Manager: Strategic Partnerships and Stakeholder Relations

**Purpose of this Role**

The role includes driving stakeholder mobilisation, managing the development of strategic relations and partnerships, and facilitating collaboration for skills development initiatives across the construction / built environment sector. This position requires high-level strategic thinking, engagement with industry experts, and comprehensive reporting to the CEO and Board Committees.

**Responsibilities**:

- Develop an operational plan aligned with the Stakeholder Relations and Chambers Strategy and CETA Strategic Plans.
- Strategically lead the mobilisation of industry stakeholders for skills collaboration.
- Oversee efforts to ensure balanced representation in all chamber industries.
- Approve and submit comprehensive sub-sector reports and data to inform the skills planning of the CETA.
- Lead industry engagement to identify specific skills development needs in each sub-sector.
- Build partnerships with workplaces and assessment centers to expand learning programs reach for the CETA.
- Oversee monitoring of learner throughput and ensure alignment with employment goals in the sector.
- Initiate partnerships with industry experts and stakeholders and manage relationships and contracts with identified partners and service providers.
- Facilitate and maintain effective stakeholder and business relationships through appropriate relationship-building, networking and reporting activities.
- Represent the organisation to stakeholders, associates and partners and maintain professional, effective and amicable relationships to ensure that CETA’s interests are upheld.
- Liaise regularly with all third parties and ensure that business relationships are maintained.
- Ensure all Stakeholder Relations and Chambers’ activities adhere to relevant legal, regulatory, and industry standards.
- Prepare and submit regular Stakeholder Relations and Chambers reports on compliance status, highlighting any potential risks or areas of non-compliance to CEO.
- Provide a lead role in the operational, delivery and monitoring of contracts and provider performance on special projects and strategic partnerships.
- Collaborate with Special Projects for implementation of MOUs / MOAPs for skills and capacity impact.
- Prepare for internal and external audits and quality assurance reviews of the strategic partnerships.
- Prepare internal and external reports relating to project status and progress, estimates, deliverables, and safety statistics within required timelines.
- Compile and provide all the required reports in terms of Governance and management’s structures.
- Ensure proper and updated record-keeping of all project documents, reports and compliance certificates, including financial related information.
- Ensure that all MOUs and MOAP derive the desired outcomes, benefits and impact envisaged on entering to such.
- Coordinate Relationship Management Teams.
- Perform regular assessments and impact the current MOUs are making against strategic outcomes.
- Track all achievements and skills impact derived from the CETA and partners MOUs to date and appraise the CEO and prepared reports on the same to the Accounting Authority or its designated Committee(s) in this regard.

**Other general responsibilities attached to this role**
- Implement and oversee corrective action to address audit findings and recommendations.
- Identify and develop strategies to optimise key stakeholder relationships, implement those strategies in building sustainable and resilient relationships.
- Monitor and manage staff performance within the division in compliance with the CETA Performance Management policy and processes. This includes coaching and mentoring staff and interns.
- Develop a comprehensive system for reporting weekly, monthly, quarterly and on annual basis.
- Establish processes and routines that ensure the CEO’s and Accounting Authority’s decisions are implemented.
- Perform any other relevant duties as directed by the CEO and / or the supervisor.

**Specific Deliverables Expected**
- Credible and up to date Strategic Partnerships and Stakeholders Registers.
- Strategic Partnerships and Chambers Progress reports.
- Business unit’s Service Standards and Business Scorecard aligned to overall CETA scorecards, APP, SLA, Strategic Plans, etc.
- All risk, compliance and governance reports for the Special Projects unit.
- Business unit’s budgets spending progress reports.

**Desired Skills, Experience, Competencies and Attributes**
- Honour’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Project Management, Urban / Town / Regional Planning or equivalent NQF 8 qualifications.
- Master’s degree in the Built environment or business / corporate strategy studies is an added advantage.
- 5 years’ experience in construction project management and / or as a Team Leader or supervisor.
- Registration with the SACPMP, other relevant Councils within the CBE or equivalent professional body is essential.
- Knowledge of Quality systems applicable