Position Summary
Purpose of Job /Role Intent:
– Protect, enhance and grow Sasol’s reputation through the development and implementation of a group internal communications strategy that supports Sasol’s drive to build an engaged, positive and motivated workforce
– Function as a Centre of Excellence on internal communication with respect to protocols, frameworks, governance and processes for rolling out global campaigns across the organisation
– Advise and counsel senior leaders in the business and functions on their internal communication requirements and support the execution of those requirements through communication planning, narrative development and implementation
– Collaborate with the wider communication and brand marketing subject matter experts to identify and leverage content and campaigns that can be repurposed and activated for internal audiences
– Guide the development of new internal communications channels to facilitate the seamless delivery of global messaging and content, ensuring the appropriate governance and protocols are in place
– Put mechanisms in place to monitor and measure the effectiveness of internal communications programmes and constantly looks at ways to improve message reach, consistency, quality and tone.
Core Elements of Job Key Performance Indicators:
1. Strategy
– Deliver a group-wide internal communication strategy that supports the overall Group Communication and Brand Strategy, as well as the overall Public and Regulatory Affairs objectives. The strategy must support Sasol’s drive to build an engaged, positive and motivated workforce and be aligned to Sasol’s overarching corporate strategy.
– Give strategic direction as a group wide Centre of Excellence on internal communication with respect to protocols, frameworks, governance and processes for rolling out global campaigns across the organisation.
– Advise and counsel senior leaders in the business and functions on their internal communication requirements and support the execution of those requirements through communication planning, narrative development and implementation.
– Provide the necessary support where internal communication management resources are not included in the regions or business unit structures (typically functional support at a group level, e.g. HR, SHE, Procurement etc).
– Put mechanisms in place to monitor and measure the effectiveness of internal communications programmes and constantly looks at ways improve message reach, consistency, quality and tone.
Strategy
Alignment of internal communication and activation strategies and activities with corporate strategy and requirements
Good understanding of Sasol’s business and core activities amongst external and internal stakeholders
Good reputation amongst internal stakeholders
Ensures compliance with standards
Metrics to measure effectiveness
Keep all costs within budget
2. Internal Communication Channels
– Guide the development of new internal communications channels to facilitate the seamless delivery of global messaging and content, ensuring the appropriate governance and protocols are in place
– Ensure internal communication channels such as the Global Intranet and SnapComms allow for the integration of key internal messages to maximise the effectiveness of the message, avoiding the duplication or contradiction of messages, as well as ensuring messages are not competing for the same space.
– Review and consolidate and/or optimise internal communication tools and channels to ensure a more streamlined approach to communication within Sasol.
– Continuously research, develop and manage the most effective communication channels currently in use internal stakeholders.
– Provide platforms to ensure Sasol Group messages dissemination takes place, projects are supported, our purpose statement and values are understood and our leadership team and their extended teams are supported – work on making these world class communication mediums.
– Understand the interconnectedness of all available internal channels and when to use what channel to communicate most effectively. When numerous channels are being used at the same time ensure consistency of the message.
– Maintain and evolve internal communication channels for long term and real-time (immediate) communication strategies and tactics, including campaign driven messaging.
– Develop programmes to build the competence of senior leaders to become more effective communicators, to enhance leadership communication in Sasol and increase two-way dialogue.
– Support leaders with appropriate guidance to help them to better convey messages on key strategic initiatives and themes.
Internal Communication Channels
Appropriateness, clarity and usability of internal communication channels and networks
Accuracy and relevance of content gathered, reviewed and placed
Ensure compliance with standards
Keep all costs within budget
Up-to-date awareness and understanding of developments in Sasol
3. Internal message sourcing, collation and development
– Align with the Group Content Plan and Calendar by providing inputs to this plan and developing a specific internal communication calendar aligned to activities and content themes that are of particular importance to staff
– Supervise in-house and external writers, be an arbiter of best practises in grammar, messaging and writing style that best suits the internal audiences and channels
– Working knowledge of brand requirements to ensure collateral and content is brand aligned and if any activation is required, consistency is applied in terms of messaging and look and feel..
– A good understanding of the Sasol corporate strategy and top priorities and an ability to interpret the strategy through the activation of specific messaging in support of those objectives.
– Develop implementation plans for Sasol that will ensure internal stakeholders feel engaged and informed about the business and current environment. Facilitate alignment across all stakeholder groups in terms of message formulation and consistency.
– Ability to repurpose content as required and to respond timeously, particularly in the event of an emergency or reputational risk, to provide content to the necessary team member.
– A thorough understanding of the communication channels that exist internally and when to use what channel for what message or alternatively which channels work in collaboration.
