Communications and Public Affairs Manager

• Build close, productive relationships with social influencers, journalists, key partners, and influencers in tech, business, and mainstream press in South Africa, while thinking creatively, taking smart risks, and addressing tough issues as they arise.
• Create written materials including story pitches, messaging guidelines, press releases, Q&As, presentations, and speeches, and design strategies and content for external communications channels.
• Partner with Product, Sales, Marketing, and other teams across Google to craft compelling communication strategies that show the usefulness and key benefits of products, platforms and programs.
• Represent Google as a company spokesperson for a wide variety of social and traditional media inquiries. Assist with all communications activities in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Coach and guide company officials for press activities, and oversee external agencies to support day-to-day inquiries, special projects, and events.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 7 years of experience in public relations, media relations, or internal and executive communications with technology products or services.
  
• Experience in communications within a business, social media, traditional media, non-profit, or a similar environment.
• Experience with developing and implementing social media campaigns with measurable results.
• Experience working in the digital or traditional media landscape in the Southern Africa region.

Preferred qualifications:

• Ability to focus, prioritise, and maintain good judgement in a fast-paced environment; to think, plan, and execute on multiple projects simultaneously in an organised fashion; and to adapt quickly and escalate issues effectively.
• Ability to work with colleagues in various geographies and understand cultural differences, and work well as part of a team and lead efforts across disciplines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, alongside fluency in one or more language native to the Southern African region.

As a member of the Global Communications and Public Affairs team, you will work cross-functionally to help communicate with journalists and other thought leaders; devise specific communications materials and campaigns; engage in face-to-face meetings with commentators and other opinion formers; and develop print and web-based material supporting these campaigns. We're looking for great communicators who can understand complex issues and explain them in person and also via well written, simple blog posts, FAQs, video scripts and more.

As a part of the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Communications team, you will play a pivotal role in telling Google's story in Africa, as we are a lean and mighty team that is rewiring how we communicate across Africa to adapt to the ever changing media landscape and a Gen-Z audience. In this role, you will help shift our communications towards “Social-First”, Gen Z-focused, product-led Communications, You will be a storyteller who can use creative and strategic tactics to show Google's tangible AI momentum through products like Gemini and Search, working alongside their team while managing a PR agency in South Africa, as the South Africa Communications manager will drive high-priority communications projects and execute communications campaigns for their area of responsibility, helping advance Google’s goals, reputation, and culture, executing communication plans that resonate with key audiences. As a part of the South Africa Communicatins Manager, you will also adapt a consistent drumbeat approach to our communications strategy while leveraging our AI tools for content creation and generation of campaign assets. Your role also involves deepening relationships with strategic creators, Key Opinion Formers and traditional media in South Africa while leveraging these relationships to enhance our story telling.We help inform and educate users, advertisers, partners, opinion leaders--and our own employees--about the benefits of Google's products, our distinctive company culture/values and our approach to the big public policy issues of the day. You are quick-witted, entrepreneurial and intellectually curious. To succeed in this role, you are willing to try new things and can manage numerous projects with tight deadlines. Things happen quickly at Google, and to do great work, you need to be an enthusiastic team player who can work cross-functionally with partners across PR, Communications, Marketing, Product, and beyond.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 7 years of experience in public relations, media relations, or internal and executive communications with technology products or services.
  
• Experience in communications within a business, social media, traditional media, non-profit, or a similar environment.
• Experience with developing and implementing social media campaigns with measurable results.
• Experience working in the digital or traditional media landscape in the Southern Africa region.