British High Commission UK - South Africa Tech Hub Director Jobs in South Africa

British High Commission UK - South Africa Tech Hub Director Jobs in South Africa

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Job Category: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)

Job Subcategory: Economic and Prosperity

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job:

The UK-South Africa Tech Hub is part of a network of six Tech Hubs globally developed by the UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The UK-SA Tech Hub’s role is to support the development of South Africa’s technology ecosystem such that it supports sustainable economic growth and development which create jobs.

While focussed on South Africa, the UK-SA Tech Hub also offers important connections to the UK tech scene and expertise as well as those in other UK Tech Hub partner countries.

The successful candidate will lead a small team of locally-engaged staff, based within the British High Commission, and will be responsible for shaping and delivering the strategy for the Tech Hub for the remainder of the 3 year programme (until March 2025).

The team will support local digital ecosystems in both the commercial hotspots and across more disadvantaged regions of South Africa.

The Tech Hubs partnerships are part of a three-pronged UK government Digital Access Programme (including cyber security and improving digital access).

As such, close collaboration with the other elements of the Programme will be key, working to find synergies and complementary workstreams.

The Hub will have three main aims:

Deliver tailored interventions to cultivate digital skills responding to the needs and opportunities for inclusion in the local tech sector for example promoting opportunities for youth and women in the SA tech sector.

Support tech entrepreneurship through partnerships with local digital ecosystem stakeholders including incubators, accelerators, UK and SA private sector firms, SA government departments and agencies and non-profit organisations.

Facilitate partnerships between local tech firms (including tech start-ups) and international companies (across all sectors) in the form of commercial partnerships or joint ventures.

Advocate for improved regulation to support a flourishing tech sector.

Roles and responsibilities:

The successful applicant will develop and implement the strategy for the South Africa Tech Hub, working with colleagues at DCMS and other departments working in digital access to set the Hub’s overall direction and objectives.

The applicant will be responsible for the Hub’s operations across South Africa, leading on cross departmental projects and developing and maintaining senior relationships with both internal and external contacts and sponsors developing a public and media profile for the Hub’s activities, leading on reporting and working as part of the High Commissioner's team and mission.

Responsibilities will include:

Overall leadership of the Tech Hub, including leading a team of locally-engaged staff, managing the Hub budget and ensuring that Hub operations run smoothly.

Leading the formulation of a strategy for the country, building on the South African context and aligning to broader British High Commission Country Strategy objectives.

Working closely with DCMS central Tech Hub team and other UK government

departments, including the Department for International Trade (DIT) to ensure that strategic priorities are aligned.

Acting as the figurehead and lead point of contact for the Hub for stakeholders in government, (both South African and UK) corporates and start-ups.

Collaborating with the other Hubs in the global network to develop the network offering.

Overseeing the implementation of the Hub monitoring and evaluation framework and providing management, performance and financial updates to senior stakeholders within UK Government.

Initiating and pursuing new strategic partnership opportunities for the Hub, identifying and cultivating new leads, understanding business and innovation needs across all sectors and convincingly present the opportunities for collaboration.

Contributing to the Hubs’ future sustainability by actively seeking new opportunities for execution of the Hub’s mission, and developing revenue streams that will help the Hub to become financially sustainable in the long term.

Devising and implementing a strategy to protect the legacy of the programme once it comes to and end in 2025.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

The post-holder will have direct line management responsibilities for one team member, based in Cape Town.

They will report to the Economic Counsellor, while taking strategic direction from the International Tech Hub Network Team in London. The post-holder will be required to work closely with staff from other government departments, including DIT, as well as the other Tech Hubs.

The UK-SA Tech Hub budget is £340,000 for 2022-23 with similar funding levels envisaged for the last 2 years of the programme.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Significant leadership experience in the technology/digital sector or business development more widely (or a passion for innovation and technology)

Experience of developing strategies in partnership with multiple stakeholders

Well networked within the tech sector (private sector firms and start-ups) Knowledge of, and experience with, the South African business landscape

Track record of leading successful delivery in either industry or government

Good judgement and political understanding

Resilience and adaptability

Proven track record of leading teams to develop and run programs and partnerships-core funding will constitute Official Development Assistance, with legal constraints around how it is spent so an existing understanding of this will be helpful

Willingness to travel within South Africa, and occasionally to travel to the UK and other locations

Required behaviours

Seeing the Big Picture

Changing and Improving

Delivering at Pace

Communicating and Influencing

Working Together


Application deadline: 21 October 2022

Grade: Grade 7 (G7)

Type of Position: Fixed Term

Working hours per week: 36.5 hours

Duration of Post: 24 months

Region: Africa

Country/Territory: South Africa

Location (City): Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria

Type of Post: British High Commission

Number of vacancies: 1

Salary: R 914,588.00 per annum

Start Date: 1 December 2022

End Date: 31 March 2025

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; British High Commission UK - South Africa Tech Hub Director Jobs in South Africa

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