Regional External Affairs Manager (Internal/External)
SafaricomAt Safaricom Ethiopia, we are a purpose-led technology company dedicated to transforming lives through digital connectivity and inclusive financial services. In less than five years, we have grown to serve over 15 million 90 days active customers, with our network now reaching 60% of Ethiopia’s population; a testament to our bold vision and trusted partnerships.
Guided by our core values of Customer Obsession, Innovation, Integrity, and Get It Done Together, we are building a dynamic, inclusive, and empowering workplace. We believe our greatest strength lies in our people. That is why, for three consecutive years, we have proudly earned the Top Employer Award. In addition, we have received the African Top Employer recognition for the first time, reflecting our unwavering commitment to fostering a supportive, innovative, and inclusive work environment.
Join Safaricom Ethiopia and be part of a team shaping the digital future of Ethiopia. Here, your work has meaning, your voice matters, and your growth is our priority. Together, we are transforming lives for a digital future.
Role purpose: The role involves overseeing public affairs, encompassing regional government relations, CSR initiatives, management of regional media relations, coordination of regional activities, community engagement, support for ESG implementation, liaison with regional administration including law enforcement agencies and acting as the representative of Safaricom Ethiopia in the region. The primary objective is to support the company in achieving its commercial strategy while proactively managing operational risks, thereby contributing to Ethiopia's digital transformation goals. This position demands a strategic approach to security management and external relations to safeguard and promote the company's interests through effective communication, risk mitigation, and adherence to regulatory standards.
Responsibilities
Key accountabilities and decision ownership:
Develop and implement the Public Affairs strategy to advance Safaricom Ethiopia’s Policy Priorities, CSR, and ESG initiatives in the region.
Cultivate and sustain relationships with communities, regional authorities, media agencies, and law enforcement to support operational objectives.
Support Business Units i.e Technology Commercial, EBU etc.. in achieving regional business KPIs.
Foster productive relationships with local government offices to mitigate operational challenges.
Provide External Affairs perspective and detailed reports on overall business updates on asset protection, network rollout and commercial activities.
Maintain a comprehensive stakeholder engagement map.
Execute CSR initiatives, manage grievances, and support ESG implementation within communities.
Oversee physical and personnel security for Safaricom Ethiopia’s facilities and regional staff.
Design, implement, and manage access control, perimeter security, and surveillance systems.
Investigate and resolve issues impacting company assets, facilities, staff, and documents.
Collaborate with Health & Safety Manager on health and security investigations.
Coordinate bi-annual awareness briefings at all company facilities with contracted Security Risk Management Consultant.
Key performance indicators:
Provide detailed mapping of key stakeholders at regional levels and their respective roles in different government offices.
Structure and document implementation of engagement plan.
Successful intervention with government officials at regional levels to ensure Safaricom Ethiopia receives relevant support on operational and commercial activity.
Identification and implementation of CSR activities in the region.
Managing ESG implementation in the region.
Building regional media relations to build reputation.
Regular registration and reporting of grievances happening in the region and finding amicable solutions in collaboration with the regional team.
Enable and support Technology function to meet network rollout plan.
Support Commercial function to meet revenue objectives.
Enable Sales and Distribution team to acquire customers.
Bulit strong relationship with law enforcement agencies to secure operational activities safety in the region.
Liaise with law enforcement agencies to sensitize company regional staff on general insecurity trends and personal/residential security awareness.
Develop and distribute advisories to inform staff about potential threats and necessary precautions
Core competencies, knowledge, and experience:
Business Competencies:
Consciously takes steps to make the most of every conversation/interaction.
Identify areas of intervention that can positively influence the regional government and the community that enable the business operation.
Identifies people’s needs, interests, and motives to be able to influence the decisions they make.
Communicates simply to excite and engage people.
Proactively adapts own style and approach to build rapport, and work with the regional team more effectively.
Identify and procativly mange any issues that affect the business.
Operational Excellence:
Targets effort and resources on high-value, high-impact activity.
Staying updated on laws and regulations that affect the operation of the business and proactively adapting strategies to remain compliant.
Maintain the relationship with the regional government and proactively engage them.
Focuses on achieving maximum performance and driving continuous improvement.
Plan to respond to grievances and crises that could impact the business reputation and operations in the region.
Engaging with various stakeholders including media and law enforcement agencies in the region
Identify possible areas of initiative to do CSR initiatives that demonstrate the company's commitment to social causes, social responsibility, environmental sustainability, and community development that are aligned with the company's values and goals.
Uses knowledge of products, technology, process, systems, and policy to solve problems.
Creativity and Innovation
Finds creative ways to exploit opportunities and solve problems.
Strategically communicate issues that need support from stakeholders with story-telling techniques that help in easy understanding of technicals matters.
Creative problem-solving skills to address emerging issues or crises, thinking outside the box to find unconventional solutions with an adaptable approach.
Takes risks and pushes what is possible.
Identify and foster creative partnerships with stakeholders on implementing CSR projects that focus on community development or environmental sustainability.
Collaborate and coordinate with the regional teams to integrate innovative approaches to tackle obstacles and achieve business objectives.
Experiments with unorthodox approaches
Business Know how
Uses data and research to make decisions that are competitively and financially robust.
Understanding the needs of the local community to implement CSR projects
Balances current and future needs
Thinks and acts like the owner of the business.
Identifying potential risks that can impact business revenue and coming up with a mitigation plan
Acts in line with legal, regulatory, professional, and ethical standards
Working with Change
Responds flexibly to changing situations
Foster for collaborative environment.
Manages the business and people aspects of change to drive performance.
Effectively communicating and managing change within the organization.
Addressing evolving expectations of stakeholders through adaptable and responsive strategies.
Project and Program Management
Strategic alignment on key intervention areas with the regional team to ensure maximum support from stakeholders.
Overseeing the business operations in the region in line with IFC standards and the socioeconomic nature of the region.
Identifying potential risks and developing mitigation strategies.
Coordination of the business operation in the region.
Effective management of stakeholders to ensure alignment and smooth execution.
Technical Competencies:
Relationships: Ability to builds networks with other teams in the business. Sets high standards for what they and their teams do. Takes responsibility for targets.
Decision making: Holder provides information and makes recommendations (regional and local interconnect reports).
Communication: clear and concise in talking and writing, keeps all relevant people informed of progress in work, presents complex information and concepts in a way which is simple to understand. Good organizational skills, initiative-taking, and self-drive for results.
Speed: Relentlessly prioritize and pursue the outcomes that matter to our business.
Simplicity: Make things simple for customers, partners, and colleagues.
Trust: Dependable and transparent to deal with. Deliver for others, and trust others to do likewise.
Risk Assessment and Management: Ability to conduct thorough security risk assessments to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities.
Crisis Management: Competence in managing emergency situations, including evacuations, lockdowns, and coordination with emergency services.
Qualifications
Must have technical / professional qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in in Political Science, Law, Economics, Communication or similar discipline ·
More than 8 years of experience in similar/ related role in government or a corporate entity
Good relationships with stakeholders in the region including law enforcement agencies
Professional usage of the region’s working language
Must know the socioeconomic and political situation of the region and preferably work in the region.
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Experience in community engagement in the region.
How to Apply. If you feel that you are up to the challenge and possess the necessary qualification and experience, kindly proceed to create/ update your candidate profile on the recruitment portal and then Click on the apply button. Remember to attach your resume.