Senior Manager (Media Relations) at eThekwini Municipality

Job Purpose    

• To direct and control the key processes and interventions with a purpose of giving effect to the presentation and representation of eThekwini Municipality and ensure alignment to the vision, mission, strategies and objectives of the Integrated Development Plan. 
• This post reports to HEAD (COMMUNICATIONS)

Key Responsibility Areas    

• Manages processes aimed at introducing interventions or contributing to the development of information communication strategy for eThekwini Municipality.
• Contributes to the development and improvement of the Communication and Public Relations approach for eThekwini Municipality.
• Review policy frameworks and developing procedures to support eThekwini Municipality access and availability to inform on critical organization issues and decisions and/or provide direction to accurate information dissemination in the public domain.
• Implements quality assurance systems to control perusal, research, consultation and comment on media releases and public opinion within acceptable timeframes.
• Evaluates the department’s performance against budget and addressing deviations/variance with appropriate personnel.
• Conducts research in respect of methodologies and approaches to communication by conducting preliminary and secondary research requirements, referring to the approved framework guiding the study.
• Evaluating/ critically analysing best practices wherein the communication effort has had a major positive spin-off, the cost effectiveness of specific types of media choices and the intended targets accessibility and preference to specific choices.
• Cultivating and maintaining key stakeholders, organisational and general public relationships by engaging through various mediums and platforms and/ or attendance at functions/ events and representing the organisation interest and mandate on specific issues.
• Manages the flow of communication to/ from the organisation, media and broader communities by executing applications to support the set-up and implementation of communication mediums to serve as avenues to facilitate transfer of functional information and receive comments, opinions and complaints.
• Manages the establishment and functioning of the Information Centre by instilling a customer focused approach though the alignment of procedures and systems related to the provision of information on the activities of eThekwini Municipality.
• Manages specific administrative and reporting requirements associated with key performance and result indicators of the functionality by preparing performance report referring to quantitative and qualitative information related to interventions and processes for the attention of the immediate superior for consideration and inclusion into council and subcommittee reports. 

Competencies    

• Communication.
• Organisational Awareness.
• Conceptual Thinking.
• Financial Management.
• Information Measuring and Monitoring.
• Technology Usage.
• Service Delivery Orientation.
• Customer Orientation and Customer Focus.
• Resilience.
• Accountability and Ethical Conduct.
• Direction Setting.
• Team Orientation. 

Essential Requirements    

• Degree (NQF Level 7) in Journalism or Communications or Public Relations or any other related and equivalent qualification.
• Valid motor vehicle driving license.
• 6 years relevant experience of which 3 years must be at a management level.

Preferred Requirements    

• Post graduate qualification (NQF Level 8) in Journalism or Communications or Public Relations or any other related and equivalent qualification.
• 7 years relevant experience of which 4 years must be at a management level.