Head of Integrated Communications at The Heineken Company

Key Responsibilities:

Employee Communication and Engagement

• Conceptualise and deliver an integrated communication strategy, and be custodian of the internal communication message house, communication channels and calendar
• Create and implement effective, measurable, and distinctive end-to-end integrated communication activities and campaigns, that informs, inspires, and celebrates our stakeholders, and business success
• Ensure consistency of internal communication across all geographies to make employees the most effective advocates of the Newco, its purpose and vision
• Partner with key stakeholders to plan, develop and deliver internal communication that help achieve their objectives and engage internal and external stakeholders with message continuity
• Develop engagement campaigns to raise awareness and foster adoption of Newco’s vision, values, leadership behaviours and strategy
• Apply knowledge and understanding of the business context to ensure credible and effective employee communication and internal reputation positioning
• Measure the effectiveness of communications using the available channels and tools, recommending subsequent improvements/ further initiatives to achieve business desired objectives
• Support the delivery of events, both digital and face to face, including annual employee conference, townhall sessions, roadshows, etc.

  Internal Change Management Communication

• Co-champion delivery change communication strategy, to help raise awareness of relevant news and business updates and drive desired behaviours and culture change across the business
• Support the implementation of Change Management journey to foster adoption of Newco’s culture, values & the spirit of togetherness,
• Cascade and embed a single narrative on change initiatives across the organisation.
• Develop relevant and engaging campaigns and content to achieve change management communications goals.

Leadership Communication (internal and external)

• Provide strategic counsel and support to management team with leadership communication to support implementation of the company strategy
• Enhance the visibility of MT within the organisation through a clear and targeted communication plan for each MT member/ function
• Build the leadership profile and reputation of MD,CFO and the key leadership team externally through media liaison and industry communication
• Support the Management Team members with media readiness, media training and interview preparation
• Support Management Team  members with content to maintain regular drumbeat with workplace engagement
• Lead content creation for senior leadership engagement forums, including company conference
• Develop key messages on key internal and external topics related to business strategy, policies, procedures, people, and the employer of choice brand
• Craft and place opinion articles to build the reputation of the organisation as a business thought leader in the South African business context and in our industry

Content Development and Channel Management:

• Apply integrated communication by using the relevant communication channels to enhance the communication mix and drive value, and decides on which platforms are appropriate for effective communication of the agreed messages to read the various internal and external stakeholders
• Set up and manage and be a custodian communication channels to ensure effective communication
• across the organisation, including regular exchange of information and business updates, including workplace, digital screens, mobile notice board, and group mailing systems
• Oversee creation and management of content on various topics related, but not limited to, business strategy, people issues, business performance, sustainability agenda, and business operations, and translate messaging into engaging and compelling content to internal and external stakeholders

Media Engagement and Public Relations Management

• Develop and implement a comprehensive integrated cross-channel PR and media engagement strategy for HEINEKEN Beverages to include digital, broadcast and print media
• Leverage positive reputation through a steady drumbeat of media coverage across owned, earned, paid, and hybrid (influencer) channels in B2C and B2B digital, print and broadcast channels.
• Drive world class brand and trade PR campaigns with an increasing focus on Brands with Purpose
• Lead the Brewing a Better World strategy for HEINEKEN Beverages to build and leverage positive reputation with senior stakeholders and digital influencers.
• Develop and manage measurement and listening tools to plan, track, and evaluate media campaigns.
• Develop powerful and consistent external messages for the business and ensure effective landing and delivery of messages to targeted stakeholders
• Build a strong network of external media and influencer contacts (pro-Alcohol lobbyists) to ensure HEINEKEN Beverages has positive relationships with the leading trade, business, political, consumer and other industry influencers. 
• Craft, support development and deployment of messages to communicate the Brewing a Better World agenda .
• Build the leadership profile and reputation of MD, FD, and the key leadership team externally through media liaison and industry communication, opinion articles and influential media interview
• Facilitate media engagement best practice and provide the leadership team members with media readiness, media training and interview preparation counsel
• Build and maintain strong relations with first tier appropriate B2C and B2C media- across all relevant channels
• Manage relations with the regional/global media relations teams for alignment on management, safe-guarding and building the HEINEKEN Beverages reputation and managing crises.
• Manage reputation-enhancing leadership speaking opportunities and business awards, including researching opportunities and managing submissions.
• Monitor and track media sentiments and perceptions of HEINEKEN Beverages and develop action plans
• Serve as a primary contact point with media for all enquiries, content and  interview requests (proactive and reactive)
• Manage external communication strategy and media liaison resources for crafting and placement of content as well as monitoring of exposure gained against set objectives

