Operations Communication Specialist

**Job Advert**:
Our Operations Team is looking for a hard-working, organised and resilient individual to join the team as a Operations Communication Specialist. Reporting to the Operations Support: General Manager, your role will include the management and governance of all departmental communication platforms through formulating and implementing an Ackermans Operations Communication Strategy and Plan. By acting as the central point from where all content is created and shared, this role will support the execution of operational activities. In addition, you will play an integral role in maintaining and training on the use of any of the departmental communication platforms.

If you've got at least 4 years experience in a large retail environment working with communications platforms and systems, which includes Microsoft365 (Sharepoint, PowerApps), consider this to be an opportunity to invest and grow your career.

**Qualifications**:
Essential:

- Matric certificate/Grade 12
- A tertiary qualification in Commercial Management or equivalent

**Knowledge, Skills and Experience**:
KNOWLEDGE:

- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, with extensive knowledge of the management of communication platforms
- Knowledge retail best practices and principles, techniques, and trends
- Research and develop practices

SKILLS:

- The ability to consult with various internal stakeholders on their communication needs, advising on the best available internal communication methodology to successfully implement needs
- Project Management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Excellent organisational, planning, and time management skills
- Effective communication skills
- Leadership skills
- Self-reliant and results-orientated
- Well-developed interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate with individuals at all levels within the organisation
- A creative flair
- Effective problem-solving, with the ability to think out of the box
- Good judgment together with strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities
- Networking skills (Cross-functional)
- The ability to work well under pressure and with tight deadlines

EXPERIENCE:
Essential:

- A minimum of 4 years in a large retail environment working with communications platforms and systems which includes Microsoft365 (SharePoint, PowerApps)
- A minimum of 2 years’ in a Operations retail environment and a thorough understanding of retail processes
- Experience communicating with individuals at all levels within the organisation, including Senior Management and store teams

Preferred:

- Experience in training/upskilling will be advantageous

**Key Responsibilities**:
1. Operations Communications strategy - design and implementation
- With the Business and Departmental strategies in mind, design and implement an operations communication strategy
- Provide fit-for-purpose messaging solutions for how and when we communicate to stores from Support Centre
- Create and manage full Operations communication process and elements across all platforms and act as communication champion
- Research best practice and propose relevant ideas

2. Systems governance and management of Operations communications platforms
- Govern all operations communication platform and act as the gatekeeping for the use of these platforms and ensure that all information available on these platforms are always relevant and updated
- Ensure that the communication channels and publications are produced and updated to plan
- Maintenance of all data
- Design training material and train users of the effective use of these platforms. Where necessary, collaborate with the Ackermans training and development team
- Design on-going informational and instructional communications and send to stores on an on-going basis
- Ensure data is kept up to date, with the most recent data available when requested by business partners
- Collect data when as and when required

4. Stakeholder alignment / engagement
- Drive cross-functional collaboration/integration with all areas of the business with regards to related initiatives and the execution thereof
- Build and maintain positive relationships
- Interpret stakeholder needs and how it will impact on the execution of operational activities
- Drive effective change management
- Provide regular feedback and ensure that all stakeholders remain aligned

5. Reporting
- Weekly/monthly reporting to GM and operations support on all communication initiatives
- Creating reports, using various platforms such as Excel, Power BI, PowerPoint & SharePoint to provide insights into the effectiveness of communication strategies, as well as tracking progress against communication plans and goals
- Track communication metrics, such as open rates. Click-through rate, and engagement levels

6. Change Management
- Develop and implement change management plans that support the adoption of new processes, systems, and procedures
- Ensure that any changes impacting operati