Head: Corporate Citizenship: Youth Employability - Johannesburg at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• Provide strategic direction, day-to-day management and coordination of the Education and Youth Employability Programme, focusing on preparing young people between the ages of 18-34 with the education, skills, and experience needed for the workplace of the future, and enabling them to access gainful long-term employment and self-employment in areas of demand

Job Description

Leadership and Strategy:

• Lead the development of the Citizenship Strategy and ensure its alignment to Group Strategy, Purpose, #Reset234 and priorities
• Provide strategic leadership to ensure the implementation Citizenship Strategy
• Understand local, continental, and global trends and patterns in Sustainability and youth employability.
• Analysis of relevant policy (Youth Employability, Education, Citizenship) and implications for the Group.  
• Commission and manage purposeful and targeted research.
• Provide technical support and advice to Business, Functions and Clusters as required.
• Participate in relevant Leadership and Management forums to ensure effective organisational programme planning and coordination in support of Corporate Citizenship Strategy and Education and Youth Employability.

Stakeholder Relations and Management: 

• Stakeholder identification and management, both internal (Business, Functions and Clusters across the Group) and external.
• Initiate and maintain relationships, partnerships and networks externally as appropriate.
• Broker relationships internally and develop a collaborative working relationship with Business Units, Functions and Clusters in respect of Education and Youth Employability.

Thought Leadership:

• Ensure the development of a Promotion and Advocacy plan for Citizenship and ensure the implementation of the Thought Leadership and Dialogue series.  

Project Design and Management:

• Conceptualise, design Citizenship projects.  
• Project coordination and day-to-day management.
• Compile and track project budgets.
• Onboard project partners and ensure their compliance with project milestones and monitoring and evaluation requirements.
• Compile analytical project reports as per the agreed timelines.   
• Liaise with Finance, Legal, Risk to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.  
• Foster learning and embed understanding of Education and Youth Employability in Business Units, Functions and Clusters in support of Group Strategy, Purpose, #Reset234 and priorities

Capacity Building

• Retain and develop talent within Corporate Citizenship with a primary focus on skills transfer and sharing of best practice.
• Foster learning and embed understanding of Education and Youth Employability in Business Units, Functions and Clusters in support of Group Strategy, Purpose, #Reset234 and priorities

Qualifications:

• Minimum 8 years in Education, Citizenship, development work or related field
• Education, Social Sciences or related field.
• A Post-Graduate degree would be an added advantage.

Skills:

• High order conceptual, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to design and manage medium to large and complex projects.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Understanding and application of basic research methodologies in respect to tracking and monitoring.     
• Ability to work individually with minimal support and in teams.
• Compilation and interpretation of project budgets.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills.
• Self-driven, ability to anticipate and work under extreme pressure.   

Knowledge and Experience:

• At least 8 years of experience in Education, Citizenship and/or Donor Community or similar environment in Banking, Financial Services including Corporate Affairs, NGO or Public Sectors.

Education

• Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Marketing (Required)