creation in South Africa. Monitor and report on South Africa's investment landscape including emerging trends and developments in South Africa's approach to driving economic recovery and growth through these areas. This would include developing and reporting on the priority initiatives being led by the Government of South Africa including the Department of Small Business and DCDT.
• Actively identify and cultivate an impactful network of investment contacts, including with senior interlocutors in national government and the relevant institutions.
• Influence key decision making at national and sub‑national government and in civil society and the private sector—in support of the policy objectives in the area. This will involve building relationships that help to drive forward UK and SA priorities for SME investment and job creation, driving policy shifts through engagement and leveraging the programme and our wider levers to enhance progress.
• Be a credible voice on SME investment priorities and as necessary contribute towards briefings, presentations, reporting and communications.
• Line Management: Provide effective line management of 1xEO, including support to professional development.
• Cross‑cutting and Corporate support: Support in identifying opportunities to expand SME markets and help international (including UK) companies trade with and/or invest into SA, including through close collaboration with the Department for Business and Trade (country‑level team). Priority will be accorded to win‑win opportunity where the relationship with UK companies is mutually beneficial for SA's organisations and economy.

Resources managed

Oversight of the SME investment programme and CASA programme in South Africa, including line management of 1 EO programme manager.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Undergraduate qualification in one of the following fields: Economics, business studies, public policy, social studies and/or development studies or related field.
• Understanding of SME investment challenges and opportunities, and investment policy issues in South Africa.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and relationship skills.
• Experience of supporting the day‑to‑day administration and delivery of large and/or complex projects and programmes, with a good eye for detail.
• Experience of developing and executing programme/project implementation plans.
• Experience of applying project coordination, monitoring, risk management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Supporting the commissioning of work packages or procuring delivery through external implementing partners and contract management.
• Team player, driven by values.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• A minimum of 5+ years of professional experience in at least one of the following areas will be desirable: impact investment, business development, investment facilitation or advisory services.
• Post graduate qualification in one of the following fields: public policy, social studies and/or development studies, economics, business studies or related field.
• Experience of working in an international development context, including managing/working with development programmes, including in South Africa.
• Experience of line management of junior staff.
• Experience of working in or with government in South Africa.
• Experience of working in the private sector or organised civil society in relevant fields (e.g. impact investment or business development).
• Experience at policy, regulatory as well as field level will be considered relevant.

Seniority level: Director

Employment type: Contract

Job function: Project Management and Business Development, International Affairs, International Trade and Development, and Financial Services

Job ID: #J-*****-Ljbffr