Communications Manager

Zohorecruit; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Higher Health Pretoria is seeking a Communications Lead to develop and implement integrated strategies for South Africa and the UK. You will align activities with organisational priorities, and craft targeted plans for major programmes and campaigns.

The role requires 5–10 years of middle-management experience, strong writing and stakeholder engagement skills, and willingness to travel nationally and internationally.

Qualifications

• Relevant diploma or degree in Journalism, PR, Media Studies, or related field.
• 5-10 years’ experience in middle-management.
• Valid South African Code 8 driver’s license.
• Willingness to travel nationally and internationally.
• Willingness to work after hours, weekends and public holidays.
• Ability to attend and support events, launches, conferences and stakeholder engagements.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement integrated annual communications strategies for Higher Health SA and Higher Health UK.
• Align activities with organisation strategy and objectives.
• Develop targeted communication plans for programmes and campaigns.
• Identify new communication opportunities and platforms for visibility.
• Monitor implementation and report on performance, reach and impact.
• Lead communications planning and project management of events and campaigns.
• Coordinate internal teams, service providers and external stakeholders for events.
• Ensure branding and messaging consistency across all events.
• Draft speeches, statements, articles, newsletters and reports.
• Prepare briefing notes and talking points for the CEO and leadership.
• Maintain relationships with stakeholders across higher education, health and related sectors.
• Manage internal and external communications across platforms.
• Oversee social media management and content calendars.
• Develop marketing collateral and campaigns for programmes.

Skills

Communication planning

Stakeholder engagement

Event management

Content development

Media relations

Education

Diploma or degree in Journalism, PR, Media Studies

Tools

Mailchimp

SharePoint

Job description

Pretoria, South Africa | Posted on 08/10/2026

1.Communications Strategy and Planning – Higher Health SA & Higher Health UK

• Develop andimplement integrated annual communications strategies and plans for HigherHealth SA and Higher Health UK.
  
• Aligncommunication activities with Higher Health’s organisational strategy,programmes, priorities and objectives.
  
• Develop targetedcommunication plans for key programmes, campaigns, launches andorganisational initiatives.
  
• Identify newcommunication opportunities and platforms to strengthen Higher Health’svisibility and positioning.
  
• Monitorimplementation of communication plans and provide regular reports onperformance, reach and impact.
  

2.Events Management

• Lead thecommunications planning and project management of identified Higher Healthevents, launches, conferences and campaigns.
  
• Develop eventcommunication plans, including branding, invitations, programmes, media,social media and promotional materials.
  
• Coordinate withinternal teams, service providers and external stakeholders to ensureeffective delivery of events.
  
• Ensure HigherHealth branding, messaging and visibility are consistently maintainedacross all events.
  
• Managepre-event, live-event and post-event communications to maximisevisibility, stakeholder engagement and media exposure.
  

3.Writing, Editing and Content Development

• Draft and editspeeches, media statements, articles, opinion pieces, newsletters, reportsand organisational communications.
  
• Developcompelling content that effectively communicates Higher Health’sprogrammes, achievements and impact.
  
• Prepare briefingnotes, talking points, key messages and communication materials for theCEO and senior leadership.
  
• Ensure allwritten communication is accurate, professional, consistent and alignedwith Higher Health’s messaging and brand.
  
• Coordinate andquality-assure content produced by the Communications team and relevantservice providers.
  

4.Stakeholder Relations and Strategic Engagement

• Develop andmaintain strong relationships with stakeholders across the highereducation, health and related sectors.
  
• Build andmaintain a strategic database of media, government, sector, institutionaland communications contacts.
  
• Identifyopportunities for partnerships, networking, profiling and strategicstakeholder engagement.
  
• Support the CEOand leadership team with stakeholder communications and engagementactivities.
  
• Position HigherHealth as a leading organisation within its sector through strategicrelationships, partnerships and profiling opportunities.
  

5.Internal and External Communications

• Manage HigherHealth’s internal and external communication activities across relevantplatforms and channels.
  
• Develop andcoordinate regular internal communications to keep employees informed oforganisational developments and priorities through Emails, Whatsapp groupsand SharePoint.
  
• Ensureconsistent organisational messaging across internal and externalcommunication touchpoints.
  
• Coordinateexternal communications relating to programmes, partnerships,achievements, announcements and organisational developments.
  
• Strengtheninformation flow between the Communications team, programmes, leadershipand other Higher Health departments.
  

6.Social Media Management

• Manage HigherHealth’s social media platforms and ensure they are regularly updated withfresh, engaging and innovative content.
  
• Develop andmanage an annual and monthly social media content calendar aligned withorganisational activities and campaigns.
  
• Create andcoordinate multimedia content that showcases Higher Health’s programmes,impact, events and achievements.
  
• Monitor socialmedia engagement, reach, audience growth and performance, and provideregular analytics reports.
  
• Identifyemerging digital trends and opportunities to strengthen Higher Health’sonline presence and engagement.
  

7.Marketing and Branding of Higher Health Programmes

• Develop andimplement marketing and branding plans for Higher Health programmes,services and campaigns.
  
• Ensureconsistent application of Higher Health’s corporate identity and brandstandards across all communication materials.
  
• Developmarketing collateral, promotional materials and campaigns that effectivelyprofile Higher Health programmes.
  
• Work closelywith programme teams to identify communication and marketing opportunitiesthat demonstrate programme impact.
  
• StrengthenHigher Health’s brand positioning and ensure the organisation isrecognised as a leader within its sector and areas of work.
  

8.Digital Media Marketing and Online Platforms

• Manage HigherHealth’s websites and ensure content is reviewed and updated weekly.
  
• Manage digitalcommunication platforms, including Mailchimp and other email marketing anddigital engagement tools.
  
• Develop anddistribute digital newsletters, campaigns and stakeholder communications.
  
• Monitor websitetraffic, email campaign performance and other digital analytics to improveengagement.
  
• Identify andimplement new digital tools, platforms and approaches to strengthen HigherHealth’s digital presence and reach.
  

Requirements

QUALIFICATION(S)

• Relevantdiploma or degree in Journalism, PR, Media Studies, or a related field
  

EXPERIENCE

• 5-10 years’ experience in middlemanagement
  

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Valid SouthAfrican Code 8 driver’s licence .
  
• Abilityand willingness to travel nationally and internationally when required.
  
• Willingnessto work after hours, over weekends and on public holidays when requiredfor events, campaigns and organisational activities.
  
• Abilityto attend and support events, launches, conferences and stakeholderengagements at various locations.
  
• Abilityto work effectively in a fast-paced and deadline-driven environment.
  
• Flexibility to respond to urgent communication and reputationalmatters outside normal working hours.
  

Should you not receive a response within 6 weeks of the closingdate, please consider your application to be unsuccessful.

Employment Equity

Higher Healthis committed to the principles of Employment Equity. In line with ourEmployment Equity Plan, preference may be given to candidates from designatedgroups. All appointments will be made in accordance with the organisation’sEmployment Equity objectives.

Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.