Senior Technical Advisor: SMME Development and Support – Output 2 at GIZ South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini

About the Role

• GIZ is seeking a Senior Technical Advisor: SMME Development and Support – Output 2 for the Career Path Development for Employment (CPD4E) project.
• The CPD4E project supports young people in South Africa to access employment and income-generation opportunities in sectors linked to a sustainable and just transition towards a green economy.
• This role focuses on the demand side of employment creation, with a strong emphasis on SMME development, private sector cooperation, green economy opportunities and pathways that connect skills development to practical job creation.
• You will work with public and private sector partners, business networks, implementation partners and other stakeholders to design and deliver interventions that support enterprise growth, employment promotion and Just Energy Transition opportunities.

What We Are Looking For
This role requires:

• A graduate university qualification in Economics, Business, Education, Engineering with a focus on sustainable energy, or a similar relevant field
• At least 10 years’ relevant working experience
• Strong knowledge of the South African private sector
• Experience working in partnerships with public and private sector stakeholders
• Experience conceptualising and managing partner- and results-oriented consulting assignments
• Familiarity with skills requirements and growth areas in the South African economy
• Knowledge of relevant national policies, including economic, energy and local government policy
• Strong knowledge of gender issues, gender-transformative requirements and related methods
• Experience engaging in multi-stakeholder processes, especially those involving public-private collaboration in the skills development sector
• Strong networking skills and social media experience
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to turn complex deliverables into clear, realistic plans
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team in a structured, methodical manner.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with fluency in English

The following will be advantageous:

• Exposure to the energy value chain
• Knowledge of contracts and tender processes in the public and private sector
• Experience in international development cooperation

What You Will Lead

• You will lead the planning and implementation of Output 2 of the CPD4E project, with a focus on SMME development, employment promotion and private sector cooperation in the context of the Just Energy Transition.

Your work will include:

• Designing and steering interventions that support SMMEs, entrepreneurs and employment-oriented private sector development.
• Strengthening cooperation with South African and German private sector partners, including chambers, associations and business networks.
• Advising partners on employment promotion, enterprise development and green economy opportunities.
• Managing partnerships, contractors, consultants and funding recipients to ensure quality delivery and compliance with technical and commercial standards.
• Supporting cooperation between TVET institutions, local business development organisations and the private sector.
• Developing approaches that help small and micro-enterprise owners strengthen business planning, access market opportunities and connect to supply chains and industry networks.
• Supporting the scaling of existing work approaches and the development of new support programmes.
• Monitoring progress against Output 2 indicators and contributing to impact-oriented reporting and knowledge management.
• Representing the CPD4E project in relevant platforms, meetings and events nationally and internationally.
• Contributing to financial planning, reporting and implementation in line with GIZ standards, rules and procedures.