Qualifications, Experience and Competencies Required 

• A Postgraduate qualification; preferably with an economic or industrial policy focus.
• A Project Management qualification and at least 5 years of working experience in project management or closely related work.
• Hold a proven track record and skills set in multi-layered programme and project design, planning, management and implementation, ensuring delivery against time, quality and budget/ resource parameters. 
• Possess the appropriate qualifications undertake policy, regulatory and operational programme and project management in a complex environment. 
• Possess appropriate management experience in managing a multi- task/skills, Project Management Unit, supporting public sector programmes and projects. This will require the application – of project design, management and implementation against time, quality and budget resource parameters.
• Be experienced in the management and coordination of inter-departmental teams comprising diverse technical skills and responsibilities.  
• Possess the appropriate communication skills for reporting to and building collaboration with departmental office bearers and senior officials as well as senior representatives from business, labour and communities.   
• An understanding of the cannabis and hemp sector and infant industry development will be an added advantage.  

   Scope of Work 

• The candidate will be required to work in a complex policy, regulatory and operational environment where research, analytical and operational management skills will be required. This will require, inter alia, proactive problem-solving capabilities, self-motivation, a strong work ethic and a willingness to be accountable for individual and team performance management.
• Provide strategic management while managing competing demands and resource constraints. 
• Facilitate collaborative efforts with relevant stakeholders in order to achieve the objectives of the master plan.
• Monitor and control the activities of the master plan
• Contribute to the consolidation of the master plan reports to stakeholders.  
• Champion open communication focused on project execution and speedy resolution of issues. 

Who we are:

Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) is an independent, non-profit, economic research institution based in Pretoria. It was established in 1996 to support economic policy development, with an emphasis on industrial policy, in South Africa and the region. Its areas of focus are trade and inclusive industrial policy, and sustainable development. TIPS’s main objectives are to undertake in-depth economic analyses, especially at the industrial level; to provide quality research as the basis for improving industrial policy as well as broader economic development strategies; and to support an increasingly dynamic and evidence-based discourse on industrial policy and inclusive growth with academics, other researchers and stakeholders. TIPS offers high-quality quantitative and qualitative research, project management, dialogue facilitation, capacity building and knowledge sharing. TIPS undertakes commissioned research, as well as policy papers and think pieces around industrial policy and economic development.

Application details:

Closing date for applications: 26 March 2025

Non-South African applicants should have authority to work in South Africa. The role is expected to be based in Pretoria, with some aspects of delivery to be undertaken virtually. 

To apply, please send a short CV, a cover letter highlighting your interest for the position and how you match the requirements as well as a writing sample via e-mail to jobs@tips.org.za. Note that we will only consider applications with all of these components. Correspondence will be limited to short-listed applicants only.