General Manager - External Communications.Corporate Affairs MANCO (Supporting MTN SA)

MTN; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

MTN, a leading telecommunications company in South Africa, seeks a General Manager for External Communications. This role demands strategic leadership in developing and executing communication strategies to enhance brand reputation while managing relationships with key stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in public relations, a background in telecommunications, and a proven record of managing teams effectively.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5-8 years' experience in Public Relations / External Communication role.
• Experience in managing staff and working in a global environment required.
• Telecommunications industry experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creation and implementation of functional strategy in line with business goals.
• Build and manage a high-performing team by providing leadership and training.
• Monitor performance and alignment with MTN global strategy.

Skills

Digital Mind-set

Relationship Builder

Project Management

People Management

Education

Minimum of 4-year tertiary degree in Business Communication or related field

MBA or Masters (advantageous)

Job description

Job title : General Manager - External Communications.Corporate Affairs MANCO (Supporting MTN SA)

Job Location : Gauteng, Johannesburg Deadline : July 02, 2025 Quick Recommended Links

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Job Description

• We at MTN are a purpose and value-led organization.
• At MTN, we believe that understanding our people’s needs and aspirations is key to creating experiences that delight you at work, every day.
• We are committed to fostering an environment where every member of our Y’ello Family is heard, understood and empowered to live an inspired life.
• Our values keep us grounded and moving in the right direction.
• Most importantly, they keep us honest. It is not something we claim to be. It is in our DNA.
• As an organisation, we consider it our mission to create an exciting and rewarding place to work, where our people can be themselves, thrive in positivity and ignite their full potential.
• A workplace that boosts creativity and innovation, improves productivity, and ultimately drives meaningful results.
• A workplace that is built on relationships and achieving a purpose that is bigger than us.
• This is what we want you to experience with us!
• Our commitments go beyond an organisational promise.
• It is in our leadership and managerial ethos to meaningfully partner with our employees, customers and stakeholders with a vision to realise our shared goals.
• Lead with Care
• Can-do with Integrity
• Collaborate with Agility
• Serve with Respect
• Act with Inclusion

The urgency for change has become more heightened amidst increased competitive intensity across all markets in which MTN operates.

The Group’s External Communications function in which this role falls within must therefore ensure the successful delivery in context of :

• Rapidly changing ICT environment
• The geographic complexity of MTN’s footprint across Africa and the Middle East
• Ever changing social media regulation and dynamics
• Management of executive and local shareholder expectations across all 19 markets and aligning them to MTN’s plans and strategies
• Management of customer, supplier, and other stakeholder expectations through communication
• Enhance MTN’s position as a leading the bold digital work, driving digital and financial inclusion
• Internal organisational communication across a varied and deadline driven corporate communications environment
• Dynamic and fast changing organisational requirements
• Need to continuously innovate the way business is conducted
• Growing pressure from stakeholders for disclosure and transparency

Responsibilities

The GM : External Communication will be accountable to achieve the following objectives :

Strategy Development and Implementation

• Lead the creation of the functional strategy in line with the overarching business goals
• Drive effective implementation of the strategy by means of providing direction, structure, frameworks, models, plans and roadmaps
• Oversee regular review of the functional strategy and roadmap to ensure its alignment with the changing dynamics of the internal and external ecosystem

Staff Leadership and Management

• Build and manage a high performing team by providing leadership, role clarity, training and career development
• Source, induct and manage talent in accordance with legislative guidelines
• Continually develop a culture of strong collaboration and effective team working
• Ensure open communication channels with staff and implement change management interventions where necessary
• Provide definition of roles, responsibilities, individual goals and performance objectives for the team
• Set KPIs and provide regular performance feedback through a well-defined and implemented performance review program
• Develop and implement a training plan in order to build and develop skills within the team
• Encourage knowledge transfer through the implementation of a knowledge transfer plan and drive continuous improvement philosophy through the knowledge transfer plan
• Performance manage resources in accordance with HR policy and legislation where necessary
• Actively participate in leadership team and develop skills of own team
• Promote a ‘MTN centric’ and ‘partnership approach’ to develop strong relationships with other working groups and ensure adherence to Group governance

Governance

• Strategic Meetings
• Hold strategic meetings, ensure relevant participation and provide guidance and input in the various discussions
• Drive enterprise-wide conference participation framework, corporate affairs sponsorship and partnership initiatives, elicit inputs from relevant parties
• Drive adequate risk mitigation and controls and elicit inputs from relevant parties
• Perform evaluation baseline of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and KPIs
• Drive approval process on new initiatives
• Prepare proposal on change initiatives SLA, policies and procedures

Escalations

• Escalate issues that will result in severe time, scope, productivity, and cost or resource impact
• Manage and provide solutions to escalations that have multiple processes / functions impact on critical path of service delivery
• Manage and provide solutions through stakeholder consultation where relevant

