Senior Specialist: Sustainability Comms and

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

To support the Executive of Sustainability Stakeholder Relations to drive stakeholder engagement and communication, thought leadership conduct research and analysis with Business, Industry and Professional Associations and actively provide proactive and reactive advice relating to Interest Groups & Civil Society.

This role will also require you to provide corporate & leadership positioning on credible platforms, partnerships, issues management and media relations as well as events management together with the Absa Events, Marketing and Communications departments.

**Job Description**:
Key Accountabilities:
Delivery and Support
- Implement the Group Sustainability Stakeholder Relations strategic intent and to ensuring alignment with GSSO and Group Marketing and Corporate Relation’s strategy and priorities.
- Support GSSO effort to be the voice at the forefront of relevant ESG/Sustainability and Banking industry developments and across the industry and position Absa as a key partner.
- Systematically drive an SSO thought leadership programme in collaboration with Business Units and ARO.
- Achieve a share of voice in relevant strategic platforms including media.
- Business, Professional and Industry association discussions and negotiations.
- Support the Executive in influencing the ESG agenda in relevant spaces and platforms.
- Provide effective support to protect and enhance Absa’s corporate reputation among key stakeholders.

Stakeholder Management
- Develop and stakeholder management framework for understanding on GSSO stakeholders and their interests and concerns.
- Actively promote the collaborative engagement of internal and external stakeholders.
- Represent & actively participate in Group meetings related to planning, processes and governance.
- Manage service offerings and Service Level Agreements with partners.
- Engage, interact with executive management to apprise them of developments and progress in Operations management.
- Drive, support and promote a better internal understanding of Sustainability and the value of early engagement within the ESG community.
- Drive collaboration with GCMA in positioning GSSO and externally.
- Drive collaboration with credible partners in the ESG/Sustainability space.

Process, Planning & Delivery of Strategic Themes
- Oversee the clearly defined annual, monthly and Adhoc activities.
- Drive and lead several initiatives concurrently in different cycles.
- Oversee the implementation of an effective and efficient process delivery on key initiatives across GSSO for high impact, high leverage improvement and cross functional collaboration opportunities.
- Oversee the implementation of resource planning and build the right capability to deliver to business.

Budget Control
- Forecasting and preparation of annual budgets that are aligned to key tactical and strategic plans.
- Oversee effective and consistent financial reports to inform key management decisions.
- Leverage finance to produce key monthly reporting for both GSSO and functional resources.

Governance Management
- Direct the governance, risk and controls activities and track and support dealing with open audit points.
- Ensure that design decisions are linked to Absa strategy and are traceable to business plans and maintain a documented log of governance.
- Own and agree corrective action items with management for findings related to the functional area.
- Adhere to and understand own responsibilities in terms of all compliance requirements and call for the area's Compliance Officer to conduct briefing sessions if gaps are identified.
- Establish a framework for aligned decision-making and results-driven action.

Role/Person Specification Competencies:

- Advanced and effective communication
- Digital affinity
- Creative and innovative thinking
- Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking
- Formulating strategies and concepts
- Leading and supervising
- Process management
- Communication and presentation skills
- Strategic planning and implementation

Qualifications:

- Bachelor's Degrees and Advanced Diplomas in Communication Studies and Language

**Skills**:

- Excellent communication and networking skills. Able to liaise with stakeholders at all levels
- Strong financial/budget planning, analysis and management acumen.
- Creative and resourceful strategic thinking and problem-solving ability.
- Effective in motivating others to achieve the desired objectives
- Superior interpersonal/teamwork skills and a positive, optimistic outlook.

Knowledge and Experience:

- Demonstrated skill and experience in strategic thinking and planning and critical analysis