Astron Energy Development Fund - Impact Analyst at Astron Energy (Pty) Ltd.

The role requires:

• Clear understanding of the AEDF’s Mandate and strategic purpose as approved by the AEDF Board with the ability to independently execute the plan as per the approved business plan.
• Close collaboration with the Astron Energy Corporate Affairs team to ensure alignment with Astron Energy’s Social Initiatives objectives and AEDF’s contribution to them.

The ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders:

• Implementing Partners: CEO’s & Relationship Managers (quarterly) and Programme Managers (at least monthly).
• Programme beneficiaries: unemployed youth, entrepreneurs, business owners.
• Government: DIT city government officials, DTIC and DMRE
• Speakers: leveraging internal & external networks to identify judges and speakers for various events
• Network: AEDF and AE alumni as well as current SMME Portal registered business owners
• Astron Energy: GM’s and staff
• Key Partners for Astron Energy: Branded Marketers, Key Customers and Fenceline Community Leaders
• The ability to understand the programme objectives, KPI’s and contracted levels of performance to hold the Implementing Partners accountable to deliver the services per our contracts.
• Proactive engagement with the programme managers to anticipate issues or problems requiring AEDF support or intervention.
• Oversight of the implementing partners’ programmes to provide assurance that the desired impact is being achieved.
• Approving social media content related to the Community Development programmes.
• The establishment of an AEDF Community via networking, events and communications.
• The need to manage various tasks, role players and programmes simultaneously.
• Reporting to numerous internal and external stakeholders on Programme progress

Key responsibilities include:

Social Investment - Partnership Management

• In conjunction with the AEDF Head of Fund and Astron Energy’s Corporate Affairs Manager, design and deliver effective management plans for AEDF Community NPC’s social investment programmes that supports business objectives. This includes, but is not limited to working in collaboration with internal clients and AEDF’s community partners to:
• Ensure all programmes align with the AEDF Mandate
• Ensure all Flagship 3 activities are executed in alignment with Policy 330 and the Astron Energy CSI process. This includes ensuring that all internal governance and approvals processes are followed.
• Develop and execute individual partnership plans that deliver internal and external stakeholder engagement opportunities; generate positive media and third-party advocacy.
• Ensure partnership plans are aligned with AEDF and Astron Energy’s overall reputation and community engagement strategies.
• Ensure partnerships are aligned with Astron Energy’s business drivers and that they address key business impacts and opportunities.
• Develop professional briefing materials for internal clients and external stakeholders whom we engage in our social investment program.
• Work collaboratively with the Corporate Affairs team to effectively leverage and communicate all aspects of AEDF’s social investment program to internal and external stakeholders.
• In conjunction with the AEDF Head of Fund, proactively manage partnership budgets in line with internal approvals processes and company policy.

Social Investment - Reporting and Evaluation

• Monitor and report relevant social investment data for the AEDF programmes.
• Oversee annual performance reviews of our Flagship 3 Implementing Partners.
• Capture and report key metrics as required by our contracts and annual Scorecard objectives, internal clients and Astron Energy Corporate Affairs.
• Prepare and deliver partnership reports for internal and external use on regular basis.
• Spot and identify opportunities for improving the effectiveness of communications activities.

Stakeholder and Reputation Management

• Under the guidance of the AEDF Head of Fund, proactively manage relationships with our AEDF Community Implementing Partners and associated stakeholders.
• Working through Astron Energy’s Corporate Affairs department, proactively support their relationships with key community partners and associated stakeholders.
• Represent AEDF at various partnership meetings and events in a professional manner that is aligned to the Astron Energy values and behaviours, and Astron Energy’s overall Reputation strategy.

Teamwork and innovation

• Work proactively and collaboratively with internal clients, other members of the AEDF team and the various Astron Energy departments to deliver a successful AEDF Community social investment programme.
• Remain abreast of current thinking and new trends in relation to best practice in the monitoring and evaluation of social investment programmes.
• Spot and identify opportunities for improving the effectiveness of the AEDF programmes.

Professional Qualification and Certifications:

• Tertiary degree with at least 5 years work experience in community and economic development sectors

Work Experience:

• Community Development (business partnerships, social investment, etc)
• SMME development (community or economic programmes)
• Supplier or Enterprise Development experience
• Work experience must demonstrate the skills required to perform this role
• Strong process, controls and compliance experience.

Knowledge and skills:

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated understanding & application of partnership communications.
• Ability to work collaboratively, foster cooperation and teamwork with a diverse group of people across multiple disciplines, managerial boundaries and stakeholders.
• Proven interpersonal skills and capacity to represent Astron Energy and the AEDF in a professional and appropriate manner to a wide range of stakeholders – From CEO’s to unemployed youth from under-resourced communities; unskilled to highly skilled individuals, Astron staff to third party contractors.
• Well-developed written and verbal English communication, interpersonal, report writing and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated project management skills to be able to work independently with the ability to manage multiple tasks, role players and deadlines simultaneously.
• Analytical and logical. A solution orientated thinker with a continuous improvement mindset to drive process efficiencies and a smoother experience for AEDF beneficiaries. Having the ability to create value by identifying and driving alternative and efficient approaches appropriate to the situation at hand.
• The successful candidate must be passionate about real SMME development and South African nation building, be proactive and use their initiative to solve problems, have strong communication skills and be focused on execution and meeting deadlines.