SOUTH AFRICAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION (SALGA) VACANCIES

SOUTH AFRICAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION (SALGA)

SALGA SPOKESPERSON
Based in National Office (Pretoria)
Ref: 25/05/03
Cluster: Office of the CEO
Remuneration package: A competitive salary package with benefits

Our promise to our employees is to give them an opportunity to grow their careers through experiences and connections that inspire them to make an impact

ROLE OVERVIEW
Reporting to the Executive Manager in the Office of the CEO, the incumbent will develop and execute activities that promote, enhance, and project the organizations vision, brand and reputation to employees and external stakeholders. Provide strategic insight to the Senior Leadership team on how to respond to press questions. Provide strategic counsel throughout SALGA on messaging. Serve as Communications expert to senior leadership team on strategic external communications activities including analyst relations, press conferences.
THE CANDIDATE PROFILE
 Stakeholder Management and Influencing Skills
 High degree of self-management, pro-activeness and high levels of emotional maturity
 Results driven individual
 Strong analytical ability coupled with sound problem-solving skills
 Business Communication and writing skills (opinions, positions, feedback & presentation)
 Computer literacy (MS Office: Word Excel PowerPoint Outlook, MS Project Management)
 Customer service orientation
 High integrity and ethics
 Culture fit: SALGA desires an individual who will share and buy-in, in our core values, mission and vision, demonstrating a commitment to our 's ethos beyond just doing the job

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
 Relevant Post-graduate qualification at Hons level in Communication studies or equivalent (Masters in Communication/ / MBA will be advantageous)
 At least 10 years’ relevant experience of which at least 5 years have been at an equivalent level within a medium to large-sized organisation
 Sector Knowledge and a sound understanding of the policy, legislative and regulatory frameworks governing the sector; and in particular those applying to the LG Sector and SALGA
 Demonstrates a sound understanding of the Local Government Sector

KEY PORTFOLIO AND PERFORMANCE FOCUS AREAS

Arrange and attend Press Conferences: Create and implement a plan of strategic external communications directed towards SALGA’s stakeholders and the general public. This includes:
- Schedule and or coordinate press releases, editorials, website content, Local Government analysis briefing notes;
- Contacting members of the press, delivering prepared remarks, and handling press questions regarding an organization’s activities;
- Keep SALGA employees and leadership informed of SALGA’s activities
- Provide updates on situations and legislative accomplishments.

Attend conferences and industry events as the “face” of the SALGA;
Building recognition and trust through in-person events and meetings. Hosts organization events to build a network, enhance brand recognition and trust, and reach potential customers or other members of the public.

Manage Public Information: Responsible for getting information about the organization out to the public and controlling the flow of that information. Work closely with brand managers and Public Relations professionals to craft statements and press releases, ensuring that information is relevant and timely. Guide public conversation about SALGA by directing conversations and managing the balance between publicly available information and private developments.
Present the SALGA’s Message: Sharing SALGA’s or brand’s message, Work with Marketing and Communication personnel to craft a narrative and ensure that public statements are in line with the SALGA’s goals and objectives. Present SALGA in a positive light and ensure that talking points are successfully spread to the public and other audiences. Drafting speeches, reports and researching relevant literature. Perform ad-hoc tasks as and when required
Minimize Negative Publicity: Responsible for damage control following negative publicity or media coverage. Liaise with the to the public to clear up confusion, answer questions, and attempt to change the narrative by focusing on the SALGA’s positive accomplishments. Clear up any false or misleading coverage of the organization. Corporate Governance and Risk Management: Uphold sound corporate governance principles in the day-to-day operation of the area of responsibility/ professional discipline. Ensure compliance with organisational policies and procedures. Identify and mitigate organisational and operational risks identified in the area of responsibility/ professional discipline
Stakeholder Relations: Within the scope of area of accountability lead the building and maintenance of relevant stakeholder relationships/ partnerships in the area of responsibility/ professional discipline
Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting: Implement monitoring and evaluation in own area of accountability in line with the SALGA-wide M&E framework and mechanism to determine baseline of performance and impact. Monitor and report on the progress of the operational plan and take necessary action to ensure that the goals and targets of the area of responsibility is met within time, quality and budget requirements

Suitably qualified and experienced candidates must apply on the link below:

Closing Date: 28 May 2025

NOTE: Communication will be limited to short-listed candidates only. SALGA reserves the right not to proceed with the appointment for any of the vacant position. All appointments will be made in line with the SALGA’S Employment Equity Plan.

PLEASE APPLY HERE

SENIOR MANAGER: INTERNATIONAL AND STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS
Based in National Office (Pretoria) Ref: 25/05/02
Cluster: Office of the CEO
Remuneration package: A competitive salary package with benefits

Our promise to our employees is to give them an opportunity to grow their careers through experiences and connections that inspire them to make an impact

ROLE OVERVIEW
Reporting to the Executive Manager in the Office of the CEO, the incumbent will provide strategic leadership and guidance to provide an efficient and effective International and Stakeholder service to SALGA. Strategically influence the executive and senior management agenda relating to the International and Stakeholder Relations. Develop and implement policies, processes, procedures, systems and tools to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of relevant and best-fit solutions and services to enable the achievement of strategic objectives.

