Corporate and Government Affairs Lead, SSA

Job Description

Are You Ready to Make It Happen at Mondelēz International?

Join our Mission to Lead the Future of Snacking. Make It Matter.

In this role, you will oversee all communications and public and government affairs activities for a specific geography or business unit. You are a business adviser who manages across internal and/or external advocacy and media relations, crisis and issues communications using integrated communications to promote and protect Mondelēz’s International reputation.

How you will contribute

You will drive the communications and government affairs agenda for the area in which you operate for all internal and external communications including media relations, stakeholder and political engagement, and partner with business unit leaders to support internal and external communications and corporate affairs. In addition, you may be responsible for public affairs advocacy, government relations and issues management, by promoting leadership categories through effective external media engagement (including social media management), risk and issues management, best practice engagement systems and empowerment of team members. You will develop and implement government affairs and/or communication plans to enable the company to meet business objectives and to level the playing field in the industry, implement a local community engagement strategy aligned to global Mondelēz International philanthropic efforts, and ensure activities are delivered within budget.

What you will bring

A desire to lead the future for our company and accelerate you career with experience and knowledge in:

• Holding a similar position in a fast-moving consumer goods environment in communications, government or corporate affairs
• Working confidently with the most senior stakeholders in a company
• Working easily and confidently with senior external media and stakeholders, some of which may be challenging relationships
• Writing and communications skills
• Taking lone or controversial positions on key issues in the company to drive effective decision making

Purpose
•This purpose of this role is to enhance the company’s reputation as a responsible corporate citizen by managing the company's public relations, corporate communications and government affairs and sustainability strategies
•The incumbent works closely with internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement policies and programs that align with and enhance the company's brand and reputation.
•Serve as a thought partner to the BU LT in anticipating and assessing the impact of the external policy environment on business strategy and provide strategic guidance in business planning decisions (operating plan, business reviews and business development).

Reporting Structure
•The role reports directly to the Vice President, CGA, AMEA. The role partners strongly with the BU President, SSA and is an integral member of the SSA BU Leadership Team.
•The role has 2 direct reports, one in Southern Africa and another in West Africa.

Key Responsibilities
•Develop and implement a strategic external reputation plan for the BU, brands and spokespersons.
•Champions MDLZ agenda through active participation in industry groups and associations, influencing policy.
•Advance and lead the business’ engagement with external stakeholders on key issues – including government, regulators, NGOs.
•Strengthen our understanding of the political and external environment impacting the business such that it becomes our competitive advantage.
•Protect the MDLZ license to operate in SSA and defend against measures that restrict or limit our ability to do business with proactive strategies that target key political leaders, decision and policy makers, as well as opinion leaders.
•Drive and grow the BUs reputation internally and externally in line with the MDLZ and local BU priorities, ensuring that there is a strong internal communications strategy and plan to support our ambition of responsible corporate citizen and employer of choice.
•Represent the function at the Leadership Team – providing functional support to the BU agenda.
•Predict and prepare the business for major policy developments, report and post as appropriate.
•Support the business growth agenda while balancing ongoing change/transformation of plants and portfolios, engaging colleagues across the business.
•Manage license to operate issues – including driving for incentives, subsidies and other benefits for the business, in particular BBBEE for the South African entity.
•Collaborate with the BU LT on the Sustainability agenda, ensuring that at BU level, there is a clear plan, framework and cadence to ensure delivery of the overall agenda.
•Lead the BU’s Corporate Social Investment/Responsibility initiatives, ensuring that while they align to MDLZ global objectives, they are fit-for SSA context.
•Drive and embed strong crisis management/Special Situations Management for the B, and serve as Special Situations Management Team (SSMT) Core team member/communications lead for SSA
•Maintain strict compliance with all applicable policies and laws, especially those related to interactions with government officials.
•Lead and develop the SSA CGA team and cultivate an environment where they are highly engaged and set up for success.

Job Level
•Senior Manager and a member of the SSA BU
•Our Career Launchpad provides for multiple ways in which careers can grow – within the function or cross-functionally, to explore the multitude of shaping experiences that exist.
•This role, therefore, is a great step towards (but not limited to) senior roles with the broader CGA function, globally.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Demonstrated Experience Required
•Between 13-15 years of experience in corporate & government affairs, corporate communications and related disciplines.
•Strong public/government affairs experience within African markets, beyond South Africa.
•Minimum Bachelor’s degree, preferably a post-graduate qualification.
•Experience working in MNC, matrix organizations, with multiple stakeholders and fluid reporting lines.
•Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build, maintain and leverage key stakeholder relationships.

Business Unit Summary

Mondelēz International’s Sub Saharan Africa Business Unit is made up of three key focus areas namely Southern Africa, West Africa and the Rest of Africa Markets. The Business Unit is home to approximately 1000 Makers and Bakers who strive to bring only the best quality and loved brands to our consumers. Mondelēz International in Sub Saharan Africa is proud to house global legacy brands including Cadbury Dairy Milk, Oreo, Halls and Bournvita, together with local jewels such as Cadbury LunchBar, Chappies, TomTom and Dentyne. The Business Unit’s Markets have consistently been awarded Top Employer certification, and has been recognised as a Top Employer in Africa.  

Mondelēz International is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Job Type