Societal Communications Head

Johannesburg, South Africa | Posted on 03/07/2025
Industry: Nonprofit Charitable OrganizationsCity: JohannesburgState/Province: GautengCountry: South AfricaAbout UsSmartStart is a successful national network of NGOs and partners that is realizing quality, affordable early learning for all children aged three to five.
We are achieving this by scaling a network of and building a platform for providers, achieving specific ecosystem transformations with governments and partners, and promoting early learning as a priority societal cause.
Job DescriptionSocietal Communications Head Purpose The new role of Societal Communications Head will lead the SmartStart network's efforts using social influence to collect people's efforts and change behaviours and mindsets:
To build and inspire a country-wide movement (wider than SmartStart) to establish early learning as a societal priorityTo leverage the power of the SmartStart brand to accelerate network growth and wider progress towards early learning for all focused on those most excludedThe role is a member of the Hub Exco and reports to the Chief Ecosystem and Partnerships Officer.
We are looking for a curious, creative, driven individual with extensive communications, behaviour change, marketing and outreach experience and a successful track record of managing teams. Key ResponsibilitiesGuide coherent, clear, informative, engaging and influential communications to SmartStart's national network of practitioners, parents, and frontline staffStimulate and influence multi-way communications within and across the network in service of SmartStart's purpose and strategyDrive the development of communications campaigns that move people themselves to influence and "convert" others to take action for the societal cause of quality early learning for allLead the targeting and creation of appropriate communications that stimulate and reinforce changes in behaviourEngage role-players with overlapping and/or complementary interests, e.g.
basic education, gender justice and employment and micro-(social-)enterprise and social justiceBuild a popular South African movement for early learning as a societal causeCollaborate with partners to create popular demand (economic & political) for and expectations of quality, affordable early learning for allWidely share the progress made towards, and benefits of, quality early learning for allCo-develop and communicate relevant popular education content on topics including care about and concern for children's interest; the benefits and importance of early learning for all; key practices for quality early learning; as well as inclusive education, gender justice, and social justiceLead internal-organisational communications across the network of SmartStart partner NGOs and within the network Hub organisationCo-develop and conduct appropriate SmartStart network and wider social research to yield insights for segmenting, differentiating, and/or targeting communicationsDevelop appropriate approaches to monitor, investigate and understand the intended and unintended effects of communications and respond appropriatelyStrategically explore opportunities and partnerships across a few (southern) African countriesRequirementsQualifications and Experience Master's degree (or equivalent) in a related disciplineAt least 8 years' relevant & diverse communications experience in complex organisational-systemic contexts, ideally in early childhood development, education, or public healthAt least 4 years in senior role(s) successfully leading functions and managing teamsAt least four years in senior management roles(s)Successful track record of driving effective social behaviour-change communications campaignsExperience tracking & analysing the intended and unintended effects of communications and responding appropriatelyKnowledge and Skills Demonstrated track record using communications, brand, and social network influence as well as other relevant dynamics and approaches to transform social norms and so behavioursClear evidence of curiosity and appetite for feedbackAppetite to work in uncertainty and change, without recipesAbility to see the big picture and work effectively amid complexityFamiliarity with and curiosity aboutSocietal scaleSystems doing-and-thinkingDesign thinking & iterative designingDriving to succeedExcellent at building quality, trusting relationshipsCommitment to SmartStart's purpose and social justice internationallyAdvantageous: Fluency in one or more African languagesChild Safeguarding Policy Applicants must adhere to the SmartStart Child Safeguarding Policy, which has been developed in accordance with the International Standards for Child Safeguarding, which provides a benchmark for organisations working with children.
Under this Policy, SmartStart will not employ anyone whose name is on the National Child Protection Register or who has been convicted of a criminal offence involving a child.

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