Corporate Brand Management

• Develop and implement a robust corporate brand strategy that builds and protects the HEINEKEN Beverages corporate brand.
• Identify opportunities to positively position and profile HEINEKEN Beverages’ corporate brand, its people, and products to increase its brand equity.
• Plan and manage key engagements calendar, including seeking opportunities for the Management Team and facilitate the corresponding activities for each engagement.

Crisis Communication and Reputation Management

• Develop Heineken Beverages crisis communication strategy and oversee its implementation as well process for escalation and protocols for crisis communication across all functions in the business
• Ensure crisis management training and simulation is conducted, as per global best practice standards and calendar, for HEINEKEN Beverages Management Team and all the relevant stakeholders across the business
• Track and monitor issues that directly and indirectly impacts our reputation and develop statements and company positions in response to the identified issues. 
• Conduct research in line with global standards to measure HEINEKEN Beverages’ reputation and develop appropriate action plans to close gaps, and leverage opportunities
• Provide relevant insights and provide counsel in the decision-making on matters pertaining to company’s reputation.
• Be an informed advisor to the Management Team, and Senior Management to ensure communication risks are avoided and opportunities are fully leveraged, safeguarding the reputation of the organisations, its leaders, its products, and the business
• Support product brand teams, and customer care/ relations with relevant messaging to enable them to respond to customer, consumer, and other stakeholder complaints
• Serve as the primary communication coordinating counsel at times of crisis
• Facilitate media engagement best practice and provide the leadership team members with media readiness, media training and interview preparation counsel at times of crisis
• Conduct research on key issues reported in the media or affecting the company to inform company response and position statement – reactive content crafting for internal and external use
• Implement social media listening tools in line with global standards as well as media monitoring system
• Track and monitor media activity, sentiments, and perceptions of HEINEKEN Beverages and develop appropriate action plans to build and protect the HIENEKEN Beverages brand and product brands in its stable 

Shared Responsibilities

• Supporting management team with leadership communication and cascading of annual plans and company strategy
• Partnership with HR to implement change management communication and employee engagement initiatives and build HEINEKEN Beverages’ employer of choice brand
• Collaboration with global comms team to ensure alignment on company-wide initiatives, including building and embedding HEINEKEN Beverages values, and leadership behaviours across the organisation

Budget responsibilities and global reporting:

• Manage the budget for the portfolio
• Manage communication agency and other supporting external resource budgdets
• Deliver synergies for HEINEKEN Beverages
• Contribute to HEINEKEN Beverages cost-conscious mindset and cost saving initiatives 

People Management role:

• Manage four (4) direct reports:
• Employee Communications Lead
• Communications Channel Manager
• Corporate Brand Manager
• Corporate events Specialist

Education & Experience:

• A postgraduate degree in Journalism/ Strategic Communications / Public Relations / Social Sciences or equivalent
• Minimum 8-10 yrs. experience in Middle or Senior Management role in strategic communications
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, strategic communications, or equivalent
• Experience working in a high-volume, fast-paced environment, with multiple stakeholders
• Content creation for internal communication platforms- websites, workplace etc.
• Excellent skills in writing and editing of copy; articles; press-releases; social media feeds; etc.
• Ability to communicating complex information in writing and verbally
• Agency management