Principal Specialist: Cell C Foundation & Social Impact

At Cell C, we are not just a telecommunications company; we are a people-centric and consumer-focused organization committed to delivering exceptional experiences to our customers. In line with our dedication to customer-centricity, we are seeking a seasoned professional as a Principal Specialist: Cell C Foundation & Social Impact to join a dynamic team of #Unstoppables.

Job Purpose

To position Cell C as a Responsible, Inclusive Digital Ally by leading the Cell C Foundation as the primary delivery and governance vehicle for the Group's Social Impact agenda, advancing the Social ("S") component of Cell C's ESG strategy through credible, measurable, national-scale programmes.

The role drives long-term, sustainable social impact focused on youth empowerment, digital inclusion, entrepreneurship, education, and gender-based violence (GBV) response. It ensures alignment with Cell C's brand promise, post-listing narrative, and the Group's strategic pillars, while operationalising social outcomes as inputs to enterprise value creation, licence to operate, and stakeholder trust.

Note on scope: This role is not accountable for Cell C's overall ESG or Sustainability strategy (owned by the Chief Strategy Officer / EXCO Sustainability Sponsor). It is accountable for the credible design, delivery, measurement and reporting of the Social component of ESG, and for interlocking Foundation activity with the enterprise ESG scorecard, Social & Ethics Committee, and Integrated Reporting cycle.

Main Responsibilities

Strategy, Planning & ESG Social Integration Service Design Leadership and Delivery

• Lead the development, refresh and execution of the Cell C Foundation strategy, aligned to Corporate Affairs Strategy and Cell C’s post-listing narrative
• Operationalise the Social component of Cell C's ESG strategy through the Foundation, ensuring social outcomes are decision-shaping - not narrative-only
• Translate the ESG ambition into a coherent, multi-year Social Impact roadmap anchored in national priorities and UN SDGs (4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16)
• Interlock with the EXCO ESG Sponsor and Sustainability Committee to ensure Foundation activity is embedded in the enterprise ESG scorecard, not run as a parallel agenda
• Contribute Social inputs to the Social Compact, Stakeholder Engagement Policy, and Cell C’s Integrated Reporting cycle

Programme Development & Management

• Lead the Foundation's flagship programme portfolio, including:
• Youth empowerment: SEE YOUTH
• Workplace exposure: Take a Child to Work (TACTW) -
• Education & STEM: EduCate matric revision programme
• Digital access & skills
• GBV & gender equality: partner-led response programmes advancing safer digital and economic participation
• Reframe legacy CSI (Acts of Kindness, employee volunteerism) into an integrated, Foundation-led national platform
• Leverage Cell C's asset-light platform, MVNO ecosystem and zero-rated channels to expand the reach and depth of programmes

Partnerships & Collaboration

• Cultivate and manage strategic partnerships with NGOs, government, regulators, provincial/municipal authorities, educational institutions, private-sector partners, and multilateral bodies
• Build a network of mentors, industry experts and advisors to support programme participants
• Collaborate with Marketing, Brand, HR, Government Relations, Regulatory Affairs and Investor Relations to identify synergies between Foundation programmes and enterprise priorities (e.g. Cell C Business, MVNO growth, executive profiling)
• Manage delivery partners and specialist agencies with clear scopes, KPIs and value-for-money accountability

Impact Measurement & ESG Reporting

• Establish and maintain a credible impact-measurement and reporting system distinguishing between reach and outcome metrics, in partnership with research providers
• Own the Social KPIs in the Group ESG Scorecard, and cumulative youth empowerment reach and outcomes
• Provide Social inputs to disclosure frameworks: IFRS S1, GRI alignment, JSE Listings Requirements, King IV/V principles, and (as they mature) CDP, MSCI and S&P Global ratings
• Prepare and present the Social chapter of the Integrated Annual Report and Social & Ethics Committee submissions

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure the Foundation is governed in line with its Charter, the Group's Delegation of Authority, procurement policies, and applicable South African law
• Prepare and present regular reports to the Managing Executive: Corporate Affairs, CMO, CFO, Board Social & Ethics Committee, and the Sustainability Committee
• Contribute Social-impact risks to the enterprise risk register and support ESG risk mitigation planning
• Uphold ethical fundraising, transparent disclosure, and JSE-listed-company market-sensitive information discipline
• Ensure programme delivery aligns with the Stakeholder Engagement Policy and safeguards Cell C's licence to operate

Reputation, Narrative & Advocacy

• Serve as a credible spokesperson for the Foundation in public forums, media, and stakeholder engagements - advocating on youth unemployment, digital inclusion, and GBV response
• Interlock with the External Communications, Digital PR and Executive Profiling functions to convert programme delivery into high-impact social impact stories per year
• Protect and enhance the Foundation's brand assets, trademarks and reputational equity
• Support the NGO Thick Trust reputation KPI

Resource Management & Budgeting

• Ensure responsible financial stewardship of Foundation funds to maximise programme impact per rand spent
• Secure additional and blended funding, including internal CSR allocation, contributions from strategic partners
• Manage cost tracking, variance reporting, and audit readiness for Foundation-related spend
• Ensure procurement discipline aligned to Group policy and ESG-aware supplier selection
• Originate, negotiate and conclude co-funding and strategic partner funding arrangements aligned to Foundation strategy
• Own the audit trail and assurance readiness for all Foundation spend,
• Monthly variance reporting to ME: Corporate Affairs; quarterly reporting to EXCO and Social & Ethics Committee;
• Annual disclosure input to the Integrated Report

People Management & Capability Building

• Lead, motivate and develop the Foundation team; embed KPI-driven performance management cascaded from CA strategic priorities and the New Horizon 2030 strategy
• Provide advisory, coaching and mentorship to enable team growth and career progression
• Evaluate team capability against future needs; implement the organisation's formal development frameworks
• Apply and adhere to Cell C Health and Safety procedures and rules

Community Engagement

• Engage with communities in regions facing economic and social challenges to identify opportunities for relevant, dignified, participatory programmes
• Build strong, long-term relationships with community leaders, learners, educators and civil-society stakeholders
• Ensure programmes reflect lived realities, not corporate assumptions

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public Policy or a related field (required)
• A Master's degree (MBA, MPA, Development Studies, Public Policy) will be advantageous.
• Formal exposure to ESG, sustainability reporting (IFRS S1/S2, GRI), or CSI governance advantageous

Experience:

• Managerial & Specialist Experience
• 10+ years' senior specialist or leadership experience in corporate foundation, social impact, ESG or CSI portfolios, with at least 5 years operating at senior / executive interface level
• Proven track record of authoring (not solely executing) enterprise-level social impact or ESG strategy, frameworks and governance instruments
• Experience planning, resourcing and delivering programm