Function Tactical

• Review all projects initiated (internal or global)
• Review and finalise objectives, targets and budgets for the External Communications function as applicable
• Review key risks, issues and dependencies and set mitigation actions
• Develop and manage budgets
• Sign-off / make decisions regarding tactical changes
• Chair tactical meetings

Performance

• Monitor performance and alignment with MTN global strategy
• Ensure alignment between the various stakeholders and customers
• SLA approval and exception performance review

Reporting

• Report on a periodic basis to the Group Chief Sustainability & Corporate Affairs Officer relating to progress made within the function and in accordance with the measurement metrics set by the organisation
• Report on an ad hoc basis on specific projects, as required

Budgets

• Develop and manage function’s budgets in line with business objectives
• Develop and manage project initiative budgets in line with business objectives
• Ensure that the cost of operations are reduced, in line with a least cost operating strategy stemming from the business drivers

Planning and Operations Leadership

• Curation of content strategy for MTN SA across the BU’s and functions
• Identification of key strategic issues and conceptualisation of content that is appropriate for both internal and external stakeholders to positively promote the MTN Brand and Reputation
• Consolidation of Opco-wide content, generated by MTN Communication Champions who are guided to be ambassadors of the Brand in story telling
• Management of publicity campaigns and determination of the appropriate platforms which will give positive publicity and PR mileage
• Usage of key topical media conversations to build online presence that links back to ESG
• Management of communication mediums and content tailoring, including portal websites, media platforms, social media, presentations, and speeches
• Relevant updated MTN SA company profile, which is always ready for the different platforms
• Accountability taken of MTN’s written content by external sources and continuous evaluation of their contributions
• Proactive issue monitoring management of various channels and platforms
• Strategic usage of channels for proactive reputational communication opportunities through “news jacking”
• Key advisory role, to exco with the Chief CA & Sustainability, in CRISIS MANAGEMENT
• Keep abreast of international best practice, technologies and industry trends.
• Proactively research relevant best practice and processes, recommending translation of these in the strategic framework of the unit.
• Maintain an understanding of related systems in order to develop integrated systems and processes.
• Keep up to date with new products and services and their impact on MTNSA
• Understand and take cognisance of emerging markets and plan accordingly

People & Culture Management

• Provide technical, procedural and policy guidance to staff, colleagues , partners and vendors
• Attract, develop and retain appropriate talent. Build talent by identifying and developing new leaders for the respective environment
• Create and implement personal development plans
• Define the divisional KPAs and KPIs that will be cascaded down to each area
• Manage Performance and identify training needs. Coach and guide subordinates
• Enable and model healthy employee relations and collaborative teamwork
• Manage diversity, develop, and embed an Employment Equity plan for the business area
• Contribute to building a culture of continuous evaluation and improvement. Drive a culture of high performance, accountability and consequence management
• Act as an ambassador for the Consumer team by living the Brand values and vital behaviours and changing and influencing employees’ behaviour
• Make the environment the best place to work. Foster professionalism, loyalty and commitment to the organization. Build the Company’s brand to be the employer of first choice

Qualifications

Education :

• Minimum of 4-year tertiary degree (specialization in Business Communication / Public Relations / Marketing / as appropriate)
• MBA or Masters (advantageous)
• Relevant certification / accreditation / membership with professional body such as South African Communications Association, Exhibition and Event Association of Southern Africa (advantageous)
• Fluent in English and language of country preferable

Experience :

Minimum 5 -8 years’ experience in :

• In a Public Relations / External Communication role
• Experience working in a global / multinational enterprise / FMCG
• understanding of emerging markets
• In managing staff
• Knowledge of consumer data analytics, management, and platforms in a Techo environment
• Experience in continuous improvement through the implementation of best practices
• Understanding of emerging markets
• Minimum 5 years of senior management experience in External Communications with specific focus on external communications, brand management, sponsorships and events
• Worked across diverse cultures and geographies
• Experience working in a medium to large organization
• Telecommunications industry experience

Functional Knowledge :

• Project Management
• Engagement Program Design
• External Branding and Design
• External Communication
• Workforce Segmentation and Profiling
• Leadership Influence
• Event / Project Management
• Experience Management
• Digital Platforms
• Editorial and content writing
• Reporting
• Global Working and Collaboration
• Organisational considerations

Skills

• Digital Mind-set
• Culture and Change Champion
• Relationship Builder
• Results Achiever
• Operationally Astute
• Organizational Agility
• Digital Mind-set
• Dealing with ambiguity and complexity
• Conflict Management
• Project Management
• People Management
• Presentation Skills

Behavioural Qualities

• Adaptable
• Complete candour
• Culturally aware
• Emotional Maturity
• Integrity
• Leadership

Responsibility towards :

• Key external stakeholders : Investors, Media, Social Media, design company, third party technical teams other external contractors
• Key internal stakeholders :
• MTN SA Business Leaders and Line Managers
• Opco – Corporate Services & External Communication teams