Automotive Lead - Palladium Group

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value.  We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people’s lives.

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Project Overview and Role:

Palladium is seeking an Automotive Lead for the newly started Jobs for Economic Transformation in Ghana (JET) Programme, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The programme is FCDO Ghana’s flagship investment-led job creation programme that will help Ghana transition away from aid dependence in line with the GoG “Ghana beyond Aid” strategy. It seeks to leverage increased investments into the pharmaceutical, automotive and textile & garment sectors, and introduce new technology and management capabilities, increasing the capabilities of the workforce generating formal employment and economic diversification.

The Automotive Lead acts as the central point of contact for the implementation of activities within the Automotive sector. The Auto Lead will liaise with the Team Leader to represent the programme with a range of Ghanaian partners, government stakeholders and automotive suppliers & manufacturers. They will be in charge of the execution of the programme’s automotive activities and lead a team of consultants, as well as Palladium corporate and project staff.

Location: Ghana

Responsibilities include:

Sector Leadership

• Support the Team Leader in the design and delivery of effective systems for learning, adaptive management and delivering impact and value for money, ensuring the programme delivers on its ambitious payment-by-results targets.
• Be accountable for the successful delivery of the programme’s automotive deliverables and milestones, leading the in-house team and external consultants and contributors to meet Palladium’s high standards.

Technical and Strategic Leadership

• Under the supervision of the Team Leader, the Automotive Lead will be responsible for the strategic and technical direction of the sector-related activities with an impact and results-driven focus that will deliver the programmes ambitious investment and jobs targets.
• Support Team Leader in developing an investment strategy and investment deals being supported by the programme in the automotive sector.
• Lead on automotive sector engagement strategies for integrating Ghanaian MSMEs into the global economy, e.g., working with MNCs to roll out and expand supplier development programmes.

Stakeholder Leadership

• Build strong working relationships with the programme’s contact points in the GoG, national agencies, FCDO, automotive sector institutions and firms.
• Support the Team Leader to create the space for the programme to not only exist but thrive, through proactive senior-level stakeholder engagement and partnerships, focusing on genuine co-creation with the GoG.

Required Qualifications:

• Entrepreneurial, self-starter who enjoys working in a fast-paced, results-driven business environment.
• Ability to deliver complex programmes in political economies with multiple stakeholders, components, and objectives.
• An investment background, someone who has either been an investor themselves or led on significant international investment deals.
• Strong understanding of the automotive sector political economy and local business (SME) landscape, ability to quickly identify constraints and opportunities for the programme and develop innovative solutions.
• Strong expertise in building and managing programmatic relationships with high-level stakeholders from government, civil society, and donors.
• Experience working and ‘co-creating’ solutions with key GoG departments and institutions (e.g., MOTI, GIPC etc.) as well as sector bodies involved in investment promotion and industrial policy.
• Strong network within the automotive sector, with the ability to leverage connections to kickstart activities quickly and ensure wide programmatic reach in Ghana.
• Strong thematic/ sectoral knowledge and expertise of the automotive sector and ability to speak credibly on others.
• Track record of leading a team, delivering results, and contributing to positive impact (i.e., economic, social, and environmental) with a passion for achieving business and development outcomes.
• Experience in the automotive sector or relevant investment-focused employment with a minimum of degree-level education in a relevant subject area.