COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER – COAL MINING

SUMMARY:
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
To act as the key communication link between the mining operation and surrounding communities, ensuring effective stakeholder engagement, addressing community concerns and supporting the mine in maintaining positive and sustainable relationships with local communities and stakeholders.
The Community Liaison Officer will support the implementation of the mine's Social and Labour Plan (SLP), community development initiatives, local employment and procurement programmes, and stakeholder engagement activities.

POSITION INFO:
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Build and maintain positive relationships with surrounding communities and community structures. Act as the primary point of contact between the mine and local community representatives. Conduct regular community engagements, meetings and consultations. Identify and escalate community concerns, disputes and potential areas of conflict. Receive, record, investigate and monitor community complaints and grievances. Maintain a formal community grievance register and ensure matters are followed up and closed out. Communicate mine activities, projects, employment opportunities and relevant developments to affected communities. Support the implementation and monitoring of the mine's Social and Labour Plan (SLP) commitments. Assist with community development and socio-economic development initiatives. Liaise with local municipalities, traditional authorities, ward councillors, community leaders and other relevant stakeholders. Support local employment initiatives and communicate recruitment processes and requirements to communities. Assist with local procurement and enterprise development initiatives where required. Monitor community expectations and identify potential risks that could impact mining operations. Provide management with regular reports on community sentiment, stakeholder concerns and emerging risks. Facilitate community meetings and prepare meeting minutes, attendance registers and action plans. Monitor agreed actions and commitments made by the mine during stakeholder engagements. Assist with public meetings, awareness campaigns and community outreach programmes. Support the mine during periods of community unrest, protests or disputes by facilitating communication between stakeholders. Ensure communication is handled professionally, transparently and in accordance with company policies. Maintain accurate stakeholder databases and engagement records. Assist with regulatory and compliance reporting relating to stakeholder engagement and community development. STAKEHOLDERS The CLO will engage with: Traditional authorities and traditional leaders Community forums and structures Ward councillors Local municipalities Community-based organisations Local businesses and suppliers NGOs and development organisations Mine employees and organised labour where relevant Government departments Local schools and community institutions Surrounding landowners and affected communities MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS Grade 12 \/ Matric. A relevant tertiary qualification in Community Development, Public Relations, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Communications, Stakeholder Management or a related field will be advantageous. 3-5 years' experience in a Community Liaison \/ Stakeholder Relations role. Previous experience within the mining industry is highly advantageous. Experience working with communities in a rural or mining environment. Knowledge of community engagement and grievance-management processes. Computer literacy, particularly MS Word and Excel. Valid driver's licence. Ability and willingness to travel between mining operations and surrounding communities MINING-SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE Candidates with experience in the following areas will be preferred: Social and Labour Plans (SLP) Mining community engagement Social and Economic Development (SED) Local employment initiatives Local procurement and enterprise development Community grievances and dispute resolution Stakeholder mapping and engagement Community development projects Traditional authority engagement Mining regulatory and stakeholder requirements Experience dealing with community protests or operational disruptions CORE COMPETENCIES Excellent communication skills Strong interpersonal skills Conflict resolution Negotiation skills Stakeholder management Community engagement Problem solving Report writing Listening and influencing skills Emotional intelligence Cultural awareness Strong organisational skills Ability to work under pressure Professional and diplomatic approach PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES The successful candidate must be: Approachable and trustworthy Professional and respectful Comfortable working with diverse communities Confident dealing with senior management and community leaders Able to remain calm in difficult or high-pressure situations Proactive in identifying potential community issues Able to build relationships at all levels Discreet and able to handle sensitive information Willing to spend significant time in the field rather than being office-based KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS Effective community and stakeholder engagement Timely resolution and closure of community grievances Successful implementation of stakeholder engagement plans Support of SLP and community development commitments Accurate stakeholder and grievance reporting Identification and mitigation of community-related operational risks Maintenance of positive relationships with surrounding communities Effective communication of mine activities and opportunities Monitoring of community commitments and action items Compliance with company and mining stakeholder-engagement requirements EXPERIENCE PREFERRED Mining \/ Coal Mining experience is strongly preferred, particularly candidates who have worked directly with communities surrounding an open-cast mine and understand the relationship between mining operations, traditional authorities, municipalities and local communities.