Recruitment of an External Engagement Manager – Pretoria, South Africa
Position: External Engagement Manager
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Reporting to: Team Leader
Commence: 1 August 2020
Appointment Duration: Up to 31 March 2022
Background
Australia Awards–Africa is a DFAT-funded initiative designed: (i) to equip Africans with the skills and knowledge necessary to influence the economic and social development outcomes of their own countries; and (ii) to build the long-term capacity of African partners to progress towards their development objectives.
Australia Awards–Africa provides a mix of long and short-term scholarships to Africans in the public, civil society and private sectors in targeted disciplines that support the home countries’ developmental priorities.
Australia Awards–Africa is managed by Palladium on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Purpose
The External Engagement Manager is responsible for overseeing and directing the approaches to meet DFAT’s public diplomacy and alumni engagement objectives as outlined in the Australia Global Alumni Strategy (2016-2022). Responsibilities include overall direction of the alumni engagement work plan and to maximize public diplomacy opportunities through alumni engagement and other program activities. This will include managing engagement and enrichment campaigns in Australia, as well as the management of alumni team members to generate a pipeline of content for production by communications team members, manage and deliver on the Australia Awards website and design and implement digital marketing strategies.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Oversee the implementation of a DFAT approved communications strategy which includes:
o communications products aligned to program goal and objectives
o compliant with the Global Awards brand and quality standards
o localised support to DFAT Posts for public diplomacy objectives
o production and distribution of appropriate promotional material.
- Maintain, in liaison with DFAT and Australia Awards staff, strong visual branding of the program.
- Determine how best Palladium resources can support alumni engagement and public diplomacy activities that align to DFAT’s broader foreign policy agenda, in consultation with DFAT
- Lead the planning and implementation of external engagement activities, emphasizing opportunities to create and exploit synergies between alumni engagement and public diplomacy.
- Oversee and report on agreed activities which may include:
o supporting alumni association engagement with DFAT posts
o assisting Posts with the appointment of Alumni Ambassadors
o executing a Small Grants program
o fostering the Women in Leadership Network in collaboration with the GESI Officer
o execute scholar enrichment campaigns, Reintegration and Stay Connected Workshops in Australia
o design and distribute communications products as per agreed Digital Media Plan
- Maintain stakeholder contact details, specifically alumni and target agencies, to allow for timely communications.
- Ensure that all website and social media content is aligned with strategic program goals, compliant with DFAT branding, contractual and security requirements.
- Maintain a contemporary website with both relevant content and functionality, including alumni content. Effectively utilise social media channels to raise the profile of the Australia Awards–Africa program with key stakeholders.
- Oversee all operational aspects of the annual program of alumni events and oversee key decision making with regards to workshops, conferences and high-level reception functions.
- Maintain up to date alumni database including contact information.
- In consultation with Awards unit, develop materials to be used in the promotions cycle.
- Liaise with DFAT stakeholders at Post and in Canberra to ensure the production and distribution of Communications outputs (print and audio-visual) responding to DFAT needs such as success stories, alumni profiles, press releases and feature articles.
- Edit and proof-read communications products in accordance with DFAT agreed quality assurance protocols.
- Build the technical competence of staff in skills by being the practice leader for the program team on communications activities (internal and external).
- Implement continuous improvement processes and promote a culture of continuous improvement among the External Engagement team.
- Ensure compliance with and maintenance of the Program Operations Manual (POM).
- Respond to urgent or emergent communication, public diplomacy or promotion activity needs, as requested by the Team Leader.
- Support Monitoring & Evaluation processes.
- Ensure staff provide accurate and timely program data.
Other Duties
- Liaise with the Program Operations Manager on the financial management of the Unit, including inputs to budgeting and cash flow forecasts.
- Contribute to program planning, policy and process development, reporting and risk management
- Attend all management meetings.
- Participate in relevant HR and performance management processes.
- Travel within the African continent, often at short notice, to support program activities, if required.
- Undertake any other duties as directed by the Team Leader from time to time.
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
Australia Awards–Africa is committed to supporting inclusive development practices across all program activities. Social inclusion is an umbrella term adopted by Australia Awards to refer to gender equality, disability inclusion and HIV support. Among your roles, you will be expected to implement and embed inclusive development practices within your work activity. You will be expected to demonstrate sensitivity to issues of social inclusion, and especially as you engage with candidates, scholars, alumni and other stakeholders.
Reporting
- Contribute to strategic planning and reporting including the Annual Plan, six-monthly reports and exception reporting as required, including preparation of draft material for review by the Team Leader;
- Submit reports to the Team Leader in the prescribed format.
- Report all suspected and / or detected fraud within 24-hours of discovery and in accordance with DFAT’s Fraud Policy, the respective Palladium Policy and the Fraud Risk Assessment and Management Plan.
Qualifications and experience
Essential:
- Master’s degree (preferred), minimum Bachelors (Honours) in communications, public relations or relevant field. Undergraduate degree supplemented by relevant experience in similar position may be acceptable
- Experience in communications at the national or international level, including developing products such as newsletters, stories, social media and website content
- Experience managing high profile events
- Experience establishing and managing effective relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to deliver outcomes
- Demonstrated right to work in South Africa
Desirable:
- Specific experience in an Alumni relations position
- Experience managing grants
- Understanding of, or demonstrated willingness to learn about, Australia Awards
- Knowledge of and experience working in international development and/or with international donor organisations.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential:
- Outstanding oral and written communications and editing skills in English under tight deadlines
- Excellent materials conceptual, design and lay-up skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage projects to deliver outcomes to requirements within agreed time frames
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
- Highlydeveloped sense of initiative and ability to effectively multi-task.
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to solve complex problems
- Demonstrated ability to build and nurture strong relations with clients
- Communicates sensitively, effectively and creatively across different constituencies
- Ability to work effectively as part of a cross-cultural, multi-disciplinary team
- Experience in managing a medium-size budget
- Microsoft Office skills to an advanced level
Desirable: French language skills
Apply here