Overview

We are Hiring!

One of my clients, an international mining company with operations in Zambia are looking for a Head of Department: Corporate Responsibility (CR) Manager.

For more information or to apply, follow the link below.

ROLE: Corporate Responsibility Manager 

Position Overview:

This role includes management of the Community Liaison, Corporate Affairs and Operational Grievance Mechanism teams.

The Head of Department Corporate Responsibility (“HOD CR”) will provide oversight and advice on the implementation, management, and delivery of the Corporate Responsibility and Environmental Social Governance (“ESG”) strategy at the client’s operations in Zambia. They will provide local management expertise to a Community Engagement, Corporate Affairs and Operational Grievance Mechanism team, with a clear focus on delivery, continuous improvement, compliance with international standards, and mitigation of social and environmental risks, providing senior-level reporting, advice, support and team management. The HOD CR will act as an advisor, facilitator and driving force at the local operation working across multiple functions, such as security, SHEQ, HR, finance, geology, and mining to ensure the operation is taken to the next level on ESG related aspects.

The HOD CR will need strong interpersonal skills since they will interact with a variety of groups, including national and local government, traditional leadership, civil society organizations, private citizens, and corporate employees. Critical thinking skills are essential for developing and implementing ESG initiatives, while considering cost savings and project practicality. The HOD CR must have the ability to collaborate, as they must be responsible for coordinating efforts among internal departments or external agencies. They will also need a strong background in program management, particularly with planning methods and coordinating programs, as well as budget preparation and monitoring. Experience of mining in Zambia, and the connected issues, is preferred.

The role responsibilities will include:

• Set goals for performance and deadlines in ways that comply with the company’s plans and vision and communicate these to colleagues.
• Work to meet international best-practice standards and maintain adherence to them.
• Organize workflow and ensure that employees understand their duties and delegated tasks.
• Give senior level inputs and guidance for operational implementation of local community engagement, community project delivery, corporate affairs and grievance system functioning.
• Lead a team consisting of individuals leading three distinct but inter-linked teams, corporate affairs, community engagement and project delivery team, and a dedicated grievance team.
• Provide clarity on priorities, risks, and opportunities between local (to Zambia) and international (to UK and elsewhere) contexts on operational ESG risk issues and function between the twin pressures that these contexts bring.
• Work with local management teams to meet strategic ESG policies and procedures, balanced by local implementation to secure the longer-term social license to operate.
• External contact, planning and engagement with key localized stakeholders on ESG matters including but not limited to, civil society & NGOs, government officials and local leaders, both traditional and elected.
• Internal driving force at senior management level to ensure that ESG issues are fully integrated, discussed, budgeted, and delivered as an integral part of the mine plan and future targets.
• Put in place processes, procedures, and reporting to monitor, evaluate and drive forward localized projects to conclusion and to ensure their long-term viability.
• Work fully aligned to all related internal functions including but not limited to: continuous improvement, security, SHEQ, HR, communications/corporate affairs, geology, and mining, to fully support long term operational excellence.
• Dual reporting line to senior management in the UK and Zambia.

Minimum qualifications and experience:

• Bachelor or Honours Degree in Social Sciences, Psychology, Sustainable Development or other related field, preferably post-graduate in a relevant subject and field-work experience in related or similar industrial sectors.
• Articulate with excellent written and spoken communication skills.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one, small group and larger group situations.
• Proficiency in both English and Bemba (speaking and writing). Knowledge of local Lamba language is a plus.
• Ability to deal with complex problems or problems involving variables in standardized situations.
• This is a job post that requires constant and direct engagement with stakeholders and field work so physical fitness is required.
• Highly motivated, proactive, and resourceful self-starter with sound planning, organizational, and project management skills.
• Excellent prioritization and timely decision-making skills.
• Strong leadership experience of leading, coaching, driving technical and experienced teams focused on delivery and excellence in the field of community relations and ESG.
• Strong understanding of social and community engagement in an extractive’s context; particularly strategic and operational risks affecting and potentially caused by extractives companies, throughout exploration and operational mine life cycle.
• An understanding or exposure to international policy frameworks and best-practice principles relevant to the extractives industry (e.g., UN Voluntary Principles for Security & Human Right (VPSHR), Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), The Extractives Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI), and other mining industry standards).
• Confident and self-starter who is able to tie together strategic and operational objectives, projects, and deliverables both across an international Group operational structure and across multiple functions, acting as critical link between HQ and operational subsidiaries.
• A background in the following: in-country operational sustainable development, community engagement, international mining standards, human rights, grievance mechanisms, environmental management, risk, corporate affairs, resettlement projects, sustainability and ESG reporting and project management.