External Affairs Director

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