Senior Specialist:External Communication

• Operating Division: Transnet Corporate Centre
• Employee Group: Permanent
• Department: Grp, Corporate Affairs
• Location: Johannesburg
• Reporting To: Executive Mngr: Corporate Communications
• Grade: D
• Reference: req4647

The closing date is on 24/03/2026. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that HR has received the application before the closing date of the advertisement.

1. To lead and implement the organisation's external communication and reputation management strategy.
2. To ensure consistent, credible, and strategically aligned engagement with media, government, industry, and public stakeholders.
3. The role safeguards and enhances corporate reputation through proactive communication, effective stakeholder positioning, and strategic advisory support to executive leadership.

1. Develop and institutionalise a group-wide external communication and reputation management framework, including governance structures, protocols and standards that ensure consistent, coordinated and strategically aligned messaging across the organisation.
2. Lead and direct integrated reputation management initiatives that strengthen and protect the organisation's public image across government, industry, media, investor, and community stakeholder environments.
3. Strategically position Chairperson, Group Chief Executive and Executives, including OD CES - as credible industry voices through coordinated public engagements, thought leadership platforms and high-impact external visibility initiatives.
4. Align external communication priorities with organisational strategy - by providing structured communication support to key stakeholder interfaces, including Shareholder representatives, government relations, customers, investors/bondholders, and corporate social investment initiatives.
5. Ensure consistency and coherence of external messaging across Group functions and operating divisions through coordinated planning, communication matrices, and alignment mechanisms with divisional communication teams and brand management functions.
6. Strengthen and manage strategic media relationships to proactively shape public narrative, enhance positive coverage, and ensure effective response to reputational risks and emerging issues.
7. Enhance the organisation's public relations and external communication capability through standards, spokesperson development, communication audits, and continuous improvement of communication tools and platforms.
8. Provide effective leadership and governance of the external communications function, including management of people, budgets, service providers, and performance delivery against agreed reputation and communication objectives.
9. Develop an external communications matrix for Transnet and key projects - positioning relations according to the level of influence, impact or enhancement they may provide to the business or its projects.
10. Represent Transnet in various forums to enhance the company's image.
11. Coordinate with communications managers in the divisions to ensure alignment of external messaging.
12. Identify and engage with key media outlets to ensure targeted messaging for Transnet matters.

Qualifications, Experience & Inherent Job Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Media Studies, Marketing or a related field.
• A minimum of 7-10 years of experience in corporate communications, external communications, media relations, or reputation management within a large and complex organisational environment.
• At least 3-5 years in a senior management role, with responsibility for strategic communication planning, stakeholder engagement, and team leadership.
• Demonstrated experience in managing high-profile reputational issues, media engagement, and executive communications.
• Professional certification in Copy Writing, Creative Writing or Languages Project Management or Leadership programmes will be an added advantage.

Skills Required:

• Strong strategic communication and reputation management capability.
• Advanced media relations and public narrative management skills.
• Excellent writing, editing, and message development capability for executive and public audiences.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills across government, industry, media, and executive environments.
• Proficiency in digital communication platforms, media monitoring tools, and communication analytics.
• Ability to interpret organisational strategy and translate it into clear external messaging.
• Crisis and issues communication management capability.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical, judgement capability and problem-solving abilities in managing sensitive communication matters.
• Strong project and programme management capability.

Standard Job Requirements:

• Driver's license code 08
• Travel as required and approved
• Availability to respond outside normal working hours during crises or high-priority communication events.

• Strategic thinking and organisational awareness.
• High-level judgement, discretion, and business acumen.
• Executive advisory capability and influencing skills.
• Strong leadership and team development capability.
• Resilience and composure under pressure.
• Results orientation with strong accountability for outcomes.
• Collaboration and cross-functional coordination capability.

Preference will be given to suitably qualified Applicants who are members of the designated groups in line with the Employment Equity Plan and Targets of the Organisation/Operating Division.