Public Affairs Executive at Dark Fibre Africa

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES (KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS & TASKS)

Public Policy Advocacy

• Develop and execute a comprehensive public policy strategy aligned with corporate objectives, considering the regulatory landscape in South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and global developments.
• Monitor, analyze, and report on legislative and regulatory developments impacting the telecommunications and digital sectors, advising the C-suite on necessary actions.
• Advocate for favorable policy outcomes through direct proactive engagement with government, regulatory authorities, and relevant industry bodies.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, industry leaders, non-governmental organizations, and regulatory bodies (e.g., ICASA, Competition Commission, Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs etc.).
• Organize and lead engagement sessions with government, civil society, and industry partners to foster a collaborative regulatory environment.
• Act as the liaison with telecommunications associations and other industry groups to ensure alignment on policy issues affecting the sector.

Thought Leadership and Corporate Positioning

• Position the company as a thought leader in digital transformation, connectivity, and socio-economic development by leading research and generating insightful white papers, reports, and public commentary.
• Represent the company at public forums and industry conferences, articulating the company’s stance on key issues.
• Collaborate with marketing and communications teams to drive external thought leadership initiatives, promoting the company’s contributions to digital transformation and innovation.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with the Corporate Affairs, Marketing, Branding, Finance, Legal, and Operations teams to align public affairs strategies with business objectives.
• Provide internal teams with expert guidance on policy-related issues
• affecting product launches, service changes, and strategic projects.

Policy Influence and Advocacy

• Demonstrable impact on policy and regulatory outcomes aligned with business objectives.
• Effectiveness of advocacy campaigns and public policy initiatives.

Stakeholder Engagement Effectiveness

• Strength and depth of relationships with key stakeholders.
• Quality of feedback and support from government and regulatory bodies.
• Meaningful formal and informal insights on pertinent industry issues with impact to the business.

Thought Leadership Impact

• Quantity and quality of thought leadership content published.
• Recognition and reputation of the company in the telecommunications and digital economy sectors.

Internal Collaboration and Advisory

• Alignment of public affairs strategies with business and operational goals.
• Effectiveness of cross-functional collaboration on policy and regulatory matters.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Essential Qualification:  Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Political Science, Law, or a related field.
• Preferred Qualification: Post Graduate Degree.

Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in public policy, regulatory affairs, or stakeholder engagement, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role within the telecommunications, technology, or digital economy sector.
• Demonstrable knowledge of the South African telecommunications and digital economy regulatory landscape.
• An intimate understanding of the policy development cycle of communications and digital communications sector in South Africa.