PR & Communications Manager SA Job (South Africa - Non Location Specific, ZA)

Job Category: Marketing
Location: South Africa - Non Location Specific, ZA
Job ID: 828763-105421
Division: Marketing

PR & Communications Manager
Microsoft for Africa
Hiring Manager: Tom Pilla
Location: Country of Location is flexible to African countries with preferences to Nairobi, Kenya or Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Public Relations Manager, Microsoft for Africa, will create, own and manage the strategic communications program in support of Microsoft’s presence in Africa. He/she will be responsible for the Microsoft for Africa communication plan, ensuring one integrated and focused story/message that brings to life our commitment and impact in Africa. The work will span the breadth of Microsoft activities, including key product initiatives, capacity building programs and partnerships, our corporate citizenship initiatives and key public policy issues affecting Africa. As a result this person will need to develop strong partnerships with colleagues across the company including Microsoft subsidiaries in Africa, product teams and colleagues in the Legal and Corporate Affairs (LCA) team.

While this role will report into Microsoft’s Corporate Communications organization, it will closely align and integrate with the overall communications vision and narratives for Microsoft Africa, and build the connecting tissue amongst local subsidiary teams in Africa (Egypt, North Africa, Sub-Sahara and South Africa) by localizing the Microsoft for Africa effort as a communications priority.
This role also will own media relations with Pan-Africa media (i.e. in-continent media, int’l media, Africa- editors with global media), internal communications and executive communications across, citizenship and public advocacy. In conjunction with the Africa business communications team this person co-drives the social media strategy for the corporate brand in Africa. Audiences include media, analysts, end-users, partners, academics, government officials, and other influential constituencies. The positioning of Microsoft Africa-related activities is not limited to in-continent audiences, but includes Africa stakeholders around the globe.

This role will work across several virtual teams both in the Africa Headquarters as well as Africa-based subsidiaries to counsel business leaders on a communication and brand strategy best suited for their initiatives. In partnership with LCA, this position will work with the Microsoft Africa leadership team to mitigate issues and identify opportunities to help positively shift perceptions about Microsoft and its programs on the African continent.

Overall duties & responsibilities:

1. Aligning the overall vision and communications strategy for Microsoft in Africa;
2. Partnering with Microsoft Africa leadership teams and markets to achieve the communication objectives of the Microsoft for Africa effort;
3. Working with and leading the Africa-based subsidiary PR teams in building the right plans/tactical execution to land the Microsoft for Africa messages in markets
4. Partnering with the citizenship lead and LCA lead to drive communications in support of the citizenship and community affairs agenda for Microsoft in Africa including:
o Bringing to life the impact of our local programs including YouthSpark in Africa.
o Partnering with LCA on public advocacy issues and supporting them through communication programs which positively shape the policy environment;
o Developing Microsoft in Africa collateral which reflects the identity of Microsoft in the continent, including but not limited to the Local Country Microsoft story, brochures, films, etc.
5. Coaching/briefing external facing members of the Africa team as well as Country Managers across Africa on messaging and storytelling for the company at media and public events.
6. Managing budget and resources (FTEs, vendors and agencies) to drive the Microsoft for Africa Plan in conjunction with PR Leads in African markets
7. Driving crisis Communications and Mitigation Management
- Anticipates and lead strategy for mitigating issues or unexpected opportunities.
- Develops communications plan with key stakeholders involved with reactive or crisis situation for all audiences impacted by the situation.
8. Internal Communications
- building pride about the company and motivate employees to be brand ambassadors
- Engaging with key stakeholders - Leadership team, HR, business units/ groups, Citizenship, Global communications team to generate relevant and engaging content that can be appropriately shared with employees.
- Identifying platforms and tools to be used by country managers and their leadership teams including HR to engage with employees
9. Executive communications
- Identify the platforms which can be used to land Microsoft for Africa Plan messaging and positioning.
- Be accountable and responsible for creating content such as speeches, presentations that will support executive participation at speaker opportunities

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