Head: Stakeholder Relations and Advocacy

takealot.com, South Africa's leading online retailer, is looking for a highly accomplished Head: Stakeholder Relations and Advocacy to join our Corporate Affairs team in Cape Town.

We are a young, dynamic, hyper growth company looking for smart, creative, hard-working people with integrity to join us. We offer a market related, Total Remuneration Package which allows full flexibility according to your needs, a great work environment and a promise that you won’t be bored as long as you are prepared for a challenge and want to build something great.

This position reports to the Group Head of Corporate Affairs

Your responsibilities will include:

• Develop and execute a Group-wide stakeholder engagement strategy aligned to long-term business and societal outcomes.

• Build and maintain executive-level relationships with priority stakeholders across public, private, and civil society sectors.

• Lead Takealot Group's stakeholder engagement to contribute to modern, balanced policy and forward regulation for the digital economy.

• Design and manage multi-stakeholder partnerships and coalitions that support inclusive growth, innovation, and responsible platform business.

• Drive thought leadership and stakeholder education initiatives that deepen understanding of digital commerce, logistics, and the future of work.

• Maintain a forward-looking political and regulatory radar, producing scenarios and strategies that strengthen business preparedness.

• Advise internal leadership on external developments and their strategic implications.

• Build scalable engagement systems and mentor a high-performing stakeholder relations capability.

Qualification & Experience:

• A relevant Honors degree (Public Policy, Political Science, Law, Economics, International Relations, Business, or similar). Postgraduate qualification is advantageous.

• 10+ years’ senior experience in public affairs, stakeholder relations, government/regulatory engagement, advocacy, or related fields.

• 5 years of which in senior management.

Attributes Required:

• A strong record of influencing policy and building partnerships in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

• Over 10 years’ experience in a stakeholder relationship management function.

• Deep understanding of South Africa’s political, regulatory, and socio-economic landscape.

• Proven ability to operate comfortably at executive and institutional levels.

• Experience building coalitions and delivering shared-value outcomes across diverse interests.

• Excellent strategic communication, briefing, and narrative-shaping skills.

• High-level negotiation and diplomacy capability, grounded in credibility and trust.

• Strong systems.

The Environment:

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• We laugh hard, work harder, and take full ownership of our wins (and learning moments!)

• Teamwork makes the dream work – we're solution-seekers who thrive on collaboration

• Got feedback? Bring it on! We're always hungry for fresh ideas and honest input 🔄

• Ego? We checked that at the door. Results? Now we're talking!

If you meet the above you are an Extraordinary Mind so come and join us!

Takealot Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applicants from the previously disadvantaged groups and people with disabilities, to apply.