Head of Public Affairs - South & East Africa at Citi

Job Overview

• The Citi Public Affairs Officer (PAO) is the guardian of Citi’s reputation in the marketplace, covering all businesses for Citi in the East and South African region, based in South Africa. These countries include Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and South Africa.
• The PAO will be responsible for coordinating and driving Citi’s ESPA’s efforts across the region. The PAO supports the country CCOs in preserving and enhancing the bank's image in the marketplace and provides the businesses with strategic and focused communications counsel in support of their growth objectives. The functional areas typically covered by the PAO include media relations; internal communications; community affairs including charitable grants, NGO relationship management and employee volunteering; branding; advertising and coordination of events and sponsorships.
• As a member of the country coordinating committee, the PAO acts as counselor to each of the business heads, supporting them to execute their duties in such a way as to maintain and strengthen the bank’s reputation amongst:
• Employees.
• Customers.
• Media.
• Opinion formers/Influencers.
• Government and regulators (although a separate function addresses direct relations with regulators).
• This will involve a familiarity with banking practices, products and policies; a solid record of successful communications campaigns; excellent written and oral communications skills; media management and crisis communications experience; capacity to work with people at all levels of seniority; interest in and enthusiasm to be part of a large, multinational corporation based in South Africa with all its commensurate opportunities and challenges.
• With oversight of all communication activities in the countries, the PAO is charged with ensuring that they remain consistent, coordinated and effective in conveying the group’s key messages. They must also liaise with the regional PAO and their colleagues in other markets so that this consistency is maintained as audiences increasingly receive messages from multiple channels across borders.

Qualifications:

• 10 + years of relevant experience, must have experience managing multiple country stakeholders

Education:

• Bachelor’s/University degree, Master’s degree preferred

The Public Affairs Officer:

• Provides public affairs counsel and support to all core businesses in the country and to Citi Country Officers across East and South Africa – developing public affairs plans that reflect the business/franchise goals.
• Develop an integrated media strategy that supports the region and is aligned with ESPA’s goals including building relationships with key target media.
• Develop an integrated internal communications and employee engagement strategy and social media strategy that supports the region and is aligned with ESPA’s goals
• Develops and executes community relations programs in line with the priorities established by the Citi Foundation.
• Develops and executes crisis management plans as required
• Tracks positioning of competitors and issues/market developments likely to impact the company or industry – preparing action plans/responses as appropriate.
• Manages special events – conferences/seminars corporate sponsorships etc.