Head of Focal Point Africa Global Reporting Initiative South Africa

Head of Focal Point Africa

Start date September 2012, 40 hrs p/w
Location: South Africa (GRI welcomes local applicants)
Contract: 2 year initially – extension by mutual consent

About Global Reporting Initiative
An international not-for-profit organization, Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) mission is to make sustainability reporting standard practice by providing guidance and support to organizations. Working at GRI means joining the world’s leading network of people and organizations advancing sustainability, transparency and accountability through sustainability reporting.

GRI is an inclusive organization; its work and activity is based on consultative, multi-stakeholder processes.
GRI has its Secretariat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with regional offices in Australia, Brazil, China, India and the U.S. For more information visit our website at www.globalreporting.org.


Position Summary
For its regional office in South Africa, GRI is looking for a Head of the Focal Point Africa. GRI’s Focal Point works to promote GRI’s mission locally in Africa by disseminating and promoting better knowledge of sustainability reporting and the GRI and its Framework for Sustainability Reporting among companies and organizations in Africa. The GRI Focal Point will act as a regional hub with the main aim to facilitate and promote the active engagement of African organizations in the further development of sustainability reporting globally and in the African region. Initially the main focus of the engagement and outreach will be on Southern Africa but with the possibility to explore collaboration with local partners in in other targeted key African markets depending on the interest and need of stakeholders.

The post holder will report to the Deputy Director Regional Network based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and will be supported by an advisory group of regional stakeholders.


Job purpose and responsibilities
Based on guidance from the global GRI secretariat, the post-holder is responsible for the following:
• Drive the practice of sustainability reporting in key markets in Africa –creating awareness, helping organizations get started, positioning GRI Guidelines as a tool
• Connect local practitioners to share best practices and drive quality of reporting
• Ensure successful implementation of local projects with local partners in the region
• Ensure African stakeholders have a strong voice in global developments such as the development of the GRI’s Sustainability Reporting Framework
• Continue to build a dynamic network in South Africa and feedback reporting developments to the global process as well as create and build new networks in other key markets

In detail:
1. Creating awareness and building capacity
• Manage and maintain and active network, through events and other engagements
• Represent GRI in local public outreach, including public speaking
• Support local and regional community of GRI reporters
• Secure local and regional funding for the African Focal Point
• Promote the Organizational Stakeholder Program
• Work with GRI’s local partners such as the certified training partners and the data partners
• Work with local SMEs and Supply Chain partners
• Work with local NGOs, donor organization and other multipliers to raise awareness on the benefits of transparency and sustainability reporting in countries besides South Africa

2. Continuous improvement of the GRI Guidelines
• Promote the understanding and use of the GRI Guidelines in Africa
• Support the development of the next generation of the GRI Guidelines and other Reporting Framework materials by ensuring Africa’s voice is heard in the global development process
• Support promotion of (relevant) sector guidance

3. Shaping the reporting environment
• Engage with relevant local government bodies
• Engage with local stock exchanges

4. Integrated Reporting
• Support and ensure African participation in the development of integrated reporting practices
• Support and ensure African participation in relevant IIRC processes
• Build a bridge between Integrated Reporting developments in South Africa and the global developments and capture learning’s

5. Institutional development
• Fundraising
• Internal and External Communication Plan
• Office management
• Continuous engagement of the regional advisory group
• Ensure African representation in GRI governance bodies


Key competencies/requirements
• Proven track record of work experience at senior level with a minimum of three years of direct experience with the process of sustainability reporting
• Advanced work experience in corporate responsibility issues – understanding and ability to articulate issues associated with corporate responsibility at the highest level
• Knowledge of the global and African practice in corporate reporting
• Experience with Development Aid projects, programs and donor funding
• Proven track record in fundraising from governmental and business donors
• Strong people management skills
• Established track record related to complex project- and event management
• Engagement and stakeholder relationship management experience
• Ability to work in a self-supporting setting


Skills and attributes
• A strong ability to develop and maintain effective relationships at different levels and within different stakeholder groups
• Excellent interpersonal skills – the ability to communicate in a professional manner, develop and present persuasive arguments at all levels
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to write effectively for different audiences
• Proven track record of training- and /presentation skills
• Good time management and organizational skills, with the ability to work under periods of significant pressure whilst maintaining attention to detail
• Reliable, organized and helpful with a ‘can-do attitude’
• Fluent in English
• Ability to bridge African and Western culture to effectively connect African and global developments
• Ability to travel – nationally and internationally – including annual or semi-annual visits to the GRI Secretariat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands


Desirable
• Additional regional language skills are an advantage


Employment Conditions
• Competitive salary and benefit package


Contact details
Interested candidates eligible to live and work in South Africa are requested to submit their resume and motivation letter in English to recruitment@globalreporting.org. Deadline to submit an application is 27 July 2012 by 12.00 noon CET. Short-listed candidates will be contacted closer to the application deadline.

Stichting Global Reporting Initiative
Human Resources
Weesperstraat 95
1018 VN Amsterdam, The Netherlands T. + 31 (0)20-5310000
recruitment@globalreporting.org // www.globalreporting.org