Head Public Policy

South Africas leading online retailer is looking for a highly accomplished Head: Public Policyto 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 wont be bored as long as you are prepared for a challenge and want to build something great.

This position reports to the Group Executive: Public Policy & External Affairs

Purpose of the role:

The Head: Public Policy is the technical architect and custodian of Takealot Groups policy positions. The role exists to ensure that for every material legislative or regulatory threat or opportunity the Group maintains a Defensible Strategic Narrativeone that is legally sound economically credible and commercially aligned.

This role translates complex and evolving regulatory frameworks into clear proactive policy positions that protect and advance the Groups long-term operating model across eCommerce logistics and platform businesses. It is both deeply technical and strategically influential underpinning Takealots external advocacy with intellectual rigor and internal coherence.

Strategic Accountabilities

Policy Design & Thought Leadership

Serve as the Groups primary authority on public policy and regulatory interpretation across the South African market.

Design and maintain Group-wide policy frameworks for high-impact regulatory areas including but not limited to:

• Platform work and labour regulation.
• Competition and platform regulation.
• Develop policy positions that balance legal defensibility economic impact and reputational considerations ensuring consistency across all public-facing engagements.
• Act as the internal lead on policy interpretation where legal ambiguity or regulatory discretion exists.

Submission Leadership & Regulatory Engagement

Draft and quality-assure all material formal submissions including:

• Government Gazette notices
• Parliamentary Portfolio Committee submissions
• Regulatory consultation papers
• Market inquiries and statutory investigations (e.g. Competition Commission)

Ensure submissions are:

• Technically precise and clause-specific
• Supported by evidence precedent and economic reasoning
• Framed to resonate with policymakers stated objectives

Maintain a central submissions calendar and ensure 100% compliance with statutory timelines.

Technical Advocacy Enablement

Produce comprehensive Technical Briefing Packs to support external engagement led by the Head of Stakeholder Relations.

• Each pack must include:
• Clause-by-clause legislative analysis
• Identification of unintended consequences and enforcement risks
• Clear red lines versus negotiable positions
• Proposed alternative wording that is legally viable and politically realistic

Translate highly technical regulatory detail intodecision-ready insights for Exco and Board consumption.

Cross-Functional Regulatory Governance

Co-ordinate the monthly Internal Regulatory Workgroup bringing together:

• Legal
• Risk & Compliance
• Business Unit CEOs ( Mr D Takealot Financial Services)

Ensure:

• Policy positions are aligned with current and future commercial roadmaps
• No contradiction exists between advocacy positions and operational practices
• Regulatory risk is identified early and escalated appropriately

Act as the bridge between policy theory and business reality resolving tension where necessary.

Strategic Foresight & Risk Anticipation

Produce a quarterly Regulatory Horizon Report identifying:

• Emerging legislative and regulatory risks (1224 months out).
• Early signals from government regulators and political economy trends.
• Potential impact scenarios across Group businesses.
• 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 Groups 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.

Minimum Required Qualification:

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

Minimum Required Experience:

• LLB (required)
• Masters degree in Public Policy Economics or related field (strongly preferred)
• Minimum 10 years experience in public policy regulatory affairs or legal practice
• Exposure to Big Tech Fintech platform businesses or top-tier law firms highly advantageous
• Demonstrated experience engaging with South African legislative and regulatory institutions.

Core Skills & Competencies

• Core Skills & Competencies
• Mastery of the South African legislative and regulatory process
• Exceptional legal and policy drafting capability
• Strong economic and impact-assessment literacy
• Ability to distil complex regulatory issues into clear executive narratives
• High personal credibility with senior executives and external experts

Leadership & Behavioural Attributes

• Intellectually rigorous and detail-obsessed without losing strategic perspective
• Calm authoritative presence in high-stakes regulatory situations
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and political complexity
• Principled ethical and defensible in judgment
• Strong systems.

The Environment:

• We laugh hard work harder and take full ownership of our wins (and learning moments!)
• Teamwork makes the dream work were solution-seekers who thrive on collaboration
• Got feedback Bring it on! Were always hungry for fresh ideas and honest input
• Ego We checked that at the door. Results Now were 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.