The Senior Strategy & Impact Manager will play a critical role in driving overall impact strategy of the organisation, which includes ensuring that Trusts managed by KP effectively support community-driven initiatives, promote sustainable development, and deliver measurable outcomes aligned with the mission of the Trust. The Senior Strategy & Impact Manager will be required to guide the strategic direction of the Trusts investments, including advising on appropriate programmes. The role will also provide oversight to the Enterprise Development (ED) Management team, responsible for meeting client’s compliance obligations regarding Socio-Economic Development (SED) & ED spend in participating beneficiary communities. This position requires a strong background in community investment, stakeholder engagement, and impact evaluation.
Requirements
Strategic Development and Leadership
- Lead the design, implementation, and ongoing refinement of the Community Trusts strategy to ensure alignment with organizational goals and community needs.
- Set measurable goals for trust activities and monitor progress to achieve desired social, environmental, and economic outcomes.
- Stay informed about trends, challenges, and opportunities in community development, philanthropy, and corporate social responsibility to inform strategy.
- Develop and refine policies, procedures, and best practices for administering the trusts and managing relationships with stakeholders.
- Assist in the development of the ED strategy for each project to comply with Implementation Agreement commitments.
Programme Management & Administration:
- Oversee the day-to-day administration of multiple Community Trusts, ensuring effective allocation of funds and resources.
- Manage the grant making process, from proposal review and approval to final reporting and evaluation, ensuring transparency and accountability.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with community partners, beneficiaries, and local stakeholders to ensure the successful delivery of trust programs.
- Coordinate with other departments (Finance, Legal, Operations) to ensure proper governance and compliance with relevant regulations, policies, and reporting requirements, in relation to Trusts.
- In conjunction with the Research department, conduct comprehensive social and economic research to assess development areas and identify investment opportunities.
- Develop marketing strategies to showcase client investment to a wide range of audiences, including possible social investment partners.
Identify and design Socio-Economic and Enterprise Development Projects:
- Analyse and interpret the Vision and Mission of KP in terms of SE, ED Programmes and related obligations.
- Interpret clients and organisations needs and requirements in terms of SE, ED plans and programmes.
- Identify SE, ED project opportunities through consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Impact measurement & Reporting:
- Develop and implement robust mechanisms for tracking and measuring the social, economic, and environmental impact of Community Trust activities.
- Analyze data, prepare reports, and present insights to leadership, stakeholders, and external partners, demonstrating the effectiveness and outcomes of funded initiatives.
- Use evaluation results to inform strategy adjustments, identify areas for improvement, and drive continuous learning and impact.
- Collect, analyse, and maintain relevant project data to monitor progress, measure the impact of programmes and prepare reports for internal and external stakeholders.
- Ensure that each project is captured on the monitoring and evaluation tool with appropriate KPIs and monitoring and evaluation schedule.
- Coordinate meetings with all relevant partners and stakeholders to monitor and evaluate projects implementation.
- Formulate standard procedures for evaluation of implemented projects impact.
Stakeholder Management and Engagement:
- Build and maintain strategic partnerships with key community organizations, governmental agencies, and other relevant entities to support the objectives of the Community Trusts.
- Represent the organization at public forums, events, and meetings related to community impact, philanthropy, and social development.
- Act as the main point of contact for community leaders, beneficiaries, and external partners, ensuring timely and effective communication and support.
Team Leadership & Capacity Building:
- Mentor and guide a team of Trust administrators, providing professional development opportunities, ensuring alignment with trust objectives, and fostering a collaborative work environment.
- Support the recruitment and onboarding of new team members, providing necessary training on trust management and community impact principles.
- Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and inclusivity within the team and across the organization.
DESIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum of a degree in Social Sciences and/or Development studies or equivalent NQF 8 level, with post-graduate studies preferable.
- At least 7-10 years of experience in community impact, philanthropy, or program management, with a focus on strategy development, community partnerships, or social investment.
- Ideally, 3- 5 years of supervisory or management level experience.
- Strong knowledge of community development frameworks, impact measurement methodologies, and social return on investment (SROI).
- Proven ability to lead and manage complex projects and initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
- Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Familiar with the South African Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Programme.
- Experience in managing philanthropic funds or trust structures.
- Familiarity with financial management principles related to trust funding and grant allocation.
- Enterprise and Socio-Economic Development best practices.
- Monitoring and Evaluations systems development.
- Media and Public Relations in the context of reputation management.
- Sustainable development best practices.
- Contract management.
- B-BBEE codes knowledge.
- Microsoft Office 365 Suite.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
