Job Description
Economic Development Specialist
Application Deadline: 4 September 2026
Department: Economic Development
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: South Africa
Reporting To: Economic Development Director
Globeleq is a leading developer, owner, and operator of electricity generation in Africa, delivering tailored energy solutions and supporting the region’s energy transition. Since 2002, Globeleq has built a diverse portfolio of independent power plants, currently generating 1,660 MW across 18 power plants, in seven countries, with 665 MW under construction and more than 2,000 MW in development. Globeleq is owned by British International Investment and Norfund, the UK and Norwegian development finance institutions. More details:
www.globeleq.comTo support with the company's growth, we are seeking an Economic Development Specialist who will be 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.
Key Responsibilities
1. 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.
2. 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
3. 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.
4. Coordination 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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 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 2-3 years’ experience in the Economic Development-related field, of which 2 years would ideally be within the South African Renewables Industry
• Demonstrated knowledge of:
o The South African Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Programme
o Enterprise and Socio-Economic Development best practices
o Monitoring and Evaluations systems maintenance
o Media and Public Relations in the context of reputation management
o Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, ideally with isiXhosa and Afrikaans
• Exposure to and knowledge of:
o Microsoft office 365 suite
o Enterprise Resource Management systems
o Visual design best practices
o Web development and online deployment would be an added advantage.
o Sustainable development best practices
• Valid driver’s licence
