Senior Consultant - Economic Development

Shape the future of manufacturing in Africa by translating industrial strategy into measurable economic impact across macro, meso, and micro levels.

City of Cape Town or Durban (Hybrid) | Salary: R600,000 to R900,000 Annual CTC, based on experience

About Our Client

The company builds dignity and opportunity through sustainable, production-led economies, positioning Africa as a globally competitive manufacturing hub. They partner with leading firms on value chain transformation, governments on smart industrial policy, and industrial clusters on innovative sector-wide development. Their work spans research, policy, manufacturing performance improvement, skills development, and sustainability.

The Role: Senior Consultant - Economic Development

The role exists to diagnose complex industrial and economic challenges and advance South Africa's reindustrialisation agenda through public-private collaboration. It contributes to the business by driving growth, competitiveness, and sustainability across sectors including automotive, chemicals, clothing, furniture, and agri-processing. The main focus areas include national industrial policy, sector strategy, and firm-level competitiveness using rigorous analysis and global best practice.

Key Responsibilities

Apply a Masters degree and 2+ years of relevant experience to shape manufacturing-led employment creation.
Diagnose complex industrial and economic challenges using rigorous analysis and applied research.
Facilitate workshops that align diverse public and private sector stakeholders around action.
Translate complex analysis into clear, compelling recommendations for strategy and policy.
Manage projects to deliver measurable impact on time and within scope.
Develop tools and programmes that strengthen localisation, sustainability, and competitiveness.
Solve real-world problems in dynamic, multi-stakeholder environments.
Use strong Excel and PowerPoint capabilities to produce high-quality, polished work.

About You

Masters degree in a rigorous, analytical discipline (e.g. Economics, Development Economics, Engineering, Geography, Industrial Psychology, Commerce) from a leading university.
Minimum 2+ years of relevant experience.
Strong Excel and PowerPoint capability.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Purpose-driven and motivated by manufacturing-led employment creation with a systemic thinking approach.
Organised, disciplined, and proactive with the ability to solve complex problems using data.
Confident engaging with people from the factory floor to the boardroom.
Collaborative team player committed to continuous learning.
Consulting experience (nice-to-have).
Experience within manufacturing sectors (nice-to-have).