Advocacy and Social Impact Director

About the role

The Advocacy and Social Impact Director is responsible for protecting and strengthening Illovo Sugar Malawi’s external position and long‑term social licence to operate. This senior leader integrates policy advocacy, stakeholder strategy, ESG coordination, social impact, partnerships and corporate reputation around business priorities.

Key responsibilities

• Own the country external‑affairs strategy and provide the Managing Director and Exco with an integrated view of political, policy, regulatory, stakeholder, community and reputational developments.
• Coordinate the enterprise sustainability and ESG agenda, ensuring priorities, accountable owners, actions, evidence and reporting are integrated.
• Create a coherent stakeholder‑engagement system across country and sites, replacing fragmented engagement with prioritised relationships, commitments, issues, escalation and follow‑through.
• Provide strategic direction for community and social investment, integrating site social‑impact plans and the Foundation into one measurable country portfolio.
• Build strategic donor and development partnerships that align external resources with priority social, environmental and growth outcomes.
• Own corporate reputation, strategic communications, issues‑management and crisis‑communication readiness, ensuring a credible corporate voice.
• Translate external insights into enterprise decisions, strategic risks, project planning, ESG priorities and site action.

Required profile

• Relevant degree in Public Policy, Social Sciences, Sustainability, Development Studies, Communications, Business or related field.
• Significant senior leadership experience in public affairs, advocacy, external relations, sustainability/ESG, social impact or stakeholder management.
• Strong understanding of Malawi’s public policy, regulatory, community, development and civil‑society environment.
• Demonstrated ability to turn external intelligence into enterprise decisions and coordinate complex cross‑functional positions.
• Strong executive communication, stakeholder engagement, partnership, reputation and issues‑management capability.