Stakeholder Relations and Public Affairs Manager

About the role

Old Mutual is seeking an experienced Stakeholder Relations and Public Affairs Manager to lead its external engagement strategy across government, labour, business associations and industry bodies. Reporting to the Group Head of Stakeholder Relations and Public Affairs, the role will act as a centre of excellence for stakeholder interaction and public affairs initiatives.

Key responsibilities

• Implement and coordinate the Group’s stakeholder strategy for Tier 2‑4 stakeholders, providing guidance to clusters and business units.
• Support the Group Head in managing key relationships with government, industry associations and trade unions, serving as a unified interface for consolidated positions.
• Identify and escalate cross‑cutting stakeholder risks, sensitivities and opportunities.
• Lead Old Mutual’s participation in major stakeholder events, policy forums and industry engagements, ensuring consistent messaging.
• Own the biennial Stakeholder Relations Audit (SRA), deliver insights and develop Group‑level action plans.
• Lead the Stakeholder Relations Community of Practice to build capability and share knowledge.
• Ensure all engagements comply with governance, ethics and reputational risk frameworks.
• Provide regular reporting on stakeholder sentiment, policy risks and emerging issues for the Integrated Report.

Required profile

• Relevant tertiary qualification (e.g., Political Science, Public Policy, Development Management, Economics, Law or International Relations).
• Minimum five years of experience in group‑level stakeholder relations, corporate affairs or public affairs.
• At least three years in middle management with a proven record of coordinating senior‑level engagements.
• Demonstrated ability to manage stakeholder engagement across multiple business units or geographies.
• Strong strategic planning, action planning and data compilation skills, with excellent oral communication and presentation abilities.