Background
The African Climate Foundation (ACF) is the first and only African-led climate change re-granting organisation on the continent. Through a combination of grant making, fellowships, transformational research, technical assistance, coalition building and advocacy the ACF seeks to support interventions at the nexus of climate change, and development that have the greatest potential to deliver long-term socio-economic transformation and inclusive development.

The JET PMU

The JET PMU operates as a high-impact delivery unit, driving the Just Energy Transition (JET) through strategic coordination, agile execution, and results-driven implementation. Focused on accelerating project pipelines, mobilising resources, problem solving and fostering collaboration, the PMU bridges policy and action.

About the role

As part of the MOU signed between the African Climate Foundation (ACF) and the Just Energy Transition Projects Management Unit (JET PMU); the ACF agreed to provide resources to the JET PMU to enable the JET PMU to fulfil its mandate pursuant to the JET PMU’s terms of reference. This includes the secondment of technical experts across all relevant disciplines to support the agenda of the JET PMU.

The Manager: JET Communications will lead the development and execution of comprehensive communication strategies, campaigns, branding, and stakeholder engagement to support the objectives of the Just Energy Transition (JET) PMU. This role is pivotal in ensuring effective national and international communication with internal and external stakeholders, including government entities, financiers, and the public, to facilitate and promote South Africa’s inclusive energy transition. The incumbent is expected to rapidly develop sufficient competency in JET content and strategic judgement to be able to act as public spokesperson for the JET PMU both nationally and internationally where required.

This role will be seconded to the JET PMU and will report to the Head: JET PMU. The JET PMU will be responsible for managing, engaging with, and overseeing the Manager: JET Communications responsibilities and deliverables.

Key Deliverables:

Strategic Positioning & Narrative Intelligence

• Environmental Intelligence: Monitor macro-economic and geopolitical landscapes to predict shifts in stakeholder sentiment and advise the Head: JET PMU on pre-emptive strategic pivots.
• Institutional Narrative Governance: Own the JET PMU’s "Master Narrative," ensuring that technical energy milestones are translated into a compelling strategic case for international investment.
• Crisis Stewardship: Design and lead the high-level response to institutional threats, acting as the primary liaison for briefing Government Steering Committees and International Partners during crises.

Strategic Content Architecture

• Narrative Guardrails: Design and implement the institutional "Master JET Narrative and Key Messaging Framework" that dictates the technical and political tone for all PMU outputs.
• Executive Quality Assurance: Exercise final oversight and approval of high-impact content (e.g., Annual Reports, Investment Briefs, and Opinion Pieces) to ensure strict alignment with the JET IP.
• Content Systems Governance: Oversee the content development processes used by the Analyst: JET Communications and external providers, ensuring factually accurate, professionally presented, and legally compliant deliverables.

Strategic Event Stewardship

• High-Level Profiling: Determine the strategic necessity of PMU participation at national and international summits (e.g., Davos, COP) to ensure maximum institutional influence.
• Agenda Architecture: Design the thematic agendas for PMU-led workshops and seminars, ensuring that dialogue is structured to resolve policy bottlenecks and move stakeholders toward consensus.
• Logistical Oversight: Govern the execution of event strategies, holding specialists and vendors accountable for high-fidelity logistics and participant experience.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Intelligence Synthesis: Interpret media monitoring data to identify macro-trends and political risks, providing the Head: JET PMU with "Intelligence Briefs" rather than simple clipping reports.
• Impact Auditing: Conduct structured evaluations of the effectiveness of the PMU’s strategic positioning, using data to recommend institutional pivots in narrative or engagement strategy.
• Accountability Reporting: Track and report on the strategic milestones of the communications function to ensure workstreams are delivering on the JET PMU mandate.

Strategic Oversight & Compliance

• Quality Gatekeeping: Set the "Strategic Guardrails" for all public-facing campaigns; ensure that the Analyst: JET Communications executes tactics that align with high-level institutional goals.
• Service Provider Governance: Develop Terms of Reference and manage the performance of high-value external consultancies, ensuring rigorous compliance with JET PMU standards.
• Impact Evaluation: Lead the interpretation of narrative performance data to provide evidence-based recommendations to the Head: JET PMU regarding shifts in national engagement strategy

Ministerial & Executive Briefing Preparation

• Political Briefing Suites: Lead the development of comprehensive briefing notes, "Q&A" cards, and high-level presentations for the Head: JET PMU and Cabinet Ministers for use in Parliament, the IMC, and international missions.
• Data Visualization Strategy: Oversee the translation of complex energy and finance data into simplified, persuasive visual narratives for executive decision-makers.
• Strategic Confidence: Ensure all ministerial-level materials are pressure-tested for political sensitivity and evidence-based accuracy.

Functional Leadership and Function Coordination

• Act as the primary point of coordination for the Communications function, responsible for directing the tasks and deliverables of other Independent Contractors to maintain alignment with JET PMU objectives. This includes proactively managing delivery risks and implementing remediation strategies to ensure Communications function continuity and the successful achievement of deliverables.

Candidate Profile: What You Bring

Education

• Master’s Degree: Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Business, or Finance.
• Advantageous: Additional qualifications in International Relations, Public Policy, or Political Science.

Experience & Track Record

• 10+ years in strategic leadership roles (Finance, Business, or Climate sectors).
• 10+ years at a senior level in international relations or public affairs is highly advantageous.
• 10 years of experience managing cross-functional teams and external technical consultancies against rigorous contracts.
• Deep experience in Climate Finance or Energy Transition, navigating the "Triple Helix" of technical, financial, and social politics.

Core Competencies

• Executive Presence & Gravitas: Ability to command authority at Director-General and Ministerial levels.
• Strategic Mediation: High-level diplomatic skills to navigate deadlocks between competing groups (e.g., Organized Labor vs. Global Financiers).
• Intelligence Synthesis: Moving beyond "clipping reports" to providing "Intelligence Briefs" that identify macro-trends and political risks.
• Ethical Stewardship: A deep commitment to the "Just" element of the transition.

Start date: Position available immediately

Location: South Africa

Contract duration: 12 months, consisting of 2 x 6-month renewable contracts

Closing date: 23 February 2026

For further information about the ACF, visit www.africanclimatefoundation.org.

Should you not hear back from us by 31 March 2026, please consider your application to be unsuccessful.

The ACF strives to be an equitable organisation with a team which reflects the diversity of Africa.

In compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), The ACF assures all applicants that any personal information provided during the recruitment process will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and used solely for recruitment purposes. Your privacy and data security are of paramount importance to us. By applying for this position, you consent to the collection, processing, and storage of your personal information for recruitment-related activities only. The ACF is committed to safeguarding your privacy and maintaining the trust you place in us.