Executive Head: Public Affairs

**Role purpose**:
Solidify and elevate the positioning of the company in the external environment by ensuring that the necessary level of robust argumentation is developed and effectively leveraged by key employees and Senior Leaders to persuade key external stakeholders to adopt positions on material Policy matters in alignment with the Company’s Strategy & Social Contract.
To manage policy related reputation issues that emanate from both the external and internal environment

**Your responsibilities will include**:
**Specialist Chief Lobbyist**
Act as a Company advocate between VSA, Vodacom Group and its markets and Vodafone Group
Represent the Company at external International Organisations and External industry institutions such as GSMA, in-country UN and AU organisations.
Accelerate the one EA transformation by transitioning from a Public Affairs Community (‘PAC’) to a Public Affairs Machine, achieving individual and collective measurable outcomes through targeted action on strategic Policy positions.
Establish and execute a Public Affairs plan consisting of targeted, proactive, well evidenced, coordinated and externally focused campaigns, building on and amplifying the Social Contract.
Coordinate with internal business units and Group to deliver top policy asks, to support a step change in the regulatory environment. Enabling improved revenues, EBITDA and ROCE in a measurable way, including end 2 end execution of ‘package approaches’ aligned and jointly delivered with markets (top 3 items per market, plus EU)
Drive campaign communications on Tier 1 Group Policy topics to raise awareness around the problems and build broad-based cross-sectoral alliances to ensure the solution buy in from Politicians, Policy Makers and Regulators.

**Research, analyse and develop inputs on evolving government policies and monitor implementation**:
Conduct PESTEL analyses and develop research papers and advice business
Demonstrate and maintain knowledge and expertise of the public policy cycle and Vodacom South Africa’s ICT regulatory environment particularly the ECS, ECNS and digitalisation
Keep abreast of trends in the policy development space affecting Vodacom South Africa and provide advisory reports, i.e. energy, BEE, competition, SMMEs, health and safety.
Oversee and Conduct research and analysis and guide development of inputs on draft policies that impact on Vodacom South Africa
Compile and Maintain a stakeholder engagement plan, and engaging the relevant internal stakeholders - i.e. Legal and regulatory teams, strategy, and new business, VB, lead and primary government departments, political parties, business, industry, labour and provide inputs for consolidation
Provide support to all business units through relevant policy analysis and thought leadership to facilitate partnerships and insights on the external environment
Ensure all research and analysis work culminates into a paper or report with stakeholders consulted and clear research methodology
Participate in various forums of Vodafone that implement the Vodafone Group External Affairs strategy

**Stakeholder profiling and mapping analysis including assessment of the governmental, political, and public sector relationships which are material to Vodacom’s strategy and create a platform for Vodacom leaders to engage with public sector leaders at the highest level (e.g. President, Opposition Leader, Party and Local government leaders, etc.)**
Must have access at high political and public policy level to monitor and ethically influence policy evolution and positions with public office bearers such as Presidency, national and provincial Cabinet, and business including industry forums
Custodian of company stakeholder map, profiling, and engagement plan per topical issue for engagement
Build and maintain active relationships between Vodacom South Africa, the executive, and legislature and “social partners”
Build and maintain active relationships with civil society, labour movements, regulators, business forums, and other operators within the ambit of competition legislation
Identify national issues impacting Vodacom South Africa and lobby for positive engagement (with specific messages) to relevant stakeholders
Monitor public policy evolution across the political spectrum and in government that have potential impact on Vodacom South Africa or the industry and advise CO and business accordingly and facilitate inputs
Manage the relationship on an on-going basis continuously informing public sector players of Vodacom South Africa and its Foundation and sustainability contributions to socio economic and political developments, etc.
Identify and manage strategic alliances
Monitor alignment with government and global policies, i.e. NDP, SDG, AU, UN-related
Attend / participate in relevant Business, Parliamentary, and other Public sector programmes.
Participate in thought leadership and policy development activities - leading public policy and advocacy