Communications Manager (Post Level 8) at Stellenbosch University

Duties/Pligte        

Strategic Communications:

• Leading development of a strategic communications plan and budget in alignment with CST priorities and updating it annually.
• Developing and maintaining networks and relationships, including with Stellenbosch University's Corporate Communications and reputable media houses / platforms to position the CST within an African and global sustainability discourse.
• Supporting communications strategies for multi-stakeholder research projects and collaborations.
• Developing and leading media engagement strategy, including press releases, interviews, and placement of thought leadership articles.
• Identifying opportunities for the Centre to shape public discourse on sustainability transitions.
• Supporting marketing of CST's postgraduate programmes through partnerships with specialist marketing providers.
• Maintaining and growing a strong, coherent institutional identity.
• Supporting internal communication across programmes and teams.

Content Development and Knowledge Exchange:

• Developing and supporting researchers to communicate their work to non-specialist audiences.
• Facilitating the translation of complex research into accessible, compelling outputs like op-eds, policy briefs, reports and short videos.
• Creating and curating compelling and timely content for the CST website, social media pages, newsletters and multiple other dissemination opportunities in collaboration with CST researchers.
• Facilitating opportunities for knowledge exchange between scientists, policymakers, civil society and industry to grow CST's presence as a convening power.
• Coordinating the production of the CST annual report.
• Designing and disseminating announcements for CST events.
• Developing and maintaining CST communications databases and mailing lists.
• Amplifying marketing campaigns, especially for CST training programmes.

Relationship Management:

• Facilitating partnerships with specialist postgraduate marketing providers to advertise the CST's training programmes.
• Facilitating relationships and commission work from specialist providers, e.g. for graphic design, website design, videography, and photography.

Job Requirements/Pos Vereistes        

• A tertiary qualification, NQF 6 or 7, in communications or journalism.
• At least five years' experience in communications management or journalism.
• Understanding of sustainability science, global environmental change, development, or related areas.
• Strong track record in media engagement and public communication.
• Strong coordination skills and the ability to support and work with researchers at various levels to communicate their work.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex scientific or policy content into accessible formats.
• Experience in developing and implementing communications strategies at organisational level.
• Excellent writing, editing, and multi-media storytelling skills.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to African and Global South contexts.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise work in order to meet deadlines.
• Experience in working in diverse, interdisciplinary, and multicultural environments.
• Proficiency in MS Office, WordPress, and social media.

Recommendation/Aanbeveling        

• Experience in supporting or shaping thought-leadership in the public domain.
• Familiarity with basic design tools (Adobe, Canva).
• The ability to work across science-policy-practice interfaces.
• Multimedia storytelling skills (video, podcasting, visual communication).
• Experience as a communications expert working in participatory interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary environments with minimal supervision of work and schedules

Closing Date: 27-Jul-2026