THE CANDIDATE PROFILE

Stakeholder Management and Influencing Skills
High degree of self-management, pro-activeness and high levels of emotional maturity
Results driven individual
Strong analytical ability coupled with sound problem-solving skills
Business Communication and writing skills (opinions, positions, feedback & presentation)
Computer literacy (MS Office: Word Excel PowerPoint Outlook, MS Project Management)
Customer service orientation
Good leadership skills with a strong management ability
Business Acumen & Organisational Awareness
Stakeholder Management and Influencing skills
High integrity and ethics
Culture fit: SALGA desires an individual who will share and buy-in, in our core values, mission and vision, demonstrating a commitment to our's ethos beyond just doing the job

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Relevant Post-graduate qualification in International Relations, Development Studies, Political Science or equivalent preferably with a Masters/ MBA
At least 10 years’ relevant experience of which at least 5 years have been at Senior Management level or equivalent level within a medium to large sized organisation in International and Stakeholder Relations
Sound track record in effectively managing complex and sensitive stakeholder engagements at all levels.
Sector Knowledge and a sound understanding of the policy, legislative and regulatory frameworks governing the sector; and in particular those applying to the LG Sector and SALGA Stakeholder Relations
Demonstrates a sound understanding of the Local Government Sector
Politically astute with sound track record for lobbying and advocacy of positions
Ability to draft, analyse and interpret reports in a professional and quality manner for the Senior and executive team (Including SALGA governance structures

KEY PORTFOLIO AND PERFORMANCE FOCUS AREAS

Business Planning: Through an integrated SALGA planning process, actively participate in the development & implementation of the Cluster Strategy and Business plan in line with the overall SALGA strategy such that the mandate of the function is achieved. Actively translate the cluster strategy and plan and cascade the targets into operational plans of the specific area of specialisation/ professional discipline. Review and Draft operational frameworks, policies and procedures to govern compliance with regards to the professional discipline that the incumbent is accountable for. Develop procedures, systems and mechanisms to ensure the effective delivery of services within area of responsibility
Financial and Budget Management: Prepare, control and monitor the annual and monthly budget of area of control so that expenditure is in line with SALGA’s financial requirements. May be required to compile future projections of income and expenditure. May have to optimise income sources in the form of e.g. optimising statutory/ discretionary grants pay-outs from SETAs. Mostly there is an accountability to optimise cost savings in the area of responsibility.
People Management and Promoting a High Performance Culture: Lead, manage and equip staff in the area of responsibility so that they achieve their work objectives and work within an environment conducive to achieving required results. Uphold sound leadership and people management practices and ensure compliance with policies and procedures. Drive and support organisational priorities by developing and implementing systems and processes to mobilise staff and apply current capacity where it is required, through effective consultation with peers. In line with the SALGA organisational culture, role model and educate staff on the importance of alignment of personal and organisational values for improved performance. Support the in building a high-performance culture in SALGA and in the OCEO Cluster. Promote and implement the performance management and recognition and reward processes in SALGA to drive high performance on an ongoing basis.
Corporate Governance and Risk management: Uphold sound corporate governance principles in the day-to-day operation of the area of responsibility/ professional discipline. Ensure compliance with organisational policies and procedures. Identify and mitigate organisational and operational risks identified in the area of responsibility/ professional discipline
Stakeholder Relations: Facilitate the development of an integrated and standardised stakeholder management protocol in SALGA. Develop, gain approval for and drive a SALGA stakeholder management policy, strategy and implementation plan that is aligned to SALGA’s overall strategy. Source and develop relationships with donors and key partners so that SALGA initiatives can be supported. Manage media, member and stakeholder relations in order to grow and maintain SALGA networks. Manage the day-to-day relationship with members of SALGA to ensure that they are aware of important developments . Monitor and manage stakeholder satisfaction surveys to better understand the perceived relevance of the SALGA service offering. Within the scope of area of accountability lead the building and maintenance of relevant stakeholder relationships/ partnerships in the area of responsibility/ professional discipline
Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting: Implement monitoring and evaluation in own area of accountability in line with the SALGA wide M&E framework and mechanism to determine baseline of performance and impact. Monitor and report on the progress of the operational plan and take necessary action to ensure that the goals and targets of the area of responsibility is met within time, quality and budget requirements.
International Relations: Establishment and maintain relationships with the international local government associations and other global partners. Analysing and interpreting international policies, issues and legislation impacting the LG Sector. Forecasting political, economic, and social trends; identifying international issues for research and analysis; and analyzing possible causes and consequences of international issues, as well as developing possible solutions. Liaising with government officials, civic bodies, research agencies, the media, and political parties concerned with foreign issues in the LG Sector. Build capacity in LGO in Africa - evaluate programs and policies and provide advice to similar institutions and organizations. Partner with international counterparts to benchmark best practice and mobilise support to SALGA for the LG Sector. Compile drafts of SALGA responses to legislative proposals; prepare speeches, correspondence, and foreign policy papers. Develop international cooperation in projects in governmental and non-governmental forums and other activities. Designing public and private activities in foreign commercial affairs. Manage international projects. Identify funding opportunities in the international space to support SALGA’s programmes.

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