Zenzeleni Networks NPC is an award winning non-profit company that exists to work with under-resourced and under-privileged communities in South Africa which seek to benefit from the power of internet connectivity. Zenzeleni was formed in 2012 through a friendship between a University of the Western Cape (UWC) doctoral student and a local community activist from the Eastern Cape. Since then it has maintained strong ties to South Africa’s leading academic institutions. Over the years it has grown substantially, now boasting 2 active communities in the rural Eastern Cape with combined monthly traffic of more than 7.5TB, a school of community networks currently training members from 7 South African communities, and daily requests to bring the services to other areas in South Africa too.
Zenzeleni has accumulated a number of accolades nationally and internationally for our innovative work:
● Zenzeleni’s work is widely recognised internationally, both through receiving support from, amongst others, the Internet Society and from the Association for Progressive Communications, as well as featuring in all major reports on universal connectivity from the United Nations agencies, and our work has been featured in major media national and international outlets such as the BBC, Deutsche Welle, SABC and eTV.
● Zenzeleni has received several awards, such as the Department of Science and Innovation’s National award for “Best Innovation with Social Impact” in 2017; the SAB Social Innovation Award in 2021; and Runner Up in Mozilla’s Equal Rating Innovation Challenge 2017.
● Since 2018 Zenzeleni has been in partnership with the South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) and its Technology Innovation Agency, which has supported us in our quest to refine and advance our model. As a result, the DST minister together with the minister from the Department of Communications visited our Eastern Cape site in March 2020.
Zenzeleni is a proud member of the Global movement for Community Networks and regularly participates in regional summits & thought pieces. Locally we also actively contribute practical guides to support organizations with similar goals, policy submissions, general articles and much, much more!
While we are acutely aware of the challenges we face in bringing affordable and reliable telecommunications solutions to rural areas, we remain convinced that it is possible to work with communities to ensure quality connectivity in every corner of South Africa and that it is possible to use the power of the internet to empower society on an unprecedented scale. This vision continues to inspire and mobilize us to act.
Zenzeleni is looking for a new Managing Director to lead the organization in its next era of growth.
Working with the board of directors and an organisational team and in a full time, permanent capacity, the new Managing Director will lead the organization as it seeks to: (i) expand operations into new areas (ii) lobby for greater access to the internet and the eradication of digital inequality and (iii) demonstrate how reliable and affordable access to the internet can help to transform communities. The candidate can be based in any of the major cities in South Africa but will be expected to travel to visit operations frequently.
Key Areas of Responsibility (KARs)
Jointly develop the organisation strategy, vision and mission of the organisation with the board;
Manage the relationship with the board of directors to ensure that the board is well informed and able to govern Zenzeleni in keeping with the roles and responsibilities as outlined in Zenzeleni’s Board Governance manual;
Work with the board to strengthen Zenzeleni’s governance and oversight, ensuring that Zenzeleni meets all internal policies, fiduciary responsibilities and that the organization maintains statutory compliance at all times, including HR practices, Financial control, Occupational Health and Safety, NPO & PBO reporting etc;
Provide strategic direction staff in accordance with the organisational strategy, which includes identifying key legislative changes and trends in society and the ICT sector in which we operate and steering the organization through those & inspiring the team and supporters to achieve that vision;
Develop the operating plan and provide oversight to all implementation activities;
Maintain and grow key relationships with ICT sector roleplayers, International, National and Local government, grant-making trusts, and society at large to enable us to thrive;
Represent the organisation at panels, industry bodies, SIGs, journals and lobby for policy reform
Direct the staff recruitment and performance management process to ensure that Zenzeleni continues to attract the necessary quality staff from both the corporate as well as the NPO sector & maintain our reputation as an employer of excellence;
Continuously develop and improve processes and procedures to ensure that staff can perform their duties & to foster a healthy workplace culture so that Zenzeleni is maintained as a data driven, learning organization;
Implement strategic infrastructure (e.g. buildings, vehicles, etc.) as well as strategic systems(eg CRM etc.) to improve the organisation’s operations;
Support & Develop the organisation’s middle management (Managing Director’s direct reports) to ensure efficient organisational processes and outcomes across all its departments; and,
Direct the income generation strategies of the organisation through marketing, public relations and other appropriatestrategies (e.g. via developing and executing an Annual Resource development plan) to ensure increased customer acquisition, donor funding and retention resulting in annually increasing funds raised.
Skill set
Essential:
A completed post-school degree or diploma (at least NQF Level 7);
Demonstrable experience and passion in working with grassroots communities and coordinating community-based projects, including in rural geographies;
Minimum of 5 years leadership and management experience with a demonstrable track record of setting vision, mobilizing resources and achieving growth;
Excellent interpersonal & communication skills (public speaking; one-to-one and written engagements) in both developed and rural contexts;
Working knowledge of general accounting practice, management accounts, forecasts;
Proven ability to secure support from partners, High Networth Individuals, Government;
Ability to mobilise and influence resources who are not direct employees;
HR knowledge & labour practice;
Understanding of business practices, regulations and stakeholders in internet related operations;
Preferred:
In addition to English, applicants should be able to speak one of the 11 official languages;
Demonstrable experience in leading evidence-based approaches that utilize technology, information systems & ongoing data analysis;
Experience using CRM systems such as Salesforce;
An understanding of Industrial & organizational psychology; and,
Conversant with and/or member of the Community Network movement in South Africa.
Candidates interested in this position must submit a letter of motivation, CV and 3 references to [email protected]. The letter of motivation should be no more than 2 pages in length and include information on why you would like to work at Zenzeleni and how you fulfil the requirements of this position.
Whilst all applications are welcomed only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Zenzeleni is committed to providing equal employment opportunity without regard to ethnicity, colour, religion, sexuality or gender identity, disability or any other protected status with respect to recruitment, hiring, development and training, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment. Zenzeleni values diversity and we particularly encourage applications from women and individuals from previously disadvantaged backgrounds working to create an open atmosphere of integrity, trust, honesty and respect. Zenzeleni’s employment policy states that we will always appoint the most suitable candidate for the job. If two equally qualified candidates have applied for the job and one is from a previously disadvantaged background, our employment policy states that we employ the latter to aid South Africa’s transformation journey.
For more about the Zenzeleni Networks , refer to https://zenzeleni.net/