EHOD:CSI Education/Vodacom Foundation at Vodacom

Job description

As the executive responsible for Vodacom Foundation, plan, implement, manage and control the various societal development (C.S.I.) projects carried out by the Foundation on Education with the overall objective of maintaining Vodacom’s position as a leading corporate citizen. In so doing, conceptualise projects aligned with key government developmental priorities.

Role Requirement Essence of the role/Key Accountabilities

Key Activities / Decision Areas

• Conceptualise, research, develop and document annual C.S.I. programme aligned with key national priority areas on education.
• Maintain expert knowledge of the country’s education portfolio and cycle
• Maintain knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals and education as an anchor for most SDGs
• Be able to analyse, understand, and link education system with CSI from a practical perspective
• Ensure alignment to National Development Plan
• Lead and leverage ICTs as a tool to deliver education with EBU and other partners
• Nodal point for Vodacom Marketing on education as anchor of Vodacom brand
• Produce reports for the company on the status of education in the country and ICT intervention measures.
• Maintain knowledge and keep abreast of trends in the policy development space
• Conduct research and analysis and guide development of inputs on draft policies that impact on Vodacom on education.
• Provide support to EBU and CBU through relevant policy analysis and thought leadership to
• Facilitate understanding of collaboration between CSI and EBU whilst also appreciating the
• Separation between the two functions- i.e., SA Connect
• Research and analysis work must be backed up by paper/report with clear research methodology and an analysis/outline of parties consulted
• Consult with relevant government and public sector representatives to confirm priority areas and possible C.S.I. projects on education.
• Carry out preliminary scoping, obtaining resource requirements input from project managers, specialists, etc., and document potential projects to concept stage.
• Present to board for preliminary ‘in principle’ approval.
• Lead thought leadership sessions with peers in education and stakeholders
• Custodian of CSI strategy and develop though leadership on CSI
• Operational management of the Division
• Turn and maintain education portfolio into a strategic pillar of Vodacom brand
• On-going review of internal work flow, efficiency, response times on requests, etc.
• Prepare formal quarterly reports for Board, Exco, Vodafone Foundation and Group/company annual report input.
• Lead Foundation Board presentations on education portfolio
• Evaluate multiple project requests (+/- 200 per week) and determine most worthy in terms of
• Overall C.S.I. goals and potential project impact.
• Prepare detailed project plans setting out project objectives, resource requirements, timelines, deliverables and measureable benefits (e.g. number of teachers trained, patients on a specific programme, etc.).
• Review and management of service providers of Education in Foundation
• Drive in-house project management of Education activities
• Build relevant capacity on project management of Education projects
• Conduct in loco inspection of all education facilities and ensure effectiveness and efficiencies
• Streamline and monitor evolution of all education projects based on stakeholder needs
• Have expert knowledge and ensure effective utilisation of the education ecosystem
• Manage and ensure implementation plan on marketing of Foundation activities in consultation with the Safety and Security division
• Analyse and make recommendations to CO on partnership and donation requests on education.
• Maintain innovation relationships with EBU, CBU and the company and serve as adviser on socio economic needs on education
• Collaborate with CBU to monitor the development and improvement zero-rated sites that are part of the education CSI
• Oversee Monitoring and Evaluation of CSI projects one education
• In consultation with the Division responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation progressively monitor implementation, controlling project costs, and confirming delivery of benefits to target groups (documentary evidence).
• Make requests for M&E from the Division responsible for M&E and provide guidance on the
• monitoring and evaluation of education projects
• Ensure project environment is conducive to delivering required results.
• Ensure adequate resources are allocated to projects
• Ensure compliance with all laws especially BBEE
• Ensure follow through on relationship between Vodacom’s investments on education with socio economic development
• Manage stakeholder relationships.
• Continuous analysis of CSI stakeholders, maintenance of a stakeholder map, profile and engagement plan
• Identify education issues for stakeholder engagement and the relevant stakeholders
• Build and maintain active relationships between Vodacom and;
• Government ministers in relevant departments
• Parliament (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces)
• National Departments
• Provinces – Provincial Departments (9), Metros (8) and District Municipalities
• Civil society
• Industry and business partners
• Communities
• Ensure specialists file reports from stakeholder engagements to assist in continuous stakeholder
• Assessment and profiling and follow through on issues.
• Participate in the stakeholder engagement committee.
• Monitor national and subordinate policy development on CSI , budget votes, government policy
• Implementation processes that have potential impact on Vodacom or the industry
• Manage the relationship continuously informing public sector players of Vodacom ON CSI.
• In consultation with relevant business units, ensure alignment and awareness between
• Vodacom’s business units with CSI trends
• Participate and lead in relevant forums on CSI programs on education and in general CSI
• Elevate the CSI status of Vodacom amongst peers
• Engagements must have written reports with clear analysis of issue discussed and
• mood/perception of stakeholder
• In consultation with Public Policy manage the CSI activities related to the Innovator Trust
• Drive relationship between Innovator Trust and Foundation on Youth Academy graduates
• Innovator Trust
• Leadership Competency Requirements
• Responsible for managing a professional staff complement of 6 employees plus outsourced service providers/business partners in controlling an annual C.S.I. spend of R80 – R90 million. This, typically, involves 3 major ‘flagship’ projects (+- 80% of total spend) approximately 10 – 15 medium sized projects (R100 000 to R1 million spend) and approximately 40 donations/small projects (less than R100 000 spend).

The Company’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.

Experience

Minimum of 10 years senior management experience in Government, education or public policy, regulatory, telecoms/ICT, academia, N.G.O. or donor organisation managing large budget projects and driving thought leadership and/or communications. Strong social service background and public sector experience. Marketing and communication will be added advantage.