Community Relations Manager

Duties

• Reporting directly to the Social Lead, the main activities of the function include: to lead the articulation and implementation of a comprehensive Project-wide vision for stakeholder engagement; design, manage, and periodically update the stakeholder engagement plan (SEP) in alignment with IFC performance standards (PS) and other international standards
• Lead the design of the community grievance mechanism (CGM), ensuring it is accessible, culturally appropriate, and provides timely, effective, and fair resolution of community grievances; ensure that the community grievance mechanism is effectively operated, with grievances registered, investigated, and resolved in line with project standards, by supporting and guiding the team responsible for day-to-day management; to collaborate with the MERL team in the development and management of digital engagement and grievance-tracking platforms (e.g., Darzin, Borealis, Social Pinpoint, AidImpact), ensuring full documentation, version control, and compliance with IFC PS1 transparency and auditability requirements
• Periodically evaluate the project’s stakeholder relationships and community perceptions to identify emerging issues or risks, providing insights and advice to senior management to support proactive engagement and maintain social license; set up and coordinate regular meetings with various stakeholder groups to monitor and report on the project’s SLO and current stakeholder perceptions
• Lead and manage the community liaison officers (CLOs), including planning and coordinating daily activities, providing guidance and support, monitoring performance, preparing reports, and facilitating capacity-building initiatives to strengthen team skills and effectiveness; lead the building and maintenance of constructive, long-term relationships with a network of key stakeholders, including Government (district and provincial) entities, community based organizations (CBOs), local leaders, and project-affected communities
• Support the human rights, gender and NGO manager in the building and maintenance of constructive, long-term relationships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at the district and provincial level; ensure that stakeholders are recognized and valued as partners during the development and delivery of the project; lead internal and external awareness and education of the MNK Project, articulating clear means and methodologies for effective outreach; identify stakeholder issues, concerns, and expectations, and act appropriately and promptly to respond to and address these; design and use of information, education and communications materials with stakeholders
• Serve as the primary point of contact for project teams and third-party contractors conducting studies or sustainable development work, facilitating introductions, establishing relationships, and creating a community presence that enables effective project implementation. For larger or longer-term work scopes, coordinate with contractors’ stakeholder engagement functions to ensure alignment with project principles and engagement practices; ensure that all engagement activities are conducted in line with the transparency and participation requirements of the Project’s lenders and international standards
• Develop and implement FPIC/ICP protocols (as applicable under IFC PS7), including stakeholder identification validation, culturally appropriate communication methods, decision-making documentation, and consent tracking forms; ensure internal alignment and coordination across functional teams to maintain consistent external relationships and a unified project voice; ensure MNK management and staff understand the value and necessity of genuine stakeholder participation throughout the project life cycle

Requisites

• Master’s degree preferred in Development, Sociology, Communications, Public Relations, Anthropology, or other relevant social science areas
• Between 5-10 years of relevant working experience, with a proven track record in complex stakeholder engagement, community relations, and grievance management for large-scale infrastructure or extractive projects
• Experience managing complex multi-district field teams and coordinating high-volume engagement programs
• Previous experience working in Mozambique or the Southern African development context is highly desirable
• Solid knowledge and application of IFC Performance Standards (PS), particularly PS 1 (Stakeholder Engagement) and associated performance standards
• Experience using stakeholder information management systems such as Darzin, Borealis, or equivalent platforms
• Professional fluency in Portuguese (both written and spoken) is a mandatory requirement for effective engagement with government and local stakeholders
• Fluency in Nyungwe (the predominant local language in the job's area) is highly desirable, as it would enhance communication and trust-building with project-affected Communities
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate, build consensus, and manage conflict in cross-cultural and high-stakes environments

Benefits

• The possibility of working in a Company that offers salary conditions compatible with the level of experience and level of responsibility of the role, as well as opportunities for personal development

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted