SAF Communications Manager

by | Nov 11, 2018

Website Coca-Cola

SAF Communications Manager

The Coca-Cola Company

  • LOCATION:Johannesburg, South Africa – ZAF
  • POST DATE:11/8/2018
  • JOB TYPE:FULL TIME
  • JOB LEVEL:01. Regular

Job ID: R-19116

Position Overview:The core purpose of this role is to provide support and thought leadership across communications platforms and partners in order to protect and enhance the reputation of The Coca Cola Company and its brands within the Southern Africa Franchise, removing potential barriers and building critical support to ensure a conducive environment within which the business can operate and grow.
This is a role that requires leadership and support of all aspects of communications within SAF, focusing on a wide variety of key audiences including media, government, business/industry, bottling partners and internal functions (marketing, customer and commercial teams).
The role holder, in collaboration with the Head of SAF PACS and the BU Communications team, must develop and execute communications and public relations strategies, while maintaining positive relations with key media and other influential stakeholders. This includes: planning, developing and managing the implementation of SAF communication plans to showcase the company’s sustainability work, build and strengthen the company’s reputation and enhance trust in the company’s beverages.
The success of this role will hinge largely on the role holder’s ability to influence across the franchise, franchise leadership team and our bottling system, to support the delivery of a coherent and seamless communications strategy for the ultimate growth of the business.

Function Specific Activities:

KEY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop, align and implement communications strategies with bottling partner PACS and SEABU PACS to support Company’s business objectives with key audiences (e.g., consumers, customers, investors, bottlers, media, government, community leaders, employees and other constituents). 30%

Develop appropriate communications materials such as media responses, speeches, talking points, presentations, Q&As, talking points or position statements when required to ensure the use of Company-approved language in communicating with all audiences in order to maintain consistency and accuracy of communications. 30%

Support the development and implementation of communication strategies for Renewing Category Growth, Total Beverage Company, Sustainability Communications, Marketing Communications – across the SA Coca-Cola System (includes bottling partners). 20%

Manage Issues and Crisis Communications, (IMCR) and Rapid Response Support the business to cascade responses to category issues/ questions. 10%

Build and sustain relationships with media across various platforms. 10%

FINANCIAL/ JOB SCOPE:

  • Manage day to day communications between SAF PACS and all SAF functions, SEABU PACS, bottler PACS and EMEA and Corporate as necessary;
  • Consolidate weekly status and monitoring & evaluation reports from communications and PR agency and bottling partners;
  • Manage SAF communications budget and agencies;
  • Develop internal communications to showcase the SA Coca-Cola System story;
  • Publish Connect and Journey stories on a monthly basis.

ORGANIZATION IMPACT/ INFLUENCE:

External

  • Media – responding to inquiries, providing information, building relationships.
  • Government – seeking permission, invitations to events, providing information.
  • Civil society/non-profits – providing and/or seeking information, partnership inquiries.
  • Agencies – direction, management.

Internal

  • All SAF Functions – responding to inquiries, providing information, building relationships, exchange of information, collaboration, information distribution requests, internal event management.
  • BU PACS Communications team – alignment and coordination on key communications campaigns.
  • Consumer Interaction Centre (CIC) – alignment and consistency of messaging.
  • Bottler PACS teams – alignment and consistency of messaging.

RELATED JOB REQUIREMENTS/ QUALIFICATIONS:

Technical Skills:

  • Communications implementation & execution – knowledge of procedures and information for implementing public relations
  • Business writing skills
  • Speaking and presentation skills
  • Advanced Microsoft Office Skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
  • Project Management
  • Editing and Proofing: Strong editorial skills in both print and digital, and experience commissioning content. Ability to prepare materials for the media and other audiences by selecting, revising and correcting copy elements.
  • Event Coordination: The ability to create and coordinate the materials and logistics necessary to plan for and execute the tasks needed to create a successful visit, meeting or event.
  • Experience working with, influencing and coordinating cross-functional teams.
  • Excellent coordination skills and the ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
  • Working and monitoring budgets
  • Issues & Crisis Management
  • Media Relations
  • Social/Digital Media

Competencies:

  • Generic Competencies:
  • Drives Innovative Business Improvements: Develops new insights into solutions that result in organizational improvements; promotes a work environment that fosters creative thinking, innovation and rational risk-taking.
  • Balances Immediate and Long-Term Priorities: Seeks to meet critical objectives while considering the impact of those decisions and activities on the ability to achieve long-term goals.
  • Delivers Results: Focuses on the critical few objectives that add the most value and channels own and others’ energy to consistently deliver results that meet or exceed expectations.
  • Imports and Exports Good Ideas: Relentlessly seeks shares and adopts ideas and best practices in and outside the Company and embraces change introduced by others.
  • Develops and Inspires Others: Builds and maintains relationships that motivate, guide, and/or reinforce the performance of others toward goal accomplishments. Develops self and others to improve performance in current role and to prepare for future roles; seeks and provides feedback and coaching to enhance performance.
  • Lives the Values: Demonstrates the values of The Coca-Cola Company through words, actions, and by example; fosters an environment that reflects the values of the company.

Required Experience

  • 8 – 10 years in a Communications role

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Bachelor’s Degree Marketing and or Communications or equivalent work experience.

ANALYSIS:

  • Issues management in Media, Government and Community relations – should possess the requisite personal and professional skills and be able to leverage Company resources to effectively manage emerging issues.
  • High analytical, structured problem solving, quantitative skills allowing to “connect the dots” from various sources of data.
  • Sound judgment and ability to draw strategic conclusions and develop recommendations, often thinking ahead on behalf of senior leaders.
  • The job holder will support the IMCR process through developing and managing crisis communications, including media messaging and engagement.

JUDGEMENT AND DECISION MAKING :

  • Accountable for all decisions relating to the PACS sign-off on marketing materials.
  • Accountable for all decisions on SAF’s social media engagement.
  • Responsible for external communications activities and engagements.
  • Be a key agent of culture change within the SA Coca-Cola System by identifying and fostering the implementation of best practices.
  • The role needs significant autonomy and decision-making ability to respond quickly and in real time (for example, in a TV interview) in line with changing context and challenges.

Job Requirements:

Years of Experience:

Leadership Behaviors:

  • DRIVE INNOVATION: Generate new or unique solutions and embrace new ideas that help sustain our business(encompassing everything from continuous improvement to new product and package innovation).
  • COLLABORATE WITH SYSTEM, CUSTOMERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS: Develop and leverage relationships with stakeholders to approximately stretch and impact the System (Company and Bottler).
  • ACT LIKE AN OWNER: Deliver results, creating value for our Brands, our System, our customers, and key stakeholders.
  • INSPIRE OTHERS: Inspire people to deliver our mission and 2020 Vision, demonstrate passion for the business and give people a reason to believe anything is possible.
  • DEVELOP SELF AND OTHERS: Develop self and support others’ development to achieve full potential.

Growth Behaviors:

  • GROWTH MINDSET: Demonstrates curiosity. Welcomes failure as a learning opportunity.
  • SMART RISK: Makes bold decisions/recommendations.
  • EXTERNALLY FOCUSED: Understands the upstream and downstream implications of his/her work. Tracks and shares external trends, best practices or ideas.
  • PERFORMANCE DRIVEN AND ACCOUNTABLE: Has high performance standards. Outperforms her/his peers.
  • FAST/AGILE: Removes barriers to move faster. Experiments and adapts. Thrives under pressure and fast pace.
  • EMPOWERED: Brings solutions instead of problems. Challenges the status quo. Has the courage to take an unpopular stance.