EY Africa Ripples Manager

EY; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading professional services firm in Johannesburg is seeking a Ripples Manager to lead and execute a holistic strategy aligned with CSR initiatives. The role involves developing and implementing programs aimed at empowering youth, supporting entrepreneurs, and accelerating environmental sustainability. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree and over 5 years of relevant experience. Strong stakeholder communication and analytical skills are essential. This position offers an opportunity to make a significant social impact within the firm.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a CSR or HR role, ideally within a professional services environment.
• Strong knowledge of CSR best practices.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing CSR programs in a corporate setting.

Responsibilities

• Set and execute a multi-year strategy for Ripples, ensuring alignment with global and regional priorities.
• Champion a culture of social responsibility by partnering with business leaders to drive engagement.
• Monitor, review, and report on the effectiveness and impact of all initiatives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain a robust governance framework for Ripples.

Skills

Strong stakeholder engagement

Excellent communication

Project management

Analytical skills

Ethical and responsible

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Human Resources, Health Sciences, or a related field

Job description

Job Summary

The Ripples Manager will lead, design, and execute a holistic Ripples strategy aligned to the EY Ripples Framework, which is built on the following pillars.

Supporting the Next Generation including EY Africa’s flagship programme NextGen

• Empowering young and underserved people to develop the mindsets and skills needed to find and sustain meaningful work in a rapidly changing world.
• Focus on education, employability, and preparing future leaders.

Working with Impact Entrepreneurs

• Helping scale small and growing businesses that are driving progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Providing skills, mentoring, and support to entrepreneurs tackling social inequality and global challenges.

Accelerating Environmental Sustainability

• Driving adoption of behaviours, technologies, and business models that protect and regenerate the environment while unlocking economic opportunity.
• Including projects on climate action, circular economy, and environmental regeneration.

This role is a strategic partner to business and Talent leaders, embedding Ripples into the fabric of the firm’s culture, leadership, and employee experience by ensuring these pillars leverage data and best practices to drive continuous improvement and measurable impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Direction & Ripples Strategy Development
• Set and execute a multi-year strategy for Ripples, ensuring alignment with global and regional priorities, and integrating CSR into the firm’s culture and employee experience.
• Define clear roles, responsibilities, and decision‑making forums for all Ripples activities, embedding governance and accountability at every level.
• Champion a culture of social responsibility by partnering with business leaders, Talent, and Employee Experience teams to drive engagement and adoption.
• Monitor, review, and report on the effectiveness and impact of all initiatives, using data and analytics to drive continuous improvement and strategic decision‑making.
• Ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and EY’s internal standards, while benchmarking against leading organisations to maintain impactful offerings.
• Programme Management
• Own and manage the execution of the EY Ripples strategy across Africa, including oversight of all three focus areas: Supporting the Next Generation (with NextGen as the flagship programme), Working with Impact Entrepreneurs, Accelerating Environmental Sustainability.
• Oversee Ripples operations, compliance (QRM), and management information (MI) processes, ensuring accurate reporting and alignment with global targets.
• Lead and support initiative ambassadors, corporate communications, onboarding, and regular engagement forums (local, regional, and global).
• Identify and nurture partnerships and collaborations to maximize the reach and effectiveness of Ripples initiatives.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee Ripples projects, ensuring efficient resource use, timely delivery, and measurable outcomes.
• Facilitate regular OPCO and stakeholder meetings to track progress and drive accountability.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, acting as a liaison to ensure transparency and effective communication.
• Prepare and present regular reports, insights, and recommendations to leadership and stakeholders.
• Governance, Compliance, Best Practice & Innovation
• Establish and maintain a robust governance framework for Ripples, including clear roles, responsibilities, and decision‑making forums.
• Embed governance into each Ripples pillar to ensure strategic alignment, disciplined execution, and accountability.
• Monitor and review the effectiveness of Ripples programs and policies, ensuring timely decision‑making and optimal resource allocation.
• Report regularly to leadership and stakeholders on progress, risks, and outcomes, ensuring transparency and credibility in all Ripples activities.
• Facilitate continuous improvement by incorporating feedback, lessons learned, and best practices into the governance process.
• Stay current on industry trends and best practices in CSR, integrating innovative approaches into EY’s Ripples programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Human Resources, Health Sciences, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in a CSR or HR role, ideally within a professional services environment.
• Strong knowledge of CSR best practices.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing CSR programs in a corporate setting.
• Excellent communication, project management, and interpersonal skills.

Skills & Attributes

• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret data and improve programme effectiveness.
• Ethical, responsible, and adaptable.
• Passion for social impact.
• Adaptability to a fast‑paced and evolving work environment.