Head of Corporate Communications

Role overview

The Head of Corporate Communications will be responsible for shaping, safeguarding, and strengthening the organisation’s reputation among media, government, investors, partners, employees, and the wider public. This role leads a team covering corporate PR, external affairs, executive communications, and crisis response, and acts as a strategic adviser to the External Affairs Director, the CEO, senior leadership, and the board.

Corporate communications

• Create and lead the annual communications plan so it supports wider business priorities.
• Own the company’s message platform, brand tone, and key talking points across all communication touchpoints.
• Direct press engagement, including proactive media outreach, response handling, and relationship-building with journalists.
• Support executive communications such as CEO speeches, opinion pieces, and thought-leadership content.
• Manage content for owned platforms, including the website, social channels, and corporate publications.
• Shape the editorial direction for the website, LinkedIn, annual report, investor presentations, and executive presentations.
• Develop communication initiatives that support social impact commitments such as community investment, charity partnerships, and employee volunteering.
• Lead communications for purpose-led initiatives, the Vodacom Tanzania Foundation, sponsorships, and partnerships, ensuring they reinforce the company’s reputation goals.

Reputation and crisis management

• Track reputational threats using a structured early-warning and monitoring approach.
• Lead crisis communications preparation, scenario testing, and live incident response.
• Act as a spokesperson when needed, or prepare and coach executives for media interaction.
• Oversee issues management for sensitive announcements, legal matters, and regulatory disclosures.

External communications leadership

• Build, guide, and motivate a strong communications team, while managing agencies and external partners.
• Define performance indicators for communications work and present results to the board and executive committee.
• Manage the communications budget with accountability for return on investment.
• Collaborate closely with marketing, commercial teams, HR, and investor relations.

Qualifications, competencies, knowledge, and experience

A bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, business administration, political science, or a similar discipline is preferred. The role also requires 10+ years of experience in communications.

Key strengths include media relations and PR, digital and social content strategy, ESG and sustainability communication, communications measurement and analytics, crisis planning and delivery, storytelling, strategic influence, executive presence, sound judgement under pressure, and strong stakeholder relationships.