The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) is an independent, non-governmental, development and foreign policy think tank, focusing on South Africa and Africa’s international relations. Its goal is to contribute to the achievement of a well-governed, peaceful, economically sustainable, and globally engaged Africa. It has been consistently ranked among the top think tanks in Africa.
The role
SAIIA seeks to appoint a dynamic, self-motivated head of its Economic Diplomacy Programme, who will build on and expand the work SAIIA has been doing in this space, leveraging existing and new networks in Africa and beyond. The Economic Diplomacy Programme aims to support African policy-making in Africa’s regional integration efforts, including the enablers of regional connectivity, macro-economic stability and greater economic inclusion, and in its engagement with the global economic system.
With a solid track record of successful fundraising partnerships and policy and research networks, the successful applicant will drive the programme’s research and fundraising agenda.
The successful candidate will have established expertise in at least one of the following areas: global economic governance, finance and macro-economic policy, South African and regional economic policy, trade and investment, or African economic development. As such, the successful candidate will be expected to undertake innovative and rigorous research and analysis in these areas and oversee and quality control the outputs of the programme.
This position requires strong interpersonal and management skills, particularly the ability to manage a diverse group of researchers in the field and their outputs, the ability to work under pressure and to pay meticulous attention to detail. This position is based in Johannesburg; however, regular regional and international travel is anticipated.
Key roles and responsibilities
- Fundraising for the Economic Diplomacy programme
- Establishing and running innovative research projects
- Ensuring achievement of deliverables and policy impact
- Taking overall responsibility for programme reporting, budgeting, and finances
- Undertaking policy engagement and networking, including with funders
Experience and skills
- A PhD degree is preferred in the relevant field (an economics degree would be an advantage).
- Proven publishing record and expertise in some of the above-mentioned fields
- Five to ten years’ management experience and well-established networks in the aforementioned research areas.
- Ability to comfortably represent SAIIA with different stakeholders local and global, including policy, advocacy and the media; track record of media interactions desired.
- Ability to think strategically in order to execute and articulate the big picture.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
- A proven track record of project fundraising in a think tank or consultancy environment.
- Proficiency in MS Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, MS Project).