Media Specialist

**Who are we?**

Sanlam Life and Savings (SLS) is focused on serving our retail and corporate clients in South Africa and further developing our strategic advantages in the South African market. Sanlam Life and Savings consists of the following business units Retail Mass, Corporate, Risk and Savings, Glacier and various business enabling functions. The Sanlam Life and Savings Office provides strategic direction, coordination and support to the four clusters, as well as performing governance oversight that includes assurance provided by second line of defense functions in SLS, to enable us to meet our business objectives.

**What will you do?**
- To help manage and execute an external communications (media/PR) strategy in support of the overarching SLS business strategy and aligned to the broader Sanlam Group business strategy.

Your experience as a media and communications specialist will enable your proactive work in this context and will also require you to support crisis and reputation management on behalf of the business.

Your role will require you to support the conceptualisation and creation of high-quality, audience-relevant content (i.e. financial literacy and thought leadership) aimed at informing, educating and empowering our clients and the public at large, and positioning Sanlam as an industry leader. Based on your knowledge of the media landscape, you will identify relevant and impactful media to engage and target, including trade publications, top tier financial and consumer media across the print, broadcast, digital and social media spectrum.

You will support the PR agency, as required, to collate relevant content for media purposes. This engagement may require you to conduct one-on-one interviews with business experts, arrange for interviews to be conducted by our PR agency, or pursue other practical methods which will enable the creation of required content.

You will also help to manage and facilitate requests for media interviews and be involved in tracking and reporting on media coverage.
As a member of the SLS communications team, your media focus forms part of a broader integrated communications strategy, and you will therefore understand the need to be involved in elements of internal communication, where relevant and required.

**What will make you successful in this role?**

**Key Responsibilities**:
**Strategic Media Engagement**
- Execute external communications strategies and media action plans in partnership with the PR agency and aligned to business objectives.
Supporting internal communication needs, as a member of the SLS communications team, noting the often-integrated nature of media-focused communication and internal staff communication.
Maintain high levels of awareness of media and social media conversation as part of your role to manage and mitigate reputational risk for Sanlam.

**Content Creation & Media Production**
- Write, edit, and produce high-quality relevant content including media releases, articles, holding statements for risk scenarios, and social media posts.
Tailor content for diverse audiences across relevant platforms.
Draft content for internal communication purposes, as require.

**Media Relations & Monitoring**
- Build and maintain strong relationships with Sanlam’s PR agency.
Build and maintain meaningful relationships with financial and consumer media, as well as trade media and social media influencers.
Manage media liaison and ensure timely, accurate responses to media queries.
Media monitoring and analysis - compiling regular reports on media coverage and media campaigns.

**Crisis & Reputation Management**
- Participate in/ support crisis communication and reputation management.

**Internal Communications**
- Your understanding of the integrated nature of corporate communication will underpin the communication support which you will deliver for internal purposes, based on the business need.
Agency & Stakeholder Engagement
Build and maintain excellent internal relationships with marketing teams, business experts and spokespeople, as well as our PR agency.
Ensure efficient processes and regular engagement between internal stakeholders and the PR agency.
Forge and maintain relationships with communications teams across SLS businesses as well as across the Group

**Innovation & AI Integration**

Stay informed about emerging technologies and trends in media and communications.
- Role Requirements/Output

**Qualifications**:

- Bachelor’s degree or Diploma in Journalism, Communication, or Media Studies with relevant majors.

**Knowledge and Skills**:
Strong interest in and understanding of the South African financial services landscape.
Excellent writing, editing, and interviewing skills.
Experience in journalism, corporate communications, and/or public relations.
Proven ability to identify and leverage topical media opportunities.
Strong knowledge of financial media and social media.
Proficiency in media monitoring and reporting tools.
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