DIRECTOR: SMME & COOPERATIVE SUPPORT REF NO: REFS/057143 Branch:

This senior management position, based at Umnotho House in Johannesburg, sits within the Enterprise and Supplier Development directorate of the Gauteng provincial government. The successful candidate will act as the strategic lead for small, medium and micro enterprise (SMME) and cooperative development across the Gauteng City Region, a role that carries significant responsibility for shaping the province’s economic inclusion agenda. The director is expected to craft and drive a comprehensive SMME development strategy, aligning it with broader provincial economic plans and championing the implementation of the Township Economic Development Act. This involves identifying priority sectors for targeted investment, designing incentive schemes to stimulate entrepreneurship and cooperative formation, and integrating these efforts with local economic development initiatives. A core part of the role is fostering strong linkages between SMMEs, cooperatives and larger value chains, while measuring the economic impact of interventions through job creation, income generation and productivity metrics. The director will also use data analytics to refine strategies and scale successful models.

Beyond strategy, the role demands hands-on leadership in delivering non-financial support services. This includes conducting needs assessments to understand what SMMEs and cooperatives require, building strategic partnerships with government agencies, private sector players and non-profit organisations, and creating a centralised platform for easy access to information and resources. The director will oversee targeted training programmes in business management, marketing, legal compliance and financial literacy, and will establish robust monitoring and evaluation systems to assess the effectiveness of these services. Outreach and awareness campaigns using multiple communication channels are also part of the mandate, ensuring that enterprises know what support is available. The position also involves managing business incubators, leveraging government grants, private investment and donor funding, engaging industry mentors, and tracking the performance of incubated enterprises to improve their success rates. Facilitating networks among incubators to share best practices and replicate successful models is another key duty.

The role extends to community enterprise development, with a focus on rural and underserved areas. The director will lead outreach to identify emerging community enterprises, provide localised training, establish community enterprise hubs for shared resources, and promote youth and women participation. Partnerships with local municipalities and development agencies are essential, as is supporting community-led sustainability initiatives and tracking social impact metrics. The director is also expected to strengthen evidence-based decision-making by partnering with universities and think tanks for sector studies and policy research, and to create platforms connecting SMMEs and cooperatives with investors, suppliers and customers. Finally, the position carries full managerial responsibilities, including strategic and operational planning, administrative oversight, people management, financial management and asset management.

Candidates must hold an NQF Level 7 qualification in Economics, Development Studies, Business Management, Public Administration or Public Management, and must possess a Nyukela Certificate for entry into the Senior Management Service from the National School of Government, which must be submitted prior to appointment. A minimum of five years’ experience at middle or senior management level within the SMME and cooperatives environment is required, along with a valid Code 8 or 10 driver’s licence. This is a demanding leadership post that requires a blend of strategic vision, policy acumen and practical programme delivery. Shortlisted candidates will undergo a technical exercise and interview, and up to three may be subjected to psychometric assessments covering cognitive abilities, behavioural preferences, emotional intelligence and integrity. All shortlisted candidates will also complete pre-entry assessments, including an integrity or ethical conduct exercise, and successful appointees will be subject to security clearance and verification of qualifications. Given the seniority, the role is graded at an OSD level and forms part of the management echelon, with the expectation of driving transformative economic change in the province.