VACANCY: Social Performance Practitioner (SPP)

EIMS Africa, in conjunction with its sister company ACED (together, the “Business”), is seeking a talented individual to join the team at De Wildt Solar Farm. The role will report to the respective Social Performance Manager (“SPM”).

The Social Performance Practitioner (“SPP”), based on site, has the overall responsibility of driving the Business’ Social Performance Strategy which includes Socio-Economic Development (SED), Enterprise Development (EnD), & Supplier Development (SD) project implementation, Social Impact Assessment, Stakeholder Engagement, Community Consultation & Grievance Management, and Monitoring & Evaluation, alongside the broader Project Team. A strong focus will be placed on the identification, implementation, and reporting of SED, EnD and SD initiatives. The SPP will also be responsible for implementing the Business’ Stakeholder Engagement Strategy. He/she must be an individual who understands the Business’ strategies and its vision for the targeted communities, values and its obligations to stakeholders. The individual must also have a fair understanding of the socio-economic challenges facing the country and key development strategies on which most SED, EnD and SD programmes are based.

The impact of the Business’ SED, EnD and SD spending and its reputation within targeted communities depends on the quality and depth of knowledge of the individual in charge. Through these initiatives, the Business will deal with a wide range of NGOs and stakeholders some of whom are highly skilled and experienced in their field of specialization. These NGOs are basically partners of the Business and representatives of civil society and the stakeholder community. The SPP is not only the face of the Business in these communities, but also a representative of what the Business stands for, its depth of knowledge and views on SED, EnD & SD, as well as the level of commitment that the Business assigns to these commitments.

The SPP, therefore, should be able to engage meaningfully and in an informed manner with projects, key stakeholders and government representatives with whom the Business partners in various programs. The SPP also needs to be someone who understands the issues facing the targeted towns to ensure holistic management of development initiatives and to ensure that the effectiveness of partnerships between the Business and its stakeholders are not compromised.

Key Accountabilities / Principle Accountabilities / Principle Responsibilities:

Social Performance Practitioner (SPP) is responsible for:

Strategy Implementation:

• Understand and implement the Social Performance Strategy for the company, including but not limited to the Socio-Economic Development (SED); Enterprise Development (EnD); and Supplier Development (SD) strategies, translate the strategies into action plans for the Project Company. Where necessary, be able to review the strategies for relevance and appropriateness.

Project Identification Process Review:

• Manage the identification, selection, review, preparation of assessment reports for presentation to the delegated authority for approval. Effectively administer and manage the project funding process at the community level.

Relationship Building:

• Liaise with the Local Community and other stakeholders on behalf of the Company. Working with the Social Performance Manager (SPM), initiate and establish networks at regional level with government / private sector and civil society partners.

Management of Project Funding Cycle:

• Contribute to the continuous review and improvement of systems and processes to realize efficiencies in the management and administration of SED, EnD and SD programmes at departmental level.

Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Develop and generate competent and informative reports on the regional SED, EnD and SD activities. Produce and present Social and Ethics Committee (SEC) reports.
• Continuously grow knowledge and understanding of the regional development priorities and be able to use these to inform regional policies and practices of the Company.

Resource Management:

• Develop and grow local talent through the Company’s Internship Programme, thereby developing the Companies local capacity to deliver SED, EnD and SD programs and to manage stakeholders, effectively and in a professional way.

Key Skills and Experience:

• Have extensive experience in areas such as project management, community investment initiatives, SED, EnD and SD, start-up activities and community-based projects and initiatives.
• Have extensive experience in Stakeholder Engagement principles and practices.
• Experience in NGO, Public Benefit and Governmental Institutions focussing on grassroots and community initiatives.
• Have tertiary qualifications in relevant discipline. The type of degree may vary from Business Science, Economics, Business Administration or any relevant degree. Your differentiator will be additional social science qualifications and your commitment to making things happen, involvement in the community and wanting to make a difference.
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to liaise with staff and external staff at all levels.
• Proficiency in local spoken languages and any other SA official languages would be a definite advantage. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills and be able to engage effectively with local communities.
• Be commercially astute and have a strong understanding of business issues.
• Demonstrate leadership qualities.
• Have strong attention to detail.
• Have strong time and project management skills.
• Have a hard-working, can-do attitude.
• Be able to work in an open, fast-paced environment.
• Be able to effectively juggle multiple, competing priorities.
• Be ambitious, motivated, entrepreneurial and have the desire to succeed.
• Be a team player.
• Financial acumen (The capacity to demonstrate knowledge of and insight into financial principles and processes impacting on the business).
• Technically proficient in Excel, Word, PowerPoint essential (advanced user).
• Ability to plan and prioritise effectively.
  

People and Management Skills:

• Flexible & dynamic: self-motivated, results driven, ability to deal with change.
• Excellent intellectual & conceptual abilities.
• Resilience.
• Excellence orientation (concern for high-quality work).
• Follow-through, the motivation to ensure the highest standards of quality and productivity are consistently maintained (linked also to detail consciousness and accuracy).
• High levels of professional and personal integrity and ethics.
  

Key result areas:

• Establish structure and activities to oversee the Company’s commitments to the local community through its Social Performance commitments, including SED, EnD and SED programmes.
• Working model for strong and detailed interface and supervision of the onsite Social Performance staff.
• Successful implementation of operational processes and systems.
• SED, EnD and SD objectives and reporting requirements are met.
• Business decision making.

Considerations:

• The organisation is committed to appoint in line with requirements of the Employment Equity Act.
• Interested candidates can email their CV’s to HR@eimsafrica.com by no later than 08 June 2025.
• Disclaimer: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly.

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