Lead: Stakeholder Engagement (Domestic & International) at The South African Revenue Service (SARS)

Job Purpose

• To lead the Customs and Excise planning process and direct strategic engagements with key external stakeholders in the private, public, and international customs environment with the view of directly supporting the attainment of Customs priorities and objectives.
• To formulate and position the framework for Customs and Excise within a broadly defined organisational strategy, by developing, coordinating, and implementing integrated business planning and reporting strategies.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

• Relevant Honours / Postgraduate Diploma (NQF 8) AND 10-12 years' experience in Customs & Excise or a similar environment, of which 4-6 years ideally at senior management level

Alternative

• Relevant Bachelor's Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) AND 15 years in Customs & Excise or related experience

Job Outputs:

Process

• To manage divisional and international engagements with agencies such as SACU, SADC, AU, WCO, World Bank, etc.
• To lead strategic engagements with private sector partners to enable facilitation of legitimate trade and compliance.
• To integrate, co-ordinate, develop and facilitate implementation of BU initiatives and Organisational developments w r t budget, time quality, innovation, legal requirements as well as manages the interfaces and related cross functional streams.
• Conduct Inter-Agency engagements i.e., BMA. Achievement of governance & risk objectives by planning, organising, directing & controlling all risk related activities. including coordination & facilitation of the implementation of comprehensive risk management plans, and governance systems.
• To lead the Customs and Excise divisional planning process and ensure alignment with SARS Strategy and enterprise strategic risks.
• Design and develop a Customs and Excise Divisional Annual Business Plan, aligned with the Strategic Plan, annual budget, risk management and relevant processes.
• Own the integration of results with operational and strategic planning through learning, adapting, and reporting performance for Customs and Excise.
• Provide a framework to ensure monitoring guidelines and standards are met within Customs and excise division.
• Provide leadership in identifying new strategic initiatives of potential value to Customs and Excise Division and oversee related research and analysis activities.
• To be accountable for providing leadership for best practice implementation and maintenance of the Customs and Excise divisional business planning initiatives.
• To develop the Divisional 5-year Strategic Plan by working collaboratively with relevant stakeholders within Customs and Excise.
• Ensure alignment to Enterprise Quality Framework which embodies Quality, Governance and Risk as outlined by the SARS Government Frameworks
• Be responsive to change in order to influence and effectively manage associated functional acceptance.
• Champion policy frameworks and objectives with internal partners to ensure integration between functions in pursuit of strategic goals.
• Contribute to the development of the functional operating model & alignment of the value chain to org. objectives in partnership with stakeholders.
• Create the context to continuously improve all functions and systems in line with national, regional, and organisational changes.
• Determine strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats, interpret changing social & org. environments & identify new initiatives and or systems.
• Direct, control, coordinate & optimise resources to meet established objectives & deliver agreed results across functional areas.
• Influence & communicate across all levels of the business to minimise resistance & ensure on-boarding of new thinking in own area.
• Proactively identify interconnected problems, develop, and model alternative solutions as well as contingency plans to resolve value chain conflicts.
• Provide authoritative advice and guidance that supports the realisation of major divisional objectives in line with the SARS mandate.
• Provide periodic reports on performance against plan & progress on medium-term initiatives & use to realign operating plan and objectives appropriately.
• Scan external environment, identify benchmarks, and influence alternative operating plans or model to deliver on the SARS objectives and mandate.
• Set priorities to shape and structure the function by providing a framework for the achievement of longer-term objectives.
• Translate and communicate a meaningful strategic context that articulates functional purpose in relation to the organisational vision, purpose, and philosophy.
• Use insights & knowledge gained from high level reports to conduct abstract, conceptual & comparative analysis to define functional strategy.
   

Governance

• Ensure the consolidation of the risk profile for the area of accountability, manage critical risks, and ensure feedback integration.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes and drive the alignment of governance, risk, and compliance frameworks.
   

People

• Communicate strategic context that guide best practice, foster an environment of continuous learning and improved employee engagement levels.
• Create a positive work climate & culture to energise employees & give meaning to work, minimise work disruption and maximise employee productivity.
• Develop clear human capability and accountability frameworks within own area in support of people management strategies.
• Provide leadership and direction by translating, articulating, and reinforcing the vision or direction for the function.
   

Finance

• Ensure that the own area's strategy is adequately budgeted for through the development and implementation of a requisite budget.
• Implement effective financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of accountability.
   

Client

• Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders to ensure integrated approaches in pursuit of collective goals.
• Define and influence relationships and service level agreements made with internal and external stakeholders.

Behavioural competencies

• Accountability
• Ability to translate Strategy into Execution
• Stewardship & Service Orientation
• Concern for Impact of own behaviour on others
• Nurtures Future Talent
• Strong Results Orientation
• Fairness and Transparency
• Honesty and Integrity
• Values and Manages Diversity
• Inspires others to Positive Action
• Develops Teams & Nurtures Interdependency (breaks down silo tendencies)
• Respect
• Trust
   

Technical competencies

• Customs Knowledge
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Managerial Budgeting
• Business Knowledge
• Strategic Planning and Reporting
• Excise Knowledge
• Quality Management
• Legislative and regulatory compliance
• Effective Business Communication
• Problem Analysis and Judgement
• Planning, Management and Measurement
   

Compliance Competency

• GOC Secret
• Knowledge of the Tax and Customs Act