Vacant Post – SKA MID – Communications & Engagement Manager

Contract type: Permanent
Job Level: Management
Work Location: Cape Town, Western Cape
Closing Date: 19 January 2025

The National Research Foundation (NRF) supports and promotes research and human capital development through funding, the provision of National Research Facilities and science outreach platforms and programmes to the broader community in all fields of science and technology, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities.

* The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Telescope is an international effort by more than a dozen countries to build the world’s largest, most advanced radio telescopes in South Africa and Australia. Both South Africa and Australia are co-host members of the SKA Observatory (SKAO), a UK-based intergovernmental organisation responsible for the construction and operation of the SKA telescopes. The first phase of the SKA will consist of two telescopes: South Africa will host the mid-frequency telescope (SKA-Mid).

SKA-Mid will comprise up to 197 dishes spread along spiral arms spanning 150 km in the Karoo, Northern Cape. The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), a facility of the National Research Foundation, is responsible for managing all radio astronomy initiatives and facilities in South Africa, including the MeerKAT Radio Telescope, a precursor to the SKA telescope. Australia will host the SKA’s low-frequency telescope (SKA-Low). SKA-Low will comprise up to 131,072 antennas in clusters along spiral arms spanning 65 km at CSIRO’s Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO) in WA.

Purpose: Located at the SKA-Mid Science Operations Centre (SOC) in Cape Town, the SKA-Mid Communications and Engagement Manager is in charge of the Communications and local stakeholder engagement portfolios, and a key member of the SKA-Mid Leadership team.

Under the leadership of the SKAO Director of Communications, Outreach and Education based at the SKAO global headquarters in the UK, the SKA-Mid Communications and Engagement Manager is the most senior SKAO Communications professional in the country. They are a key part of the SKA Observatory’s Communications team, distributed across the SKAO facilities (UK, Australia, South Africa), and will also be in charge of recruiting and managing a small team of Communications experts in South Africa to reinforce the Communications function.

The SKA-Mid Communications and Engagement Manager owns the communications and engagement strategy for the SKAO in South Africa and oversees and ensures its successful implementation, playing a pivotal role in shaping the public and stakeholder perception of radio astronomy and the Observatory in the country and its role in delivering world-class science in a sustainable way. This includes stewardship of the SKAO brand and reputation, content production, media interaction and media visits to the telescope site, local outreach and education activities, local stakeholder engagement, organisation of/participation in special events, implementation of a visitor programme, internal communication, and any other interventions and communications campaigns as appropriate. These activities will be undertaken in close collaboration with the wider SKAO Communications team, as well as other observatory partners and colleagues internal and external to the SKAO in particular SARAO and its Communications team.

The position supports and provides expertise to the SKA-Mid Telescope Director and the SKA-Mid Leadership team on official engagement, communications and public relations matters. More generally, this role is responsible for ensuring the SKAO is adequately represented in all relevant forums and ensures respectful, collaborative and inclusive relations between the SKAO and all stakeholders. This is a highly strategic role that requires excellent leadership, media relations expertise, a strong sense of collaboration, stakeholder engagement skills, experience managing large-scale communications projects, and a passion for science and innovation. The incumbent will be requested to travel locally and internationally to attend meetings and conferences. Also, they might have to occasionally work outside of working hours as necessary.

Key Responsibilities:
* Strategic planning and stakeholder engagement
* SKAO Brand custodian
* Media relations and crisis management
* Outreach, public education and event coordination
* Content creation
* Team leadership and resource management
* Finance/ Budget Management
* Developing and executing a successful national communications and stakeholder engagement strategy.
* Building and maintaining respectful, collaborative and inclusive relationships with all relevant stakeholders in the country.
* Developing a national outreach and education strategy for the SKAO in collaboration with local partners, and developing or conducting outreach activities
* Ensuring continuous monitoring, regular reporting and sound budgeting of all communications and engagement activities in country
* Supporting the SKA-Mid Telescope Director’s official engagement activities as required.
* Representing the interests and commitment of the SKA Observatory to all relevant stakeholders in the country.

Key Requirements:
Qualification:
* BTech or Bachelor’s Degree (NQF 7) in Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, or equivalent qualification coupled with 10 years’ corporate communications or stakeholder engagement role; or
* Honours or Post Graduate degree in Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, or equivalent qualification coupled with 8 years’ corporate communications or stakeholder engagement role; or
* Masters’ Degree in Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, or equivalent qualification coupled with 6 years’ corporate communications or stakeholder engagement role.

