Community Liaison Officer

Role Purpose

The Community Liaison Officer is responsible for building and maintaining constructive relationships between the zinc mine and host communities. The role ensures effective stakeholder engagement, grievance management, regulatory compliance, and implementation of social investment initiatives, supporting the mine's social licence to operate.

Key Responsibilities

Community Engagement & Stakeholder Relations

• Act as the primary point of contact between the mine and host communities.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with community leaders, traditional authorities, and local structures.
• Facilitate regular community meetings, forums, and consultation processes.
• Communicate mine activities, impacts, and benefits clearly and transparently.

Social Performance & Compliance

• Support compliance with applicable Social and Labour Plans (SLP), community agreements, and local development commitments (where applicable).
• Assist with implementation and monitoring of social performance programs.
• Maintain records of engagements, commitments, and outcomes.
• Support audits, reviews, and regulatory reporting related to social performance.

Grievance Management

• Implement and manage the community grievance mechanism.
• Receive, log, track, and resolve community complaints and concerns in a timely manner.
• Escalate high‑risk or sensitive issues to management as required.
• Analyse grievance trends to support risk mitigation and relationship improvement.

Social Investment & Community Development

• Support planning and implementation of community development and social investment projects.
• Liaise with community structures to identify priority needs and opportunities.
• Monitor project delivery, budgets, and impact outcomes.
• Support participatory development and sustainable community initiatives.

Communication & Awareness

• Develop and distribute community communication materials (notices, presentations, updates).
• Support awareness programs related to safety, environment, employment processes, and mine activities.
• Assist with local employment and procurement communications in line with company policies.

Conflict Management & Risk Mitigation

• Identify emerging community issues and social risks early.
• Support conflict resolution and mediation initiatives.
• Work closely with security, HR, and mine management during periods of unrest or tension.
• Promote peaceful engagement and trust‑building.

Reporting & Administration

• Prepare community engagement reports, dashboards, and logs.
• Maintain accurate stakeholder registers and engagement plans.
• Track KPIs related to community relations and grievances.
• Ensure confidentiality and ethical handling of sensitive information.

Qualifications & Experience

• Diploma or Degree in Social Sciences, Community Development, Public Relations, Sociology, or related field.
• Minimum 3–5 years' experience in community relations, preferably within mining or heavy industry.
• Proven experience working with rural or host communities.
• Good understanding of social performance and stakeholder engagement principles.

Desirable

• Experience in zinc or base‑metal mining operations.
• Knowledge of Social and Labour Plans (or equivalent community frameworks).
• Ability to communicate in local languages spoken in host communities.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Conflict resolution and negotiation ability
• Cultural sensitivity and community awareness
• Good report‑writing and record‑keeping skills
• Integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality
• Ability to work independently and under pressure

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Quality and frequency of community engagements
• Closure rate and turnaround time for grievances
• Community relationship stability and risk reduction
• Delivery of social investment commitments
• Compliance with social performance requirements