South Africa Country Lead (FTC)

Job Title - South Africa Country Lead

Contract - Fixed term until 31st March 2025

Hours - Full time (40 hours)

Location - Office based in Johannesburg, with some flexibility on home-based working and significant domestic and overseas travel expected

Salary - 850,000 - 1,000,000 ZAR

IUK Business Connect Global Alliance Africa

In 2019, Innovate UK Business Connect embarked on an exciting six-year project, the Global Alliance Africa, aiming to strengthen a shared innovation ecosystem spanning South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and the UK. The project aligns with the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) objectives by forging strategic partnerships amongst innovation stakeholders to enable more effective knowledge transfer and collaboration for stronger local innovation and business environments, helping to achieve long-term ambitions in inclusive growth and job creation.

Purpose of the role

The South Africa Country Lead is accountable for:

• Leading the country team to ensure the successful and timely delivery of Global Alliance Africa activities in South Africa to achieve their objectives and impacts.
• Working actively within the Global Alliance Africa Management Team to grow the project’s prominence in South Africa as a trusted innovation network aligned to UK government innovation strategies, such as the Innovate UK Plan for Action and the FCDO International Development Strategy.
• Working in effective partnerships with the Global Alliance Africa counterpart teams in Nigeria and Kenya, as well as UK Government and country-level stakeholders in meeting the above objectives.
• Responsible for country-level Global Alliance Africa project KPIs, reporting and financial expenditure.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the country team effectively in managing country-level delivery plan targeting new opportunities and high impact for the Global Alliance Africa in South Africa.
• Work actively as part of the IUK Business Connect Global Alliance Management Team to develop a coherent project strategy and objectives and taking the delivery responsibility in South Africa against defined workplans, intervention mechanisms and outcomes.
• Direct delivery of the Global Alliance Africa interventions in South Africa in line with the agreed Country Level Work Plans.
• Effective financial management including responsibility for forecasting month-to-month to ensure programme remains on budget.
• Identify and lead the high integrity and effective country-level stakeholder engagement and relationships, including with UK Government teams, South African public sector agencies, businesses, funders, investors and other innovation stakeholders.
• Ensure efficient forward planning and budgeting of all activities to be undertaken in South Africa and the timely identification of issues that are delaying or could delay project implementation and develop solutions to address bottlenecks.
• Provide timely country-level quarterly and annual workplans and budgets to the IUK Business Connect Global Alliance Management Team.
• Co-develop and implement effective communication and growth plans for IUK Business Connect Global Alliance in South Africa and across Africa.
• Travel regularly to engage with key stakeholders and partners in South Africa, across the continent and in the UK as required.
• Track implementation of the Global Alliance Africa project logical framework outputs related to activities in South Africa to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation.

Experience

• Technical background in energy, water or net zero, and experience in international development programmes.
• Degree qualified or equivalent in engineering, science, business or policy, with a strong ability in written and verbal communication skills in English and local languages.
• Demonstrable experience in leading a diverse team in a fast-paced, multi-stakeholder programme environment across different sectors and international cultures.
• In-depth understanding of the South Africa and international innovation landscape, ideally cross sectorial, with direct experience in innovation commercialisation, policy implementation, business growth and/or international development.
• Experience and aptitude in building effective engagements and maintaining trusted partnerships with business and public sector stakeholder at all levels, with a good professional profile and network.
• Ideally a Project Management qualification, with direct experience in the delivery major national or international programmes.
• Experience in implementing and leading international donor funded programmes desired.

Skills

• A highly motivated, self-starting and results oriented individual with a strong desire to deliver socioeconomic impacts through equitable partnerships, innovation collaboration and social inclusion.
• Strong leadership capability with the ability to effectively lead and motivate a team working in a complex, inclusive and challenging environment, including the need to effectively balance short and long-term priorities.
• An effective and inclusive inter-personal communicator experienced in engaging and building relationships at all levels in English and local languages.
• Ability to operate autonomously and effectively as a team leader and equally as contributing team member when required.
• Highly numerate and analytical, with the ability to think and plan strategically.
• Able to manage a team and external relationships effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness and ability to undertake regular domestic and international travel.
• High level of IT literacy and organisational skills.

About Innovate UK Business Connect

We connect ideas, people, and communities to drive innovation that changes lives.

Innovation is complex. The journey from idea to market is not straightforward and requires a diverse range of know-how, investment, market knowledge and research. Innovate UK Business Connect exists to connect innovators with new partners and new opportunities beyond their existing thinking - accelerating ambitious ideas into real-world solutions.

The future holds both challenges and opportunities. We are passionate about working with innovative businesses to overcome these challenges and shape the opportunities and solutions that follow.

Our vision is to create a network of innovators so powerful its ideas will change the world.

While business is at the heart of our work, our diverse connections span government, funders, research and the third sector. This unrivalled overview and connectivity enable us to be a trusted guide through a complex global landscape of research, development, and innovation.

Benefits

• This role has a salary of 850,000 - 1,000,000 ZAR pa depending on experience
• Pension
• Life insurance
• Healthcare – reimbursed*
• Internet and mobile – reimbursed*

*up to maximum amount

This role can be on a full time or part time (minimum 3 days per week) basis and will be offered on a fixed term contract ending 31 March 2025.

This advert will close on Friday 27th September, though some circumstances may require us to close earlier, so early application is advised.

First stage interviews will be held w/c 7th October.

Second stage interviews will be held w/c 14th October.

Please apply by submitting a tailored cover letter outlining your suitability with specifics relating to the requirements of the role, and your CV outlining your experience.

LOCATION - Office based in Johannesburg, with some flexibility on home-based working and significant domestic and overseas travel expected. Due to the nature of this role, we are only able to consider applications for full time working. Applicants are invited from South African citizens, who are permanently situated in South Africa, with a clean UK and international travel visa history.

Should you wish to discuss this opportunity further, please contact the Recruitment Team by email to recruitment@iuk.ktn-uk.org.

Innovate UK Business Connect strives to be a diverse and inclusive place where we can all be ourselves. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in the industry: people of colour, LGBTQ+ community, women, disabled people, people of any age or family status. We know that diversity makes us stronger and we strive to create a working environment that is inclusive, and ensures everyone can be heard and valued for their contributions.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or family status, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to removing barriers for individuals with conditions, illnesses or disabilities and we will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the job application or interview process, and in their future role.

If you would like to request any reasonable adjustment, for any part of the recruitment process (including application), please let us know by emailing recruitment@iuk.ktn-uk.org.