Corporate Affairs Manager (Africa) at Puma Energy

Main Purpose:

An experienced Corporate Affairs specialist responsible for Corporate Affairs advice and guidance in Puma Energy’s Africa Region, including the provision of counsel to the Head of the Region and the regional leadership team to build positive reputation and trust for Puma Energy, using strong functional expertise in: government & stakeholder relations, media relations (proactive and reactive), crisis communications, thought-leadership, digital communications and employee communications and engagement in all countries in the Africa region.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities, Key Responsibilities:

1. Provide Corporate Affairs support and advice to the Head of Africa Region and the Regional Leadership Team on business issue that impact Reputation and trust for Puma Energy.

In particular, provide Government Relations, Stakeholder Management, Media, Issues and Crisis Communications support to the Senior Management in Africa. In doing so build and maintain strong relationships with all relevant internal and external stakeholders both individually and on behalf of the regional leadership team and company / group. Working with the regional leadership and General Managers, the role will have a particular focus on building excellent relationships with Governments in all the markets in which Puma Energy operate in order create and maintain a legislative and regulatory landscape which allows Puma Energy to do business and grow.
 

2. Direct and implement a regional communications strategy, complementing efforts to build and protect Puma Energy’s reputation and trust with regional and local stakeholders.  The regional Corporate Affairs plan should align closely with business plans and align with messaging at the global business and Group level.
 

3. Manage (up to two) Africa ‘Corporate Affairs Cluster’ managers to ensure effective ‘in-country’ communication both externally and internally. In doing so, ensure Country General Managers have access to appropriate Corporate Affairs support.
 

4. Coordinate the communications response to regional issues. Identify, track and document country-issues and identify opportunities, trends and risks. 

Feedback trends, issues and risks to the Regional Leadership Team, the Global Corporate Affairs Team and the wider Group in a timely manner.
 

5. Deliver proactive and integrated campaigns to advance Puma Energy’s interests and amplify marketing campaigns in the region.

Develop a positioning Programme for the Head of Africa and key Regional leadership (Government meetings, speeches, thought-leadership, media interviews).
 

6. Apply best practice in line with Group / Company Corporate Affairs standards, policies and practices for effective regional stakeholder relations, media relations and crisis and issues response.
 

7. Gather stories and examples from across the region and countries and business to leverage brand and reputation impact at the global and group level.

Ensure regional success stories are communicated globally so examples of good practice are shared e.g. publication to PumaWorld, Quarterly Results Presentations and the Annual Report in addition to external content.

8. Support and co-ordinate Corporate Affairs contribution to relevant regional events in support of business objectives. 
 

9. Contribute proactively to the regional crisis management communications response through the provision of timely briefing on media, government, employee and other stakeholder developments and provide suitable Puma Energy responses.

Maintain and implement the regional crisis communication plans and contribute to crisis training simulations.

Support in country crisis teams and liaise with Group crisis management.

Requirements:

Experience:

• 10 to 20 years’ experience in Corporate Affairs role including experience of Government Relations, Stakeholder Management, media relations and crisis communication.

• Experience handing Government relations and other Corporate Affairs issues at a regional level, working with leadership at regional and country level to manage relationships within not just in one country but across many African Markets.

• A wide and rich network of government, stakeholder and media contacts across African markets.

• Experience of policy development would be an advantage and existing relationships with key stakeholders in more than one African country would be an advantage.

• Experience of Employee communications would be an advantage.

  • Experience in global matrix organisations operating in Africa and emerging markets

  • Experience operating in consumer and B2B business and / or in a similar industry to Puma Energy would be an advantage.

Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal).

• Work with the highest levels of leadership.

• Self-starter who can work proactively and flexibly.

• Provide succinct, timely advice to senior leadership.

• An understanding of how Corporate Affairs can add value to a company either by avoiding costs, or supporting the generation new income.

• Develop comprehensive communications and stakeholder relations strategies, including the development of stakeholder mapping, engagement plans, reputation building with complex stakeholders.

• Create and maintain a network of relationships with a complex range of stakeholders in the media, governments and civic society.

• Additional languages French, Portuguese and local South African languages would be desirable.

Competencies:

• Good interpersonal and communication skills at all levels.

• Proven supervisory & management skills.

• Team leadership.

• Influencing others.

Values:

• Customer focus

• Collaboration

• Lead by example

• Agility

Key Relationships and Department Overview:

• External – Governments, Regulators, Media, Non-Governmental Organisations and other stakeholders.

• Internal relationships – Africa Region Leadership team, Corporate Affairs, Finance, HSE, Compliance, Procurement, Country General Managers, Heads of Lines of Business and employees in general in the Africa Region.