– Establish a work flow for requesting, creating, editing, publishing and retiring content, especially on electronic communication media such as the Global Intranet and SnapComms.
– Manage supporting agencies, processes, contracts and content development.
Content sourcing, collation and development
Quality and quantity of relationships with key content creators
Up-to-date awareness and understanding of developments in the media and reputation environment
Management of content flow / info – “Create the golden thread across the group in terms of internal messages
4. Measurement of internal communication impact
– Usability tests to gauge content effectiveness (in consultation with broader PRA team’s measurement tools).
– Develop regular report mechanisms to share colleagues and management.
– Interpretation of results and the ability to recommend further actions and interventions in response to those results.
– Monitor which channels work most appropriately given the message or activation requirement. Understand that regions and businesses may require different approaches given the environment and audience.
Measurement of impact
Appropriateness and user-friendliness of all digital channels
Accessibility and availability of digital communications to all stakeholders
Accessibility and availability of digital communications to all stakeholders
5. Sharing messaging and shaping information flow internally
– Strong editorial skills will be required to develop a message out of a project, concept or event which is of interest to internal stakeholders
– A reporter-like ability to “sniff out” a story and the shape the best application for the telling of that story internally.
– An absolute commitment to the facts and to the consistent verification of created content.
– Must be able to tell the story through a variety of channels e.g., video, digital, pictorial, words, audio etc.
– Lead and inspire PRA and others, within the businesses and region, in the solicitation of content for development.
– Research, establish and implement communication best practices to motivate employees to contribute to the organisation success. Our internal audience should feel engaged, listened to and believe that they have the most credible and accurate information at all times.
– Apply an integrated marketing communication approach when positioning messaging internally. Quality of relationships with all stakeholders
Timeliness and appropriateness of responses to stakeholder requests
Frequency of forums and platforms for ongoing engagement amongst all Public Affairs roles
6. Project management
– Develop and maintain project plans including scheduling, budgeting and resourcing where specific content is being developed.
– Manage multi-disciplinary project teams of up to 5 people.
– Manage relationships, contracts, briefing and the delivery of work from external service providers for media relations, design, printing, and digital projects.
Project management
Delivery of projects on schedule and on or under budget
Delivery of maximum value and minimum service requirements by suppliers
7. Management and development of others
– Manage the Group Internal Communication team.
– Implement and manage performance agreements (including individual KPIs), performance management and appraisals, and recruitment for the corporate communications team.
– Provide and assist with career management and personal development.
Management and development of others
Quality of relationships with direct reports
Delivery of maximum value and minimum requirements by direct reports
Job Requirements
Minimum Qualifications and Experience required:
– B degree (communications, media, marketing or journalism focus preferable).
Advantageous: post-graduate degree/diploma in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, Public Affairs, Corporate Affairs, Government Relations, Stakeholder Relations, Marketing, Business Management.
– Minimum 7-12 years relevant experience in the communication and brand marketing environment. Good knowledge and understanding of the principles of internal and external communications, reputation management, media, digital communications. At least three year’s proven experience in a corporate communications environment and rolling company-wide campaigns.
– Practical and tactical thinker, who has the ability to translate strategic objectives into tactical implementation plans and bring those objectives to life.
– Strong written and verbal communications skills.
– Ability to influence others, and achieve results through direct reporting teams and indirectly through various functional specialists across Sasol.
– Proven track record as a team player and being able to build strong relationships across multi-functional teams and at all levels of the organisation.
– Ability to work across cultures and diverse backgrounds and virtual teams.
– Ability to translate complex technical matters into accessible messages.
– Ability to handle confidential information.
– Ability to support crisis communication management and highly sensitive issues.
– Self-starter showing high degree of personal initiative, drive, and desire to come up with new business targeted creative solutions.
– Proven skills to deliver under time pressure.
Personal Attributes
Leadership Behavioural Competencies:
One-Sasol mindset
Shapes business strategy
Drives accountability and high performance
Business acumen
Fosters teamwork and collaboration
Role models customer focus
Leverages diversity and inclusion
Nurtures and coaches
Builds partnerships
Develops self
Functional Competencies:
Knowledge of external communication models, frameworks, practices
Knowledge of internal communications models, frameworks, practices
Local and international media knowledge
Understanding of publication design and production
Understanding of internal communication tools, applications, design and development
Understanding of reputation management and brand loyalty principles and practices
Understanding of branding and corporate identity management
Writing and speaking in English
Project management
Budget management
MS Office (Word, PowerPoint and Excel)
SAP (appropriate modules)
