Senior Manager: Invest SA | Gauteng | 5-Year Fixed-Term Contract

Are you an experienced investment facilitation and stakeholder management professional ready to help shape Gauteng's investment environment? This is an opportunity to lead initiatives that improve the ease of doing business, strengthen strategic partnerships and support sustainable economic growth across the province. The Senior Manager: Invest SA will lead the implementation of operational processes that connect investors and businesses with relevant government departments, regulatory bodies and partner organisations. Reporting to the Group Executive: Trade, Investment and Regulatory Enablement, the successful candidate will drive business facilitation, coordinate stakeholder engagement and support the development of an efficient, investor-friendly environment. The role combines strategic execution, public-private collaboration, operational management and people leadership. The successful candidate will establish and maintain partnerships across national, provincial and local government, the private sector, international missions and economic development agencies. They will also oversee operational guidelines, service-level agreements, digital client interface processes, sub-unit budgeting and team performance. The opportunity is with a provincial economic development agency responsible for facilitating inclusive economic growth, sustainable job creation, trade and investment promotion, and the development of key economic sectors within the Gauteng City Region. What You'll Do - Develop and implement operational processes for a one-stop-shop interface between clients and business regulatory departments. - Negotiate and conclude memoranda of understanding, manage service-level agreements, and establish working protocols with government departments, regulatory bodies, municipalities and private sector organisations. - Develop and implement operational guidelines, policies and procedures, including the automation of client and partner processes. - Maintain digital client interface systems and ensure that investor and business enquiries receive responses within agreed timeframes. - Build and maintain strategic relationships with economic development agencies, business advisory firms, consultancies, foreign embassies and trade organisations. - Develop and implement stakeholder engagement plans and a structured stakeholder relationship framework. - Coordinate quarterly stakeholder engagement sessions and ease-of-doing-business discussions involving investors and relevant public and private sector partners. - Manage relationships with national Invest SA stakeholders and support alignment with relevant government investment and economic development priorities. - Facilitate round-table discussions and collaborative initiatives that address investor concerns, strengthen investment partnerships and support investment retention and expansion. - Monitor regulatory developments and advocate for policies that improve the business and investment environment. - Prepare and manage the sub-unit budget, contribute to divisional budgeting and submit regular financial reports. - Lead, coach and supervise team members, manage performance and support recruitment and workforce planning. - Collaborate with other business units, subsidiaries and special economic zones to improve coordination and investor service delivery. What You Bring - A postgraduate degree or NQF Level 8 qualification in commerce, investments or an enterprise-related discipline. - At least five years of management experience in a commerce, investment or enterprise-related environment. - Sound knowledge of the business environment, including key stakeholders, their responsibilities and expected outcomes. - An understanding of foreign and local economic development. - Knowledge of relevant legislation and governance requirements applicable to the organisation, industry and country. - The ability to define, scope, plan and execute projects using recognised project management methodologies. - Strong communication skills and the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all organisational levels. - Experience in stakeholder relationship management, partnership development and cross-organisational collaboration. - The ability to manage operational processes, budgets, team performance and competing priorities. What Success Looks Like - An effective one-stop-shop interface that helps businesses and investors navigate regulatory processes. - Strong working relationships and clear operational protocols with government, regulatory and private sector partners. - Improved coordination, responsiveness and service delivery across the investor support environment. - Consistent stakeholder engagement that identifies barriers to investment and supports practical ease-of-doing-business improvements. - Well-managed operational budgets, clear team accountability and effective collaboration across business units. - Stronger investment partnerships and a more supportive environment for investment retention, expansion and economic development. Employment Details Location: Gauteng, South Africa Employment Type: Five-year fixed-term contract, with three months' probation Job Grade: Paterson D5 Preference will be given to persons with disabilities, women and previously disadvantaged individuals in support of employment equity objectives. If you have the management experience, stakeholder engagement capability and economic development knowledge to help strengthen Gauteng's investment environment, this opportunity offers a platform to contribute to meaningful provincial growth and investor-focused service delivery.