Experience:
* Work experience: Minimum 6 years in a senior communications role, preferably in the science, technology, or space sector.
* Proven experience managing large-scale communication and outreach projects internationally.
* Strong leadership and team management experience, with a demonstrated ability to mentor and develop teams.
* Strategic Planning: Proficiency in developing and implementing effective communication strategies.
* Interpersonal Skills: Strong capability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders.
* Project Management: Skills in organizing, executing, and monitoring outreach projects and events.
* Crisis Communication: Ability to manage communication during sensitive situations and mitigate potential issues.
* Excellent Writing and Editing: Ability to craft clear, compelling content across various mediums.
* Digital Marketing: Knowledge of digital tools, social media, and online engagement techniques.
* Public Speaking: Comfort and effectiveness in presenting information to groups and at events.
* Analytical Skills: Capacity to evaluate communication efforts and use metrics to improve strategies.
* Leadership skills: Leading and managing a team on complex projects with a proven record of successful delivery.
* Adaptability: Demonstrates flexibility in thinking and adapts to and manages the increasing rate of organisational change by adjusting strategies, goals and priorities. Also includes adaptability to different work systems and willingness to learn different systems for effective workflows.
* Quality-driven: Set quality and professional standards and ensure quality assurance is maintained for all communication projects including and especially the brand.
* Autonomy: able to operate independently, demonstrating a pro-active and innovative attitude to deliver on projects in line with the set objectives

Knowledge:
Competency Essential:
Strategic Communication Skills: Ability to design and implement comprehensive communication strategies aligned with organizational goals.
Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to navigate complex environments with multiple stakeholders, engage key stakeholders (governments, research bodies, industry, local communities, etc.) and foster meaningful partnerships.

Leadership and Team Management: Experience leading and managing a team, with the ability to foster an environment that encourages new ideas and provides support for the development of emerging skills, as well as the ability to influence, mentor people, build trust, shape conversations and change behaviours through effective relationship-building.

Project and Budget Management: Expertise in managing communications projects and budgets efficiently, including planning, seeking, allocating and monitoring resources to achieve outcomes.

Media and Public Relations Expertise: Strong relationships with international media outlets and experience as a spokesperson.

Crisis Management: Proven track record of successfully managing media crises with minimal negative impact.

Judgement and Problem Solving: Proven ability to seek out, examine and cross reference a range of information to identify patterns and trends to pre-empt issues or crisis, and develop innovative and effective reputation management campaigns.

Competency Desirable:
Scientific Communication Experience: Ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences.

Multilingual Skills: Proficiency in multiple languages for effective communication with international stakeholders.
Experience working or interest in astronomy or related field.
Experience working in an international environment.

Event Management Experience: Experience organizing large-scale international events, conferences, or exhibitions.
Knowledge of International Regulatory and Cultural Contexts: Understanding of international communication regulations and cultural
considerations.

Sustainability and Social Responsibility Awareness: Familiarity with global sustainability goals and their integration into communication
strategies.
Advanced Technical Skills in Digital Tools: Proficiency in advanced digital marketing, analytics, website management, social media
platforms, and media production.

Networking and Influencing: Strong global network in media, government, and scientific communities.

Skills:
Networking Ability: Proficiency in building connections with community leaders, organizations, and influencers.

Creative Problem-Solving: Ability to develop innovative solutions to outreach challenges and adapt strategies as needed.

Cultural Sensitivity: Awareness and understanding of diverse cultural contexts to tailor communications effectively.

Brand Management: Skills in maintaining and promoting a consistent organizational brand and message.

Training and Development: Ability to educate and train staff or volunteers on communication best practices and outreach techniques.

Working in research and development.
Proven history of delivering on large communication related projects or projects that require communication expertise.
Working in a multi-national project environment
Audio visual asset production and archiving.
Development and implementation of operational plans
Developing and implementation designs to support the brand,
Development of policies and procedures.
Experience working or interest in astronomy.
Working knowledge of additional languages (either official or customary) used in South Africa
Photography
Event Management
Membership of a relevant Professional body, advantageous but not required.

Additional Notes:
Organisational Values:
The SKA-Mid Communications and Engagement Manager will be expected to demonstrate the SARAO and SKAO’s values, and to work actively to instill those behaviours in all SKA-Mid staff in South Africa.

SKAO’s values are:
1. Diversity and Inclusion
2. Excellence
3. Collaboration
4. Creativity and Innovation
5. Sustainability

SARAO’s values are:
1. Passion for Excellence
2. World-class service
3. People-centered
4. Respect
5. Integrity and Ethics
6. Accountability

Both SARAO and SKAO value and respect difference and are committed to building an inclusive culture by creating an environment where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work. We believe that you will do your best at work if you have a work / life balance. Some roles lend themselves to flexible options more than others, so if this is important to you, please raise this during your interview, as we are open to discussing flexible working opportunities during the hiring process.

Information:
The website www.nrf.ac.za provides more details on the NRF initiatives and activities.

Applications:
Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by logging to https://ess.nrf.ac.za/Account/Recruitment and apply online. Applications should be accompanied by a letter of motivation indicating the applicant’s suitability for the position. The names and contact details of
at least three referees should be provided.

Closing Date: 19 January 2025

The NRF offers a challenging career and competitive remuneration package which is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The NRF is committed to employment equity and redress and the appointment to the position will be made in line with the NRF Employment Equity Plan.

The NRF reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Correspondence will be sent to short-listed candidates only