Closing Date 2025/02/21
Reference Number DBS250203-1
Job Grade 16
Job Type Classification Permanent
Location - Town / City Midrand
Location - Province Gauteng
Location - Country South Africa
JOB DESCRIPTION
1. The role of the Economist is to model the economic impacts of environmental/climate change on the South African economy.
2. Develop and maintain models to assess the economic consequences of climate policies, environmental risks, and climate-related scenarios.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Develop and maintain Economic-Climate Models
1. Utilise Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs), Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models, and Stock Flow Constant models to evaluate the economic consequences of different climate and environmental sustainability policies (e.g., carbon taxes, renewable energy transitions, emissions trading systems).
2. Model the long-term economic implications of environmental change on GDP, employment, sectoral output, and regional economic disparities, including transmission channels between the Integrated Assessment Model (IAM) and macro-econometric models.
3. Design and implement climate change and environmental-related econometric models focusing on South Africa's key sectors (e.g., food, energy, transport, water and sanitation, information communication and technology (ICT), health, education, housing and social infrastructure).
4. Provide actionable insights to support sustainable economic development and climate resilience.
5. Provide modelling and scenario testing support in the development of the climate change stress testing scenarios for the DBSA.
6. Translate research and model findings into actionable solutions to address climate change challenges contributing to practical applications and policy development.
Assess Climate Policy and Economic Impacts
1. Analyse the economic effects of environmental risks (e.g., extreme weather, droughts, flooding) on key industries and the economy.
2. Measure the effect of adaptive and mitigation infrastructure investment on the outputs of various sectors pre- and post-environmental events/disasters.
3. Conduct assessments and provide reports and simulations to guide policy decision-making on environmental adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable development for national, sectoral and regional economies.
4. Collaborate with stakeholders to propose evidence-based environmental sustainability policy recommendations and pathways for economic resilience.
5. Provide support for the Just Transitions strategy within the South African governmental context.
Research and Innovation
1. Conduct research in environmental economics, focusing on the economic impacts of climate change, policy interventions, and transition pathways toward a low-carbon economy.
2. Keep abreast of developments in both economic modelling and climate science methodologies, technology, regulations and frameworks to improve processes and compliance with the relevant regulatory requirements and industry standards.
3. Collaborate with industry stakeholders to produce policy briefs, present model results, and recommend strategies to DBSA leadership and partners, including DFIs and commercial banks.
Stakeholder Collaboration and Engagement
1. Participate in forums with the broader research environmental economics community, including collaboration with university departments and external research institutions.
2. Collaborate with various institutions to facilitate learning and knowledge sharing on environmental modelling to address complex climate and economic challenges.
3. Participate in professional development activities to stay updated on advancements in economic modelling, climate science, and teaching methodologies.
4. Undertake other tasks as assigned by the line manager, from time to time. Will also be expected to perform other tasks related to the economic function as required by the Bank.
Key Measures of Outputs
1. Quality inputs into the monthly and quarterly economic reports.
2. Update and maintain the economic climate database and model.
3. Utilisation of the Climate model and various other environmental models to provide climate scenario forecasts.
4. Quality presentations that can serve at the board and executive level.
5. Provide insights on environmental risks and the impact on the economy and the DBSA. 6. Provide modelling and scenario testing support in the development of the climate change stress testing scenarios for the DBSA.
6. Contribution special economic notes or policy briefs per year.
7. Turnaround time and quality of outputs.
8. Quality inputs into the corporate plan, CEO reports, strategic planning and annual reports.
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EXPERTISE & TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
Minimum Requirements
1. A Master’s degree in Economics/ Econometrics, Environmental Economics, Climate Science, or a closely related field.
2. A minimum of 5 years of experience in economic modelling, with a focus on climate change, environmental economics, or sustainability in both macroeconomics and climate policies.
3. In-depth understanding of the role of Biodiversity in sustainable development.
4. Knowledge of South African economic structures and experience working with South African economic, energy and biodiversity data is required.
5. Proven experience in modelling frameworks for stress testing and climate-related disclosures (for example the South African Reserve Bank’s Climate change modelling framework).
6. Knowledge of Climate Models: Proficiency in using and interpreting macroeconomic models (such as CGE or other climate-related models), forecasts, and projections, especially the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports and regional climate models.
7. Knowledge of adaptive measures for infrastructure, ecosystems, sustainable urban planning, and nature-based solutions.
8. Climate policy understanding: knowledge of relevant international and domestic climate policies and sustainability frameworks (e.g. Net zero commitments, Paris Agreement).
9. Advanced proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, MATLAB, or GAMS for economic and climate modelling.
10. Knowledge of statistical and econometric techniques, including regression analysis, time-series modelling, and forecasting.
11. Familiarity with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis tools for climate modelling.
12. Ability to work in a collaborative environment with interdisciplinary teams (economists, scientists, investors).
13. General understanding of sustainable development, climate resilience, and low-carbon economic transitions.
Desired Requirements
Knowledge of LEAP modelling will also be an advantage.
TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
Written & Verbal Communication
1. Is relied on by others to help them write complex technical and non-technical documents and briefs.
2. Is able to determine which aspects of this knowledge area need to be transferred to others in order to achieve organisational goals.
3. Able to communicate complex problems or concepts, by making them simple and understandable for others.
4. Adapts language to the level of the audience in order to ensure that the message has a positive impact and is interesting to the audience.
Attention to detail
1. Quickly identifies relevant and irrelevant information to support accurate decision-making.
2. Maps out all the logistics and details of a situation to ensure smooth and flawless implementation.
3. Consistently identifies all relevant details that are not obvious in complex situations.
4. Requires the highest standards for accuracy and quality for their work.
5. Establishes processes to ensure accuracy and quality of services delivered by the team.
Data Collection and Analysis
1. Skilled in the use of advanced/complex analytical techniques.
2. Is able to use judgement to decide upon the most appropriate analytical techniques according to the situation.
3. Recognises underlying principles, patterns, or themes in an array of related information, and determine whether additional information would be useful or necessary.
4. Through an in-depth understanding of the business environment, reviews outputs of analysis to identify anomalies and draws conclusions, relating these to operational circumstances.
5. Can model a range of scenarios covering all potential business circumstances and highlight potential risks/opportunities.
Commercial Awareness
1. Deep understanding of commercial drivers and can take decisions based on an assessment of alternatives concerning complex business situations.
2. Deep understanding of DBSA's economic priorities and how they can be implemented to meet DBSA's strategic objectives.
3. Deep understanding of DBSA's core sector role in achieving DBSA's strategic objectives.
4. Deep understanding of the need to coordinate efforts with many government entities, private sector, community groups and individuals to ensure effective implementation of new policies and regulations.
Research
1. Demonstrates expert skill levels in strategic and operational research techniques, including process analysis, modelling, and forecasting.
2. Adapts, creates, and designs new research techniques to meet the organisation's requirements.
3. Provides specialist coaching and guidance to researchers and other organisation employees.
4. Promotes the professional reputation of the organisation by maintaining a respected profile with relevant external organisations and the research community in general.
Communication and Reporting
1. Able to communicate complex problems or concepts, by making them simple and understandable for others.
2. Adapts language to the level of the audience to ensure that the message has a positive impact and is interesting to the audience.
3. Is articulate, demonstrates a wide range of vocabulary, and is confident when talking to large/high-level audiences.
4. Designs / customizes reports to meet user needs.
5. Prepares complex or tailored reports, gathers information from a variety of sources, analyses and includes in a report.
6. Keeps standard reports under review and proposes improvements to meet user needs.
Presentation Skills
1. Knows how to deliver arguments persuasively by employing a range of advanced presentation techniques (e.g., the appropriate use of body language, how to close a presentation so that the audience continues to think about the subject matter etc.).
2. Has knowledge of various feedback mechanisms to check levels of audience understanding.
REQUIRED PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES
Achievement Orientation
1. Focuses on new or more effective ways of improving own work and meeting targets.
2. Focuses on raising quality, customer satisfaction and revenues.
3. Makes specific changes to systems and processes to improve efficiency and quality.
4. Formulates own objectives and action plans to achieve a measurable improvement in the future.
Analytical Thinking
1. Identifies multiple elements of a problem and breaks down each of those elements in detail, showing causal relationships between them.
2. Uses several analytical techniques to identify several solutions and weighs the value of each.
Conceptual thinking
1. Creates new concepts that are not obvious to others and not learned from previous education or experience to explain situations or resolve problems.
2. Looks at things in a significantly novel way breakthrough thinking.
Strategic and Innovative thinking
1. Recognizes opportunities or problems emerging in patterns and trends, and their impact on the business and profitability drivers.
2. Applies learning from previous situations and experiences.
3. Sees underlying causality in the current situation. Applies business acumen to make sound decisions.
4. Recognizes opportunities or potential problems, before they become obvious, by seeing the connections in a range of sources of information, including insights from outside DBSA.
5. Restates complex knowledge in a way that makes it easier for others to understand.
Business Acumen
1. Understands business fundamentals.
2. Analyses and comprehends organisational goals and strategies.
3. Understands tactical business fundamentals in the public sector environment and incorporates them into decision-making.
Teamwork
1. Acts to promote a friendly climate and good morale and resolves conflicts.
2. Creates opportunities for cross-functional working.
3. Encourages others to network outside of their own team/department and learn from their experience.
Decisiveness
1. Makes timely decisions about complex issues even when some information is missing.
2. Makes decisions and stands by them even when they are controversial or unpopular.
3. Grasps critical business opportunities when they arise by making timely decisions.
Driving delivery of results
1. Identifies and implements a business opportunity that will have a long-term impact on the business.
2. Monitors progress and adapts the plan if necessary to ensure optimal benefit to the business.
3. Makes decisions, sets priorities, or chooses goals on the basis of inputs and outputs: makes explicit considerations of potential profit, return on investment, or cost-benefit analysis.
4. Based on cost benefit analysis, makes decisions of entrepreneurial risk nature.
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