External Affairs Director

Job Description

Role purpose:
A member of the Executive Management Team of Telecel Ghana providing strategic leadership and advising the CEO, Senior Management Team (SMT), business and Board on External Affairs & Communication. Working with SMT to engage with the Foundation as well as key stakeholders; specifically representing Telecel Ghana with the Regulatory Authority. 

The External Affairs Director will lead the development and implementation of the company's external affairs strategy, fostering positive relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, media, community leaders, and industry partners. The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of the company's business objectives and be able to communicate effectively with diverse audiences. 

This position is also responsible for the strategic coordination & implementation of all activities relative to the protection of Telecel Ghana’s reputation, revenues, staff and assets. This includes ensuring that the business has an efficient risk management approach which is aligned to the short, medium and long-term objectives of the business, delivering cost savings through loss reduction as well as effective and transparent 
activities.

Key accountabilities and decision ownership:
Regulatory / Public Policy
• Set the strategic direction and priorities for regulation, policy, political engagement, taking appropriate steps to protect and advance Telecel’s interests 
• Lead the development of reactive and proactive positions and engagement plans on key regulatory, policy and 
political opportunities 
• Drive deeper integration and more favourable regulations through thought leadership, advocacy and representation 
• Plan and activate specific policies and political engagement by the CEO and the Senior Management team in line with company priorities as well as regulatory requirements.

Business Risk
• Co-ordinate the second line of assurance for high-risk policies. 
• Own the local Risk Management Framework and input to the global risk management assessment and ongoing 
management and reporting of principal risks. 
• Develop and implement a comprehensive due diligence programme for stakeholder partnerships. 
• Develop and maintain business continuity plans to ensure the organization’s ability to respond to and recover from major business disruptions and associated risks

Compliance
• Execute on global Anti-Bribery, Sanctions and Trade controls compliance programmes. 
• Drive the ‘Doing What’s Right’ culture locally, including training in relation to the Code of Conduct. 
• Implement a compliance programme for the company Public Affairs 
• Establish and execute a Public Affairs plan consisting of targeted, proactive, better evidenced, coordinated and externally focused campaigns, building on and amplifying the social contract 
• Deliver local policy and regulatory step change that impacts our returns and delivers a significant shift in current policy environment constraining the sustainability of the sector. 
• Drive local campaign communications to raise awareness around the problems and build broad-based cross-sectoral alliances to ensure the solution buy in from Politicians, Policy makers and Regulators. 

Foundation 
• Manage all Telecel Foundation activities. 
• Execute all governance, risk, and reporting activity for all Telecel foundations and related charitable trusts 
while maintaining a robust reporting platform.
• Drive all engagement, fundraising, storytelling, events and liaise with comms teams for targeted and appropriate comms activity. 
• Work with Finance to ensure continued strong External and Internal audit performance. 

Sustainable Business
• Develop and execute strategies to address ESG, sustainability issues, ensure mapping against SDGs. 
• Represent the company in key stakeholder dialogues, promote company positions in these areas and develop deeper relations with relevant national bodies. 
• Drive human and digital rights practices and governance; oversee transparency (ARA, mandatory reporting) and external engagement with key influencers. 

External Communications 
• Set strategic direction for Corporate Comms, in line with ExCo & Group priorities 
• Execute media relations, content and channel management for social media/digital storytelling, financial, corporate, policy and crisis communications
• Oversee alignment of comms across the market, amplify stories and comms on all channels.
• Provide comms for overall EA strategy and priorities to drive engagement and reputational improvements among key external stakeholders.
• Plan and activate specific comms and media profiling of CEO, Board and Senior Management in line with company priorities.

Leadership
• Manage and develop the External Affairs team to develop and evolve the best strategies in supporting the future of the organisation.
• Provide oversight, guidance and support to ensure the development of External Affairs activities in line with Telecel policies, procedures and best practice.
• Instigate and coordinate an effective level of staff development and succession planning to ensure the 
continuity of Risk Management activities.
• Provide strategic leadership and direction for External Affairs services and sound advice for Telecel, managing the External Affairs team and having responsibility for all External Affairs activities.
 

Stakeholder & Community Membership
• External relations with Government Officials, Regulators, Opinion Leaders, Members of Press and Chiefs
• External customers, Third Parties, Stakeholders, General Public
• Membership of Executive Committee, Telecel Ghana SMT
• Membership of Government / Industry Committees
• Membership of local business forums
• All Telecel Ghana Teams

Core competencies, knowledge and experience  
Leadership role
• Must provide leadership and ensure efficient and effective management of staff and resources in the External
Affairs Function.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills. Strong understanding of business and government operations.
Analysis and Synthesis
• Ability to analyse a complex set of information requiring a mixture of technical / professional competencies to
comprehend, the ability to synthesise the issue and propose a decision
Decision-Making
• The ability to communicate, influence and negotiate successfully with colleagues to conclude agreement on complex and important issues.
Relationship Management
• Ability to liaise and communicate effectively externally and to project a positive image of the company
Integrity and Resilience
• Ability to operate / negotiate in high pressure situations, a strong sense of principle and the ability to represent and maintain a principled position in a negative or hostile situation.

Must have technical competencies / professional qualifications:
• Relevant University Degree in Public Affairs, Politics, Communication, Economics or Law preferred. A Master’s 
degree will be an added advantage 
• Government/Public Relations including building appropriate relations with Government Members and other public officials 
• Desirable to have 8-10 years’ experience (In Telecoms or an industry with similar political/economic features e.g. financial services, energy) in one or more of the following areas: External Affairs, Regulatory & Risk with at least 3-5 years in a Senior Leadership role 
• Senior Leadership/Management experience 
• Excellent written and oral skills 
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills 
• Experience of management of highly professional teams 
• Accreditation in Public Relations 
(APR) or Certified Communications Professional (CCP) designation preferred