About Oxfam South Africa (OZA)

Oxfam South Africa is a new, independent organisation whose mandate begins but extends beyond South Africa. Oxfam has been engaged with social justice in South for more than 50 years, a legacy OZA consolidates and deepens. OZA has developed an ambitious Strategic plan aimed at advancing social justice in South Africa and beyond, with a focus on addressing the systemic roots of poverty and inequality.

Oxfam, one of the leading global development organisations, is driven by a vision of a just world without poverty and mobilises the power of people to achieve that vision. Oxfam is a diverse confederation of 17 strongly interconnected national affiliates working in over 90 countries, either directly, or with partners to enable transformational change, using a unique combination of long-term development, campaigning and humanitarian programmes.

The Oxfam Confederation is currently undergoing a period of transformational change which envisions a future where we are a more interdependent network, driven more by knowledge, organised for more simplicity internally and more globally balanced. Oxfam strives to have affiliates in southern countries that are autonomous, can raise their own funds, run their own programs, make their own alliances with local people’s movements, and lobby their own governments and businesses. OZA is the first African organisation that will become a full affiliate of the Oxfam International Confederation.

Oxfam South Africa attaches great importance to an efficient and effective delivery of program as well as strategic and creative use of media and communications to augment possibilities for impact and enhance Oxfam’s public profile.

About the Role

To lead and manage Oxfam South Africa’s engagement with the public; supporting OZA’s programmes, campaigns and broader activities, through strategic and creative use of media and communications. To lead on high profile media projects to win positive, high quality media coverage to support Oxfam’s work.

The successful candidate will be required to design and implement a media and communications strategy to increase impact, support fundraising, as well as drive public engagement. The focus will be on building capacity and strengthening the South Africa team by directly leading the communications function, ensuring that each programme team has a solid strategy for reaching the public. It will also include generating compelling stories and story content, requiring the ability to get local stories into South African and other strategic/ relevant media markets (particularly Oxfam “affiliate” markets).

Dimensions of the Role

Expert knowledge of communications
Expert knowledge and experience of media environment in South Africa and the SADC region.
Leadership of a task-based team, which may cross organizational boundaries and may include external consultants, with responsibility for delivering media impact on campaigns and other projects.
Ability to shoot and edit video footage and exploit use of social media an asset
Required to operate to tight deadlines using independent judgement.
Develop and implement work plans and objectives.
High levels of creativity, and innovative problem solving.
Analyse, interpret and act on complex information.
Apply knowledge of internal and external environment to complex media and reputational issues.
Provides communications advice across the organization at a senior level.
Decisions will have a significant impact on the organisation’s public image.
Represents SA media in the confederation, for example in meetings on emergency responses, and represents Oxfam, both in developing relationships with key media contacts and in media interviews.
Work with OI Heads of Media Group and other departments to develop coordinated strategic plans and ensure an integrated approach to communications.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and management of OZA’s communications and engagement with the media
Expert knowledge and experience of the media environment in South Africa and the SADC region.
Working as part of a task-based team, which may cross organizational boundaries and may include external consultants, with responsibility for delivering media impact on campaigns and other projects.
Ability to shoot and edit video footage and exploit use of social media an asset
Required to operate to tight deadlines using independent judgment.
Develop and implement work plans and objectives.
High levels of creativity, and innovative problem solving.
Analyse, interpret and act on complex information.
Apply knowledge of internal and external environment to complex media and reputational issues.
Provides communications advice across the organization at a senior level.
Decisions will have a significant impact on the organisation’s public image.
Represents SA media in the confederation, for example in meetings on emergency responses, and represents OZA, both in developing relationships with key media contacts and in media interviews.
Work with OI Heads of Communications and Media Group and other departments to develop coordinated strategic plans and ensure an integrated approach to communications.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Experience

At least three years experience of working in communications role and with or in the media.

Skills

Ability to speak one or more South African languages
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English and the ability to develop or customise stories, conceptualise, design and implement media and communication strategies and develop multimedia communication tools.
Ability to produce media content for TV/Radio and online.
Skills and ability to discover absorb and prioritise complex information from many different sources.
Strong news sense and drive to achieve highest possible impact.
Skill and ability to inspire high levels of confidence in own professional judgment and to negotiate effectively.
Experience of leading and motivating teams or individuals in order for the team to meet Unit objectives.
Ability to work in a collaborative manner in diverse, inter-disciplinary teams across the Oxfam confederation.
Ability to help spokespeople to be excellent broadcast interviewees & to support colleagues in other countries develop their communications plans & skills through advice, training and support
Ability to constantly think of as well as apply new ways to use the media to Oxfam’s advantage.
Skills and ability to contribute actively to strategic planning process
Actively contributes to communications across the Oxfam Confederation, participates in OI groups where appropriate
Able to build credibility and relationships with diverse audiences
Works collaboratively across teams and able to exert influence across areas when appropriate
Ensure gender and diversity are effectively integrated into all aspects of the team’s work
Innovative and creative approach to problem solving.
Respond effectively to frequent changes in work plans and projects and to be able to prioritise competing demands
Exercises high degree of personal judgment in dealing with internal and external contacts
Experience in working as a member of geographically dispersed teams is important, and knowledge of affiliate country media environments in the international development context is imperative.
Understanding of social media and its role in social justice and international development
The ability to influence people is of utmost importance, along with adaptability, flexibility and a drive to achieve results

How to Apply

All applications and queries must be addressed to KM Global Consulting and sent directly to oxfam@kmglobalconsult.com stating OXFAM-MC-RSA in the subject line.