Head of Communications Ssa

Uber Uber · Consumer · Johannesburg, South Africa · Communications

Senior communications professional to lead Uber's narrative in SSA, driving strategic campaigns, media relations, and storytelling to support business growth and reputation. This role involves advising stakeholders, managing crises, and representing Uber externally.

What you'd actually do

  1. Drive bold, high-impact communications campaigns—both corporate and consumer-facing campaigns—that elevate Uber’s brand awareness and support business priorities.
  2. Leverage a strategic mindset to serve as a trusted advisor for internal stakeholders on sensitive issues, safeguarding brand reputation through the delivery of high-stakes, time-critical response strategies
  3. Own the news cycle, Work with beat reporters on a daily basis, juggling a combination of proactive and reactive communications efforts that protect and enhance Uber’s reputation
  4. Partner cross-functionally with marketing, public policy, legal, and business teams to align messaging and amplify key narratives across all channels.
  5. Provide strategic counsel to senior leadership on external communications, positioning them as thought leaders and industry voices.

Skills

Required

  • English proficiency

Nice to have

  • Comms experience in mobility, FMCG, consumer tech
  • Experience in a globally matrixed organization
  • Experience in fast-moving smaller ventures
  • 7+ years of experience in corporate strategic communications and issues management
  • Proven track record of navigating complex challenges
  • Proven track record of building brand love through high-impact initiatives
  • Strong media and influencer network
  • Experience going beyond media relations to reach audiences
  • Intellectual curiosity
  • Willingness to experiment to learn and identify creative solutions
  • Ability to build relationships cross-functionally
  • Ability to balance critical thinking with tactical execution and attention to detail
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
  • Excellent news judgment
  • Exceptional writing and communications skills

What the JD emphasized

  • go-to communications lead
  • key SSA markets
  • driving strategic campaigns
  • media relations
  • storytelling efforts
  • communications strategies
  • high-impact communications campaigns
  • trusted advisor
  • sensitive issues
  • safeguarding brand reputation
  • high-stakes
  • time-critical response strategies
  • Own the news cycle
  • beat reporters
  • daily basis
  • proactive and reactive communications efforts
  • protect and enhance Uber’s reputation
  • Partner cross-functionally
  • align messaging
  • amplify key narratives
  • Provide strategic counsel
  • senior leadership
  • external communications
  • thought leaders
  • industry voices
  • Ensure brand consistency
  • internal teams
  • unified tone and message
  • external touchpoints
  • Oversee and manage external agencies and vendors
  • top-quality deliverables
  • Represent Uber as a spokesperson
  • media interviews
  • press briefings
  • public speaking engagements
  • Measure performance and impact
  • analyzing communications outcomes
  • refining strategies
  • stronger results
  • Champion Uber’s vision
  • shape the narrative
  • future of mobility
  • tell stories
  • inspire, inform, and lead
  • Experience doing comms in mobility, FMCG, consumer tech.
  • globally matrixed organization
  • fast-moving smaller ventures
  • Proficiency in English is essential
  • 7+ years of experience
  • corporate strategic communications
  • issues management
  • proven track record
  • navigating complex challenges
  • building brand love
  • high-impact initiatives
  • Strong media and influencer network
  • Experienced at going beyond media relations
  • reach our audiences
  • Intellectual curiosity
  • willingness to experiment
  • identify creative solutions
  • Ability to build relationships cross-functionally
  • Ability to balance critical thinking with tactical execution and attention to detail
  • face of frequent inbound enquiries
  • other requests
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
  • manage multiple projects simultaneously
  • Excellent news (and overall) judgment
  • exceptional writing and communications skills