Regional Head–Asia Pacific & Australasia / UK & Europe/ Americas at Brand South Africa

Job Purpose:

• To contribute to the development of integrated reputation management, marketing and communications strategies by managing Brand South Africa's Regional Offices in Asia Pacific & Australasia / UK & Europe / Americas. This also includes:
• Promoting South Africa as a competitive destination by managing;
• Collaborating with, and implementing brand and communications programmes in partnership with stakeholders; as well as
• Building nation brand advocacy amongst South Africans in the diaspora.

Minimum Qualification Requirements & Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Political Science /Marketing / Business Management / Communications or equivalent.
• Preferred: Postgraduate degree in Political Science / Marketing / Business Management/ Communications (e.g. MBA will be an added advantage).
• A relevant foreign language will be an added advantage (e.g. Mandarin, Cantonese).
• 10+ years combined experience in marketing/ Communications/ Public Relations/ Stakeholder Relations at a senior/management level (of which 5 years must be at a senior management level).
• International experience or function in an international coordination role.

Key Performance Areas:

Brand Positioning & Reputation Management:

• Adapt South Africa's positioning in the market, strengthen the national brand, and manage perceptions around South Africa's competitiveness, investment climate, tourism, culture, and international reputation.
• Monitor perceptions of the country within the assigned market and proactively identify opportunities or risks affecting the nation's reputation and develop programmes that will seek to ensure that the country brand is enhanced.
• Support media engagements and identify positive storytelling opportunities that reinforce the national brand.
• Provide Head Office with regular market intelligence on emerging issues that influence international perceptions of South Africa.

Regional marketing and communications execution.

• Translate Brand South Africa's corporate strategy and annual business plan into a regional marketing and communications plan, and deliver it on time and within budget.
• Design and execute region-facing campaigns and activations in partnership with South African stakeholders.
• Secure stakeholder buy-in for campaigns and initiatives, covering content, tone, roll-out mechanisms, budget, target audiences, shared ownership, timelines and outputs.
• Report on campaign performance against agreed objectives, including audience reach, engagement, media coverage, key-message penetration, digital performance and demonstrable return on investment.
• Feed stakeholder input, research and environmental scanning back to Head Office to refine activation plans.

Stakeholder and partnership management.

• Build and sustain strategic relationships with government representatives, business leaders, investors, media, industry bodies, tourism and cultural institutions, and diaspora networks in the region.
• Secure partnerships and collaborations that amplify Brand South Africa's messaging through joint advocacy, thought leadership and market activation.
• Track stakeholder sentiment and emerging issues affecting South Africa's reputation, and convert these into actionable recommendations.
• Work in close coordination with South African diplomatic missions in the region, with due regard to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation's country and regional strategies.
• Align with the Head Office stakeholder team where stakeholders are similar locally and abroad.

Risk and crisis management

• Identify, document, escalate and mitigate strategic, operational, reputational and stakeholder risks affecting Brand South Africa's activities in the region, in line with the organisation's governance framework.
• Maintain and review the regional risk register and report on key risks, emerging issues and mitigation measures to Head Office.
• Maintain crisis preparedness and respond promptly and appropriately to reputational incidents affecting the Nation Brand.

Governance, compliance and reporting

• Ensure that all regional activity complies with Brand South Africa's policies, the Public Finance Management Act, Treasury Regulations, supply chain management prescripts and applicable host-country law.
• Report monthly and quarterly against the organisation's performance measurement framework and business plan scorecard, and contribute to the strategic plan, annual performance plan and annual report.
• Protect the Brand South Africa corporate identity, copyright and brand alignment across all regional and partner materials.
• Scan the wider public policy environment to identify opportunities for future work and to build relationships with policymakers and influencers.
• Meet planning department's timelines for reporting.

Financial management

• Manage the regional budget, monitor expenditure against approved plans, and account for variances.
• Comply with Head Office supply chain management processes in all regional procurement.

Staff Management

• Where applicable, delegate work assignments and tasks to appropriate individuals, providing sufficient direction so desired business outcomes can be achieved.
• Implement Brand South Africa policies and procedures as required.
• Provide direct reports with leadership, direction, and coaching to achieve work objectives and improve performances and skills.
• Be a change champion for culture transformation, lead and guide the team through change.
• Build and manage relationship with staff members.
• Manage risks and address issues as the arise.
• Performance Management (where applicable) - ensure the team members achieve their Performance Objectives as per individual agreements.
• Staff Development (where applicable), motivation and training.
• Recruit respective staff and select.

Required Technical Skills, Competencies and Attributes:

• Thorough knowledge of the workings of the business and macro-economic environment (domestic and international).
• General understanding of the political and legislative environment (domestic and international).
• Conversational.
• Understanding the socio-economic environment (domestic and international).
• Working knowledge of systems and processes and how they contribute to organisational performance.
• Advanced knowledge of how to determine value from a customer perspective.
• Sound knowledge and understanding of PFMA and supply chain management frameworks.
• Excellent business acumen, i.e. strategic ability to position South Africa as a competitive destination against emerging political, business and environmental trends.
• Media Management skills, i.e. Understanding of media and PR landscapes; manage diverse expectations and perceptions effectively and assertively.
• Ability to pitch stories to top tier publications in response to developments in the South African communication environment.
• Ability to develop content for media across various platforms – including print, broadcast and digital.
• Ability to implement reputation and crisis management strategies.
• Above average interpersonal and communication skills to engage credibly with stakeholders at different levels and with different needs (public relations).
• Marketing skills, i.e. ability to identify and capture a target market or audience's needs and communicate the South African message in a manner that results in the desired outcome.
• Contribute to improved perceptions about South Africa by showcasing South Africa's value proposition.
• Change management.
• Ability to use innovative platforms to market South Africa's value proposition.
• Competent in Project Management and lateral leadership, i.e. ability to manage processes involving various role players, at times across time zones to ensure the desired outcome.
• Ability to mentor and coach junior employees to ensure they deliver on key objectives.
• Excellent proposal and account / portfolio planning ability as well as strategic reporting.
• Self-management, i.e. well-developed and proven ability to structure own work, work independently and take initiative to achieve objectives resourcefully and in compliance with proper governance rules and structures.
• Results oriented (output-driven).
• Thorough and excellent follow-through ability.
• Willingness to work extended hours and travel substantively (within and across borders).
• Proven ability to perform under pressure.
• Above average level of perceptiveness and discernment, i.e. ability to read situations correctly and respond accordingly to instil confidence and direction.
• Networking ability, i.e. building and maintaining relationships for business and collaborative opportunities.
• Service-oriented, i.e. desire to serve and be customer-oriented.
• Persuasive, i.e. ability to convince others from different functions and levels of an idea or concept to obtain support.
• Special requirements, based in markets and or willing to travel.
• Requires a South African citizen. MFMA, Municipal Systems Act, Municipal Structures Act, Municipal Budget and Reporting Regulations, mSCOA, GRAP, Division of Revenue Act, Treasury Regulations. 
• Strategic Leadership, Financial and Performance Reporting, Corporate Governance, Risk Management, Change Management 
• Advanced computer literacy (SAP / Oracle / Munsoft / Solar / MSCOA systems). 
• Collaborative/Teamwork, Values and Integrity, Attention to detail, and quality-focused 
• Customer and Service Delivery Management (Batho Pele), Ethics, Professionalism 
• Impact and Influence according to the City’s protocols, legislation, and standards.