Head: Marketing and Communications at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Job Description    

• The Head: Marketing and Communications is responsible for leading and managing the overall marketing and communications of IFISA through the implementation of strategies and plans that enable effective communication and marketing initiatives to enhance and maintain IFISA’s internal and external brand and reputation. This includes leading the implementation of digital marketing and communications solutions by managing and maintaining the website and other digital solutions that will enable effective communication to all stakeholders, as well as planning events that promote IFISA and allow for key stakeholder engagements.

Key Responsibilities    
Strategic and Planning Functions

• Develop the marketing and communications strategy and plans aligned to business objectives and priorities.
• Develop and manage IFISA’s brand strategy and maintain consistent application of the corporate identity.
• Align the communication and marketing annual operating and performance plans to support IFISA’s strategic direction.
• Lead the preparation of the report from a brand, communication and marketing perspective.
• Develop stakeholder communication strategies and policies (internal and external).
• Manage media risk exposure through identification, implementation and maintenance of risk control measures to mitigate possible risks.

Marketing and Communication

• Develop and implement marketing programs for target segments by understanding specific needs, gathering market intelligence and analysing internal/external data through research.
• Conduct research and feasibility analysis and seize marketing opportunities on behalf of IFISA.
• Identify and create key communication platforms and channels to be used internally and externally.
• Drive understanding of IFISA vision, brand and business objectives internally and externally.
• Oversee the management and implementation of all corporate events.
• Provide brand marketing and communication guidance to management and units.
• Drive the roll-out of communication to all employees in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
• Promote IFISA’s programmes through various communication platforms, including print, video, audio, photography, graphics, and digital.
• Manage the IFISA website by maintaining the content, brand and graphic design.
• Manage and strengthen IFISA’s stakeholder engagement processes and interfaces both within IFISA and externally.
• Serve as IFISA’s key media spokesperson and develop media articles, responses and presentations for media communication.
• Manage the planning, designing and implementation of strategic communication campaigns.
• Guide on all internal and external communication channels, web, print, etc.

Corporate Social Investment

• Identify Corporate Social Investment initiatives that are aligned to IFISA and positioning as a good corporate citizen.
• Guide IFISA in Corporate Social Investment efforts, ensuring sustainable benefits for beneficiaries.
• Establish a framework to identify and manage community issues and communication activities, including community consultation.

People Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning to maximise individual and collective potential.
• Drive talent development initiatives, including coaching, performance management, and career pathing, to build and retain a skilled and motivated team.
• Promote a culture of high performance through implementing performance management in line with the planned strategic objectives, goals, quality standards and agreed key performance measures using sound performance management principles.
• Contribute to building synergies & cooperation across the public and private sector infrastructure ecosystem.

Key Measurements of Outputs

• Successful implementation of integrated marketing and communications strategies aligned to organisational objectives.
• Strengthened internal and external brand positioning, visibility, and reputation.
• Management of digital marketing platforms, website content, and communication channels to enhance stakeholder engagement.
• Delivery of high-quality marketing campaigns, communication materials, publications, and media content within agreed timelines.
• Strong stakeholder engagement initiatives that enhance relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Successful planning and execution of corporate events, campaigns, and promotional initiatives.
• Proactive media relations and public relations management that support organisational messaging and reputation.
• Management of communication risks, issues, and crisis communication responses.
• Compliance with branding standards, governance requirements, and communication policies.
• Management of team performance, budgets, service providers, and employee development.
• Clean audit outcomes and effective resolution of audit findings.

Expertise & Technical Competencies    
Communication (Written and Verbal)

• Is relied on by others to help them write complex technical and non-technical documents and briefs.
• Can determine which aspects of this knowledge area need to be transferred to others to achieve organisational goals.
• Coaches others and transfers communication skills and knowledge to others.
• Able to communicate complex problems or concepts by making them simple and understandable for others.
• Adapts language to the level of the audience to ensure that the message has a positive impact and is interesting to the audience.
• Is articulate, demonstrates a wide range of vocabulary, and is confident when talking to large/high-level audiences.

Marketing and Communications Skills

• Strong understanding of Marketing and Communication principles and best practices, and of the full range of Marketing and Communication activities.
• Ability to contribute to the development and implementation of a Marketing / Communication strategy.
• Ability to take a lead role in Marketing and Communication activities, such as collecting and analysing market insights, user feedback, content creation, producing marketing collateral, planning.
• Editorial planning and strategy experience.

Digital Marketing Skills

• Digital channel strategy and management experience.
• Keeps up with the latest trends as it relates to industrial sectors key to DBSA.
• Aligning the brand to the changing needs and challenges of the organisation and economic environment.

Project Management

• Initiates project plans and secures resources for projects that span area or department boundaries.
• Uses estimating techniques and develops project risk management approaches.
• Has an in-depth and practical understanding of how to maximise the effectiveness of project teams.

Planning & Organising

• Is relied on to help others plan and organise their workload.
• Uses effective time management processes to deal with high workload and tight deadlines.
• Organises, prioritises and schedules tasks so they can be performed within budget and with the efficient use of time and resources.
• Achieves goals promptly, despite obstacles encountered, by organising, reprioritising, and replanning.

Financial Acumen

• Makes sound financial decisions after having analysed their impacts on the organisation, partner agencies, and community.
• Effectively prepares budgetary submissions and forecasts for own department.
• Knows the internal and external factors that impact resource and asset availability.
• Can interpret management account reports in an operational/commercial context and take action as appropriate to maximise revenues and control costs.

Reporting & Communication

• Designs / customises reports to meet user needs.
• Prepares complex or tailored reports, gathers information from a variety of sources, analyses and includes in a report.
• Keeps standard reports under review and proposes improvements to meet user needs.

Presentation Skills

• Knows how to deliver arguments persuasively by employing a range of advanced presentation techniques (e.g., the appropriate use of body language, how to close a presentation so that the audience continues to think about the subject matter, etc.).
• Knows various feedback mechanisms to check levels of audience understanding.

Negotiation

• Has an appreciation of cultural sensitivities and differences.
• Effectively employs a variety of advanced behavioural/interpersonal competencies to control the negotiation situation.
• Can take the lead in a variety of sensitive negotiation situations requiring high levels of tact and diplomacy.
• Can place a discrete negotiation situation within the context of a broader long-term relationship and is not threatened by conceding ground to protect the longer-term interests of DBSA.

Minimum Qualifications

• A post-graduate qualification in Marketing and Communication Management qualification or an Executive Development Programme.

Minimum Experience

• A minimum of 12 years demonstrable experience in Public Relations, Marketing or Communications Management function, with a minimum of 5 years in a senior or leadership role.
• Proven experience in conceptualising and implementing integrated marketing and communications strategies.
• In-depth experience in brand management, media relations, digital marketing, and corporate communications.
• Experience engaging with senior stakeholders, government institutions, partners, and external service providers.
• Strong experience in managing communication campaigns, events, publications, and digital platforms.
• Experience in people management, budgeting, and managing external agencies or suppliers.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Knowledge of governance, reputation management, and crisis communication practices.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience in the Banking and or financial sectors, with experience in planning and managing large marketing activities at local and international levels.

Deadline:27th July,2026