Senior Macroprudential Specialist (Climate Change) - Finstab at South African Reserve Bank

Detailed description

The successful candidate will be responsible for the following key performance areas:

• Lead research projects in close collaboration with relevant SARB sectoral specialists, external academic research fellows and other financial institutions and regulators on the implications of climate change for financial stability globally and domestically.
• Identify emerging international and domestic issues and topics that may negatively impact financial stability in South Africa and conduct research on potential macroprudential tools to address such risks.
• Provide reliable economic and financial analyses on climate-related risks and policy changes that hold policy implications for the SARB.
• Support the delivery of the financial stability and macroprudential objectives of the SARB’s climate change programme.
• Develop appropriate policy recommendations based on high-quality research and analysis.
• Present the results of research conducted to senior stakeholders, both within and external to the SARB. 
• Perform ongoing research to benchmark the SARB’s approach to monitoring the potential systemic risks arising from climate change and propose refinements to the SARB’s methodological approach to ensure the SARB’s framework for monitoring domestic financial stability remains relevant and fit for purpose.
• Draft relevant, high-quality contributions for inclusion in the SARB’s biannual Financial Stability Review publication. 
• Build and maintain key stakeholder relationships, both within and outside of the SARB.
• Assist and provide input related to the project-based performance assessment of team members.
• Prepare briefings and presentations on financial stability to the senior management of the SARB, the Financial Stability Committee, statutory committees as well as external stakeholders, the media and other public forums.
• Effectively apply emerging knowledge in own field of expertise, prepare case studies, run seminars for colleagues and mentor junior staff.
• Draft high-quality briefing and speaking notes for senior management to ensure appropriate and consistent policy positions are communicated at relevant domestic and international forums.
• Respond to questionnaires, surveys and other ad hoc requests from internal stakeholders, international standard-setting bodies and other stakeholders to inform and support the SARB’s policy positions communicated at local and international forums.

QUALIFICATIONS

Job requirements

To be considered for this position, candidates must:

• be in possession of a Master’s degree in Economics or a related field (a PhD would be highly advantageous); and
• have a minimum of eight years’ work experience in an economic policy environment or a financial institution. 

Additional requirements include:

• a track record in policy analysis, research, report writing and the dissemination of good practices in an economic development context;
• thorough knowledge and understanding of the global debate on climate change;
• understanding of climate risk stress testing;
• excellent interpersonal and communication skills in both verbal and written English;
• work independently as well as within a team/project environment;
• original thinker with strong initiative and drive;
• ability to pay attention to detail;
• ability to network and engage professionally with stakeholders;
• task-oriented with time-management skills to operate in a deadline-driven environment;
• knowledge of central banking;
• analytical skills;
• presentation skills;
• innovative problem-solving skills; and
• ability to operate with the highest level of ethics and integrity.