Community Services Officer at Sappi

As a Community Services Officer, you will be responsible for:

• Assist operational management with stakeholder relations and enable stakeholder relations capacity
• Develop sound community relations with communities within which Sappi operates, exposing them to the Sappi value chain for better understanding of the forestry business, ABCD thinking and the Stop and Think Before you Act (STBA) culture.
• Identify and meet community leaders and traditional authorities in communities that border Sappi plantations and ensure ongoing two-way communication on issues of common interest as indicated in the Stakeholder Engagement Strategy.
• Work with the Abashintshi programme to facilitate and support community development
• Facilitate Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) philosophy for shared value in all communities (Own and Khulisa) in which Sappi operates
• Advise communities and implement community development and/or welfare projects
• Map out community assets
• Establish Community Social Investment Plans for identified priority communities including proposing roll out plan and budget
• Engage community self-help enterprsies (co-operatives, garden projects) on sustainable development in Sappi communities, exposing them to the ABCD thinking
• Co-ordinate activites and ensure sound relations with business partners engaged by Sappi to support development initiatives at any time in response to Sappi's impact and shared value driven CSI strategy as well as ensure continuous monitoring, evaluation and reporting
• Hold monthly feedback sessions with Abashinshi and quaterly check-in sessions with Abashintshi as well as conduct site visits on their community ABCD initiatives
• Assist and attend to different structures that exist in Sappi communities including CPF's, Community Forums, Honey Harvester & Cattle Keepers, on issues of risk for the identified key risk factors as detailed in the Stakeholder Engagement Strategy
• Engage communities on theft of timber and seedlings in conjunction with operations, the security service provider and CPF's
• Support the Khulisa programme by providing social facilitation expertise to existing and expansion projects
• Liaise with teams and providing capacity support on social, community and institutional issues as well as perceptions of Sappi as communicated to Foresters
• Support through training on the establishment and implementation of appropriate conflict resolution mechanisms and protocols
• Support the establishment and maintenance of required institutional structures for community engagement in community projects where Sappi is a partner
• Receive, acknowledge and investigate requests for assistance and other support from Sappi communities 
• Liaise with Communication/Corporate Relations department in terms of communicating departmental activities including projects
• Support and co-ordinate Sappi regional/area departmental events
• Prepare weekly and monthly reports of activities, movements and outcomes of engagements
• Assist the Stakeholder Relations Manager in projects

What are we looking for?

• National Diploma in a related community relations or rural development field
• A Bachelor’s Degree will be advantageous
• Min 3 years relevant experience
• Good rural development and project management focus experience advantageous
• Driver’s licence (Code EB)

What’s in it for you?

• Opportunity to work within a global organisation that continues to thrive in a rapidly changing world even after 80 years of existence.
• Learning and development programmes to fast-track your career within Sappi.
• Opportunities to travel (dependent on upon the role).
• Market leading leave benefits.
• Employee wellbeing benefits.