Head Communications and Marketing (10046) needed at The South African Revenue Service

Job Purpose

• To develop, enhance and execute, a multi-year communications and marketing strategy to support the delivery of the SARS mandate. To formulate and integrate the Communications and Marketing value chains and operating model to deliver a best-in-class functional strategy that will synergise internal team strength and leverage key stakeholder relations.
• This role is pivotal in ensuring that the organisation’s marketing and communication efforts are cohesive, consistent, strategic, and effective. Collaborate with key internal departments to create effective campaigns aligned to the SARS strategy and business calendar. Foster internal understanding of how enterprise communications and marketing enable the SARS brand to build public trust. Responsible for reputation management. Lead internal communications to connect all employees to the organisation, keep them informed at all times and energize them to support the SARS mission, vision and higher purpose.  Lead external communications strategy implementation. This role interfaces and impacts every aspect of the SARS enterprise and encompasses a change agent capability.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

• A Relevant Master’s or Honours degree is preferable with 8-12 years communications and marketing experience, of which at least 5 years at senior management level
• A Bachelor’s degree may be considered, provided experience in marketing and communications of at least 12 years can be demonstrated AND at least 5 years at a senior management level

Minimum Functional Requirements

• Senior level experience in Communication and/or Marketing management
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with all stakeholders, both internal and external.
• Expertise in Public Speaking, Marketing, PR,  Crisis Management, Business Writing and Editorial Skills
• Proven leadership and team management skills.
• Analytical skills in terms of measuring e.g. campaign effectiveness, trends analysis, issues management.

Job Outputs:

Strategic focus

• Responsible for strategy development and implementation: Develop and implement strategic communication and marketing plans to promote SARS’ reputation within South Africa and globally.
• Interpret internal and external organisational changes, model change impact scenarios and introduce or adapt systems in alignment with strategic intent.
• Responsible for Public Relations: Manage the company’s public image and reputation, handle crisis communication, and develop strategies to mitigate potential issues. Aligned to this, create, and implement an integrated issues management approach and establish additional touchpoints for interaction and feedback with key stakeholders through digital channels for example.
• Responsible for Digital and Social Media: Oversee digital communication strategies, including social media, website content, and online presence Develop an integrated social media strategy for SARS aligned to the enterprise strategy, grow enterprise platforms, develop content, and establish relationships with key social media partners. Implement a comprehensive digital communication strategy that enhances SARS’ organisational online presence.
• Responsible for internal and external communication: Ensure effective integration of internal and external communication.
• Collaborate with the Stakeholder Management divisions as well as Taxpayer and Trader Education division to deliver best-in-class education and information campaigns and engagement collateral.
• Oversee event management, language services and the graphic design studio.
• Partner with the Deputy Commissioners and their teams to support change and transformation aligned to business drivers.
• Collaborate with the SARS official spokesperson to ensure seamless media relations.
• Engagement with the Office of the Commissioner to ensure alignment and steer in terms of strategic delivery.
• Engage, inspire, and influence internal divisions to align to the SARS brand in order to enhance storytelling and build consistent and inspirational organisational narrative.
• Lead the development of the strategy for the SARS website, as well as its content development and the review and delivery process.

Process

• Function as the SARS Custodian of Policies and Standard Operating Procedures for the function by ensuring high quality output and effectiveness of the SARS operating model and practices.
• Create the context to continuously improve all functions and systems in line with national, regional, and international changes.
• Drive policy frameworks and objectives with internal divisions and managers to ensure integration between functions in pursuit of strategic goals.
• Develop annual and longer-term functional and resource plans to set clear measurable priorities and milestones as well as secure capacity to achieve divisional objectives consistent with long term strategic plan.
• Communicate the SARS strategic context in relation to the organisational vision, purpose and mandate.
• Responsible for the conceptualisation, design, content, publication and timeous distribution of the SARS Annual Report, according to the requirements and guidelines for submission of the Report to Parliament for approval.
• Act as a brand ambassador for the organisation and a professional advisor to the organisation on all aspects of the organization’s activities that impact reputation.
• Represent the organization at community activities to enhance SARS’ community profile.

Governance

• Responsible for effective governance of the SARS Communications and Marketing Division, to ensure the effective management and control of the Division according to SARS strategies, statutory and legislated requirements.
• Ensure compliance with record management processes, destruction and storage of records aligned to legislation.

People

• Provide leadership by articulating and reinforcing the vision or direction for the function.
• Inspires, motivates, leads and manages the team.
• Create a positive organisational climate and culture to energise and focus the function in order to optimise short term and longer-term productivity.
• Influence the development of clear human capability and accountability frameworks within the functional area in support of people management strategies.

Finance

• Implement effective financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in functional areas of responsibility.
• Prepare Business Unit Resource plan related to budget parameters.
• Ensure that the functional strategy is adequately budgeted for through the development and implementation of a detailed budget and forecast process.
• Comply with all requirements of PFMA and relevant Treasury and SARS policies and regulations.
• Manage vendors’ and suppliers’ budget and service delivery aligned to contract requirements.

Client

• Define and influence relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop effective service level agreements with identified divisions and stakeholders to ensure delivery of measurable strategic objectives and customer satisfaction.
• Ensure strategic representation of SARS and promote the enterprise with public service leaders and national, regional stakeholders.
• Adapt the communication strategy to all regions in accordance with the region’s communication specification or needs.
• Best-in-class event management for the enterprise.
• Manage agency and other external contracts and relations for optimum delivery (e.g. PR, Communications, Advertising agencies)