Senior Manager: Stakeholder Relations

1001 Absa Bank; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 1,100,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Job summary

Absa Bank Limited is seeking a senior professional to drive the stakeholder engagement strategy and corporate relations agenda. You will manage trusted relationships with government, public institutions, industry bodies and civil society, translating insights into actionable engagement plans and executive positioning strategies.

Responsibilities include planning cycles, governance and risk oversight, and coordinating cross-functional teams to deliver on strategic priorities while ensuring

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or advanced diploma in a relevant field such as Communication Studies, Language or Public Relations.
• Five to eight years’ experience in a similar management-level environment.
• Excellent communication and networking skills with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Translate the Group Corporate and Stakeholder Relations strategy into clear priorities, delivery plans and measurable outcomes.
• Build and maintain effective relationships across internal and external stakeholder groups to support coordinated engagement and reputation management.
• Own annual, monthly and ad hoc planning cycles for the function and lead multiple initiatives with structured planning and execution.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Planning

Governance & risk

Financial acumen

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies

Advanced diploma in Public Relations/Stakeholder Management

Job description

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time. With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.

Job Summary

As a senior member of the Stakeholder Engagement and Corporate Relations function, the role enables the execution of the Group's stakeholder strategy through the cultivation of trusted relationships, delivery of integrated engagement programmes and advancement of executive and corporate positioning priorities. The role provides strategic advisory support across key stakeholder constituencies, including government, public institutions, business and industry associations, civil society and multilateral organisations. It identifies and responds to emerging stakeholder issues, policy developments and reputational risks, translating insights into actionable engagement strategies that support business objectives.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities:

• Strategic Delivery and Business Enablement: Translate the Group Corporate and Stakeholder Relations strategy into clear functional priorities, delivery plans and measurable outcomes aligned to Group Marketing and Corporate Affairs objectives. Provide senior‑level business management support to enable effective delivery of stakeholder relations, industry engagement and public‑institution priorities. Monitor socio‑economic, industry and stakeholder developments to identify risks, opportunities and positioning platforms that support Absa’s strategic agenda. Coordinate reputation‑enhancing initiatives, thought‑leadership platforms and issues‑management responses that support Absa’s standing with key stakeholder groups. Strengthen Absa’s voice and influence in relevant business, professional and industry forums through structured engagement, insight and execution support.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management: Build and maintain effective relationships across internal and external stakeholder groups to support coordinated engagement, early issue identification and proactive reputation management. Influence and guide internal stakeholders on engagement approaches, reputational considerations and appropriate escalation pathways. Represent the function in planning, governance and delivery forums, ensuring functional priorities are accurately reflected and progressed. Ensure stakeholder concerns, requests and deliverables are managed through to closure, with clear ownership, quality assurance and fit‑for‑purpose outputs. Agree service expectations, deliverables and ways of working with key partners to enable consistent and reliable execution. Provide timely updates to executive management on stakeholder developments, delivery progress, risks and matters requiring decision or escalation.
• Planning, Process Management and Performance Delivery: Own and manage annual, monthly and ad hoc planning cycles for the function, ensuring priorities, milestones and dependencies are clearly defined and tracked. Lead multiple initiatives concurrently, applying structured planning, prioritisation and execution disciplines to deliver within agreed timelines and quality standards. Design, implement and continuously improve processes that support effective delivery of GMCA initiatives and enable cross‑functional collaboration. Coordinate resource planning, capability requirements and operational support to ensure the function is appropriately enabled to meet business expectations.
• Governance, Risk and Control Management: Provide oversight of governance, risk and control activities across the functional area, including the monitoring and resolution of open audit, risk and control items. Ensure decisions, initiatives and operating practices are aligned to Absa strategy, business plans, policies and documented governance requirements. Agree, track and close corrective actions within the Governance process with accountable stakeholders, ensuring clear ownership, evidence and sustainable remediation. Promote compliance awareness within the function and obtain guidance from Compliance where responsibilities, obligations or interpretation require clarification. Maintain an effective operating rhythm, governance discipline and decision‑support framework to enable consistent execution and accountability.

Competencies

• Strategic thinking and business acumen
• Stakeholder engagement and relationship management
• Advanced communication, presentation and influencing skills
• Planning, organising and process management
• Governance, risk and control orientation
• Commercial awareness and financial discipline
• Creative and innovative problem solving
• Leadership, collaboration and delivery focus

Education and Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or advanced diploma in Communication Studies, Language, Public Relations, Stakeholder Management or a related discipline (NQF 7).

Skills and Capabilities

• Excellent communication and networking skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong financial and budget planning, analysis and management acumen.
• Creative, resourceful and strategic problem‑solving ability.
• Ability to motivate others to achieve desired objectives.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, with a constructive and solutions‑focused outlook.

Knowledge, Experience and Expertise

Flexible, adaptable and resilient, with strong coordination, facilitation, organisational, administrative, logistics and protocol management skills. Results‑focused and deadline‑driven, with the ability to deliver high‑quality outcomes and exceed objectives under pressure. Experience in assessing the success of programmes, projects and events to ensure services are delivered fairly, effectively and sustainably. Strong leadership and capability‑building skills, with the ability to lead with the end goal in mind and in the best interests of the organisation. Five to eight years’ experience in a similar management‑level environment.

Working Conditions

Deadline‑driven role requiring effective prioritisation in a time‑sensitive environment. Requires ongoing management of internal and external relationships. May require work outside regular business hours. Operates within an open‑plan office environment.

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Communication Studies and Language (Required)

Equality and Diversity

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.

In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised.

About Us

At Absa, our story is not a single narrative. It’s thousands of individual journeys unfolding across Africa and beyond. From colleagues serving customers in local communities to teams shaping financial solutions across borders, Absa is built on people who bring their lived experiences, ambitions and perspectives into the workplace every day. Whether you’re starting your career, a seasoned leader or somewhere in between, your contribution is seen, valued and connected to something bigger. Our presence across Africa – which spans personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management, and insurance – exists because of the people who show up in their roles with purpose. Across Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, our colleagues are shaping what Absa becomes in each market. Beyond the continent, teams in global offices and a technology hub support and extend the stories that prove that African talent can lead, influence and innovate on the global stage. At Absa, your story matters because progress is driven by human experience, not hierarchy. When people are enabled to bring their whole selves to work, they don’t just build careers. They help shape the future of Africa’s financial services landscape.