Head of Stakeholder Engagement

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

The Head Stakeholder Engagement will lead the strategic direction and execution of stakeholder engagement initiatives within the Government Relations, Public Policy, and Sustainability division. This senior leadership position requires an innovative, proactive approach to building and maintaining relationships with key external stakeholders, guiding the Foundation’s strategic public policy and sustainability agenda, and driving forward-thinking solutions in alignment with the organization’s mission and goals. The role will involve collaborating closely with the executive team, senior leaders, and external partners to shape and communicate corporate strategy while managing high-impact initiatives that advance the social impact development agenda.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities:
Strategic Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships:

- Lead and build strategic partnerships with key stakeholders across government, private sector, non-profits, and global development organizations to drive shared goals in social impact and sustainability.
- Foster relationships with senior government officials, policymakers, NGOs, and other stakeholders to influence policy decisions that align with the Foundation’s objectives.
- Design and implement global and regional strategies for stakeholder engagement, ensuring that the organization’s perspective is represented at the highest levels.
- Oversee and direct the Foundation’s participation in key international forums, coalitions, and conferences, ensuring high-level representation and alignment with strategic goals.

Research, Insight & Strategic Thought Leadership:

- Provide strategic insights and horizon scanning for emerging issues in government relations, sustainability, and social justice, ensuring the organization is proactive in anticipating and responding to shifts in the external environment.
- Lead the creation of a dynamic knowledge repository of best practices and cutting-edge research to inform and support the Foundation’s objectives.
- Direct the analysis of policy trends and social development issues, crafting scenarios to anticipate potential impacts on the organization’s strategies and outcomes.
- Ensure the Foundation’s thought leadership is positioned in relevant forums, elevating its role in public policy and social responsibility discussions.

Development of Stakeholder Engagement Frameworks:

- Establish a robust and scalable framework for engaging with strategic stakeholders, ensuring consistency and impact in all external engagements.
- Create clear, actionable strategies for influencing public policy and achieving desired social outcomes in alignment with the Foundation’s mission.
- Lead the development of key advocacy messages, ensuring alignment with corporate goals and ensuring the organization’s voice is heard in the shaping of social impact and sustainability policies.

Funding & Strategic Partnership Development:

- Identify and lead initiatives to secure funding and strategic partnerships that support the Foundation’s mission and sustainability objectives.
- Build and maintain a network of potential partners, including corporations, foundations, and multilateral organizations, to generate funding and in-kind support for key initiatives.
- Develop and manage high-level relationships with funding bodies, ensuring alignment with the Foundation’s goals and long-term sustainability objectives.

Stakeholder & Reputation Management:

- Oversee and drive stakeholder relations, managing reputational risk and enhancing the organization’s profile among key influencers and decision-makers.
- Ensure early engagement with stakeholders to address potential issues before they become reputational risks, collaborating with cross-functional teams to provide timely solutions.
- Represent the organization in leadership forums, ensuring that key insights and updates are communicated effectively to both internal and external stakeholders.
- Lead crisis and issue management efforts, ensuring that the organization is well-positioned to handle sensitive matters with the appropriate communication strategies.

Strategic Process & Planning Delivery:

- Direct the development and execution of annual and ad-hoc strategic plans, ensuring that key stakeholder engagement objectives are met on time and within budget.
- Lead cross-functional teams in the implementation of strategic initiatives, managing resources effectively to deliver high-impact projects.
- Continuously refine and improve processes to ensure high-quality delivery, operational efficiency, and organizational alignment.

Budget and Financial Oversight:

- Oversee