Communications and Public Affairs Manager, South Africa at Google

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 7 years of experience in public relations, media relations, or internal and executive communications with technology products or services.
• Experience in communications within a business, social media, traditional media, non-profit, or a similar environment.
• Experience with developing and implementing social media campaigns with measurable results.
• Experience working in the digital or traditional media landscape in the Southern Africa region.

Preferred qualifications:

• Ability to focus, prioritise, and maintain good judgement in a fast-paced environment; to think, plan, and execute on multiple projects simultaneously in an organised fashion; and to adapt quickly and escalate issues effectively.
• Ability to work with colleagues in various geographies and understand cultural differences, and work well as part of a team and lead efforts across disciplines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, alongside fluency in one or more language native to the Southern African region.

Responsibilities

• Build close, productive relationships with social influencers, journalists, key partners, and influencers in tech, business, and mainstream press in South Africa, while thinking creatively, taking smart risks, and addressing tough issues as they arise.
• Create written materials including story pitches, messaging guidelines, press releases, Q&As, presentations, and speeches, and design strategies and content for external communications channels.
• Partner with Product, Sales, Marketing, and other teams across Google to craft compelling communication strategies that show the usefulness and key benefits of products, platforms and programs.
• Represent Google as a company spokesperson for a wide variety of social and traditional media inquiries. Assist with all communications activities in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Coach and guide company officials for press activities, and oversee external agencies to support day-to-day inquiries, special projects, and events.