The South Africa Senior Campaigner is a short-term, 6-month maternity cover role within 350.org’s Campaigns and Networks Department, reporting to the South Africa Country Manager working closely with the existing Senior Campaigner and working in collaboration with the East Africa team and supporting the Fair Finance Coalition of Southern Africa (hosted by 350Africa.org). While the position has no direct-line management responsibilities, the campaigner will coordinate closely with and draw support from an internal team of field organisers, digital specialists and communications staff to lead high-impact national and cross-regional climate initiatives. Over the 6-month contract, the role focuses on executing ongoing campaign strategies, translating complex policy research into policy advocacy, and shaping public debate through strategic mobilisation and coalition engagement. The ideal candidate brings strong skills in strategic campaigning, policy synthesis, and stakeholder management, combined with the adaptability needed to hit the ground running and maintain organisational momentum in a dynamic environment.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Campaign support: Electricity for All
- Delivery on 6-month milestones: Adapt and execute the existing “Electricity for All” campaign plan, ensuring all scheduled deliverables and key performance indicators for the 6 months are completed on time.
- Deploy tactical interventions: Support targeted campaign activities, such as media outreach, policy pressure, and online/offline mobilisations, tailored to campaign windows.
- Track policy windows: Monitor short-term South African energy, climate, and just transition policy updates, NESA regulatory decisions, and news trends to capitalise on quick intervention opportunities.
Policy research, synthesis and advocacy: Electricity for All
- Produce accessible campaign assets: Translate complex policy developments (such as the Integrated Resource Plan updates, NERSA hearings, Just Transition Frameworks) into timely policy briefs, messaging frameworks, and public mobilisation materials with the campaign policy working group. Support the conceptualisation of research to support policy positioning of the campaign together with the policy working group.
- Deliver rapid-response submissions: Draft formal submissions for active public consultation processes, regulatory hearings, and legislative comment windows in collaboration with the policy working group that fall within the 6-month term.
- Support targeted advocacy engagements: Represent 350.org in scheduled advocacy initiatives such as meetings with parliamentary committees, regulatory bodies, and government stakeholders, in coordination with the team leader.
- Support regional priorities: Provide localised policy analysis to support broader 350.org climate negotiation campaigns during the contract term.
Coalition management and representation: Electricity for All
- Sustain coalition commitments: Represent 350.org in ongoing working groups, energy justice alliances, and advocacy coalitions to maintain partner momentum and project alignment.
- Act as an Interim Spokesperson: Serve as an additional spokesperson on key energy policy issues as required.
- Process partner requests: Respond efficiently to coalition partner requests for technical inputs, advocacy endorsements, and joint event support.
Fair Finance Coalition of Southern Africa (FFCSA) Coordination
- Oversee Project Execution & Deliverables: Coordinate ongoing coalition projects during the 6 months, including managing finalization, design, and launching of DFI Policy Assessment reports, webinars, and the Just Transition (JET) research and workshop outputs.
- Manage Consultants & Contracts: Draft terms of reference (ToRs), process scope amendments, and oversee deliverable timelines for external consultants (e.g., policy researchers, graphic designers, communications contractors).
- Budget Tracking & Operational Planning: Monitor SIDA/FFCSA project activity budgets and spend, update financial ledgers, and assist in drafting operational plan inputs and MEAL targets for the coalition.
- Lead Joint Advocacy & Submissions: Coordinate coalition advocacy engagements, including drafting joint policy submissions (e.g., National Treasury's Climate Transition Framework) and organizing DFI policy roundtables.
- Supporting Coordination Admin: Support the annual reporting and planning for the coalition, engaging with the Fair Finance International Network.
Team Collaboration
- Support Regional & Global Initiatives: Coordinate with the East Africa and global 350.org teams to fulfill shared campaign commitments and ensure regional alignment over the 6 months.
Required Qualifications:
- Education and experience
- Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Environmental Science (or equivalent practical experience) with at least 3-4 years of hands-on experience in campaign coordination, policy advocacy, or environmental justice organising in South Africa
- Energy and climate policy expertise
- Strong, immediate working knowledge of South Africa’s energy, electricity, and climate policy landscape (including Eskom, NERSA regulations, IRP, and the Just Transition to hit the ground running.
- Campaign execution and coordination: Proven track record in executing advocacy campaigns with SMARTIE objectives, coordinating cross-functional team inputs (campaigners, organisers, communication and digital specialists, etc.) and managing time-sensitive deliverables
- Policy analysis and rapid writing: Demonstrated ability to rapidly analyse policy frameworks, translate complex energy data into accessible briefs and media messaging, and draft formal submissions under tight deadlines.
- Public communication and representation: Confident speaker experiences in representing organisational positions to media, policymakers and community stakeholders.
- Organisation and Values: Highly organised self-starter capable of managing competing priorities, with a deep commitment to workplace equity, diversity, and environmental/social justice principles.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Targeted Campaign Experience: Direct experience leading energy access, electricity, or fossil fuel resistance campaigns in South Africa.
- Coalition Networks: Established working relationships and trust within South African energy and climate justice civil society coalitions.
- Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E): Ability to compile campaign baselines, track ongoing progress, and lead evaluations of campaign activities and outcomes.
- Technical Skills: Proficiency in online collaboration platforms (Google Workspace, Slack, Zoom).
Travel: May occasionally travel from time to time (domestic)
Work Environment: Mostly working remotely. May be asked occasionally to work in an office.
Hybrid/remote position based in South Africa with flexible working arrangements. While day-to-day office attendance is not required, in-person attendance at key team meetings, partner convenings, community workshops, and public campaign actions is expected.
Position Type: full-time (36 hours per week), 6 month contract.
Application Deadline: Ideally the end of November, this job is open until filled or the hiring manager determines they can no longer accept applicants.
Preferred Start Date: January 5th 2027
Compensation: 35k Zar monthly
This job description is not a contract between the staff and 350.org. 350 reserves the right to change the job description and may request the staff to perform additional duties.
