Eastern Cape: MANAGER: MEDIA AND COMMMUNICATIONS

About the Role

This is a strategic leadership role responsible for managing the University’s media, communications, content, internal communication, and digital platforms, overseeing staff, budgets, suppliers, and compliance to strengthen brand reputation, stakeholder alignment, and positive media visibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Content Management & Storytelling: editorial strategy/content calendar and quality control; multi-format content across paid, earned, social and owned (PESO) channels; balanced faculty inclusion/distribution; undergraduate and postgraduate marketing content coordination; website content maintenance and performance benchmarking.
• Media Relations: build and maintain journalist/editor relationships; pitching and handling inquiries/interviews; current affairs monitoring and opportunity alignment; sentiment/coverage/AVE reporting; high-level placement strategy.
• Social & Digital Media: social media calendar and daily publishing; trend monitoring and best practices; website SOPs and content oversight; SEO and web traffic reporting; stakeholder collaboration for website updates.
• Media & Communications Management (University-wide): portfolio strategy implementation; media stakeholder engagement/coordination; special projects delivery; monitoring, reporting and performance tracking (incl. media coverage/AVE).
• Financial Planning & Budgeting: annual budget development; expenditure control and monthly/quarterly reporting; asset safeguarding; cost containment and prevention of unauthorised/wasteful expenditure.
• Organisational Unit Staff Management: team leadership and work planning; resource planning and recruitment support; training and development; performance management and conduct/discipline oversight; workplace satisfaction and wellness.
• Employee Communication: internal editorial/content strategy aligned to the Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) strategy and channel management and improvement; stakeholder liaison to source internal news; project-specific internal comms planning plus evaluation/reporting; brand narrative and message consistency.
• Supplier Relations: establish/maintain preferred supplier panels; oversee contracts, compliance and performance with Supply Chain Management; support RFQs/tenders; address underperformance.
• Governance, Risk, Compliance, Reporting, Monitoring & Evaluation: policy compliance audits/scans; training and awareness for compliance; risk identification/mitigation/reporting; monthly/quarterly reporting and reviews.

Requirements

• Honours qualification in communications, public relations, journalism, English, or a related field.
• Five (5) years’ experience specifically in a media and communication management role.
• Five (5) years of experience in marketing and communications.

Qualifications

• Masters degree in communications, public relations, journalism, English, or a related field.