Corporate Affairs Head South Africa

Corporate Affairs Head - Mars Snacking, Johannesburg

As a Corporate Affairs Head Southern Africa at Mars, you would be responsible for building and protecting our corporate reputation across Southern Africa among both internal and external audiences. You will drive sustainable, purposeful growth, helping us on our journey to become the most mutual company in the world. Acting as a strategic partner to our leadership teams, you will provide the insights, tools, and communications strategies needed to protect our license to operate, keep our associates highly engaged, and align our corporate affairs agenda with Mars Snacking and Mars Snacking segment strategies.

What are we looking for?

• Education & Experience: You hold a relevant University or Bachelor's degree and bring a minimum of 10 years of experience in Corporate Affairs, Communications, Public Affairs, journalism, or a similar field.
• Reputation & Media Expertise: You have a solid track record in corporate identity management, media strategy, issues/crisis management, internal communications, and government relations.
• Influence & Autonomy: You are highly autonomous and possess the presence, credibility, and stature to influence and build "buy-in" with senior leaders, peers, and external stakeholders without direct authority.
• Strategic & Analytical Skills: You are a strategic thinker who can easily navigate complex challenges, make quality decisions, and shape senior-level dialogue.
• Collaboration & Communication: You are a collaborative team player, articulate in your communication, with the ability to work cross-functionally and cross-geographically.
• Languages: Fluency in English is required, and proficiency in one or more African languages is highly desirable.

What would be your key responsibilities?

• Enhance Corporate Reputation: Contribute to and deploy the Corporate Reputation plan for Southern African countries, increasing external visibility and driving share of voice across Mars segments.
• Engage External Stakeholders: Proactively build relationships with influential external stakeholders, including trade associations, government regulators, non-governmental organizations, media, and local communities.
• Protect the Business: Ensure local market preparedness for crises and issues through appropriate training (CALM) and response tools; lead local Corporate Affairs responsibilities within the Crisis Management Team when necessary.
• Inspire and Inform Associates: Drive internal engagement by connecting our Associates to the Mars Purpose, the Five Principles, and corporate signature initiatives like the Mars Ambassador Program (MAP) and Mars Volunteer Program (MVP).
• Transform Consumer Care: Manage, support, and measure our external consumer care service provider to ensure every consumer interaction creates mutual value, providing the business with quarterly consumer insights.
• Facilitate the One Mars Agenda: Represent Mars externally on a cross-segment level and ensure a coordinated corporate presence in the marketplace.
• Manage Agency Partners & Budgets: Direct local PR and communication agency partners to ensure efficient delivery of projects, while managing and recommending adjustments to the local Corporate Affairs budget.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.