Senior Brand Manager

Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Brand Manager to lead their brand strategy and drive business growth. As a key member of the marketing team, you'll develop and execute innovative brand initiatives that resonate with our clients' national target audience and drive revenue.

Position: Senior Brand Manager

Location: Roodepoort, Gauteng

Reports to: Business Unit Head

Role Purpose:
Manage assigned brands to ensure market share growth and product profitability.

Minimum Qualification Criteria:

• Degree in Marketing or Business Management
• Relevant experience in applying job-related concepts, techniques, and processes at the required level
• Experience in working with senior management
• People management experience
• Working knowledge of Social Media Platforms e.g. LinkedIn
• Business English: Fluent
• Computer literacy (Advanced)
• Code 08 Driver's license
• Travel off-site/overnight stay

• Review and develop strategic and annual brand plans with marketing budgets for product portfolio
• Implement roll-out and coordinate brand plan activities between all parties involved
• Provide support for 'Below-the-line' activities, including POS, sampling, and activations
• Plan and interpret brand architecture/brand blueprint/brand diamond
• Manage and optimise brand/product life cycles on portfolio
• Evaluate design and maintenance of brand image (logo, graphic design, etc.) in portfolio
• Conduct quarterly P&L evaluations per SKU per channel and take action steps to improve total profitability

• Liaise with product development in order to identify, develop and launch new product concepts
• Coordinate the update/upgrade of product packaging through R&D
• Present product concept definition, product proposal, preliminary and final business case
• Launch product to internal customers and follow up with Trade launch
• Manage Trade launch phase and do post-launch evaluation of changed products
• Develop marketing support campaign for the launch of the new product, line extensions, packaging changes, etc.
• Develop an understanding of the Industrial processes related to the product portfolio

• Ensure that comprehensive U&A research study is done regularly on brands in portfolio
• Analyse and interpret research results in order to apply insights and learnings to improve product performance in future
• Commission annual brand health studies in order to ensure brand remains relevant for target market
• Evaluate market volume/value growth trends and market shares for relevant product categories in portfolio through Nielsen reports
• Evaluate data, marketing, and competitor information from various sources like Trade visits, research info, publications, including sales performance, promotion performance, and market analysis

• Develop briefs for suppliers, evaluate quotes of different suppliers
• Verify invoices and create purchase orders for approval
• Monitor and process marketing-related expenses
• Control and report on actual monthly and YTD marketing expenditure vs budget via Marketing tracker tool
• Ensure marketing expenditure administration is executed according to Auditors and Procurement's process requirements

• Analyse sales volumes (daily) and profitability performance of product portfolio by SKU, Region, Channel
• Make recommendations based on sales analysis and implement 360-degree action plan with Sales/KA/Planning/Distribution
• Identify and initiate sales issues/problem areas in conjunction with Sales, Key Accounts, etc.
• Coordinate the commercial activities with Sales, Production, Commercial, and Distribution of the relevant product categories
• Assist Demand Planning with volume projections based on planned brand activities/inputs from Key Accounts/Trade Marketing

• Ensure optimal utilisation of staff
• Apply consistent discipline
• Train and develop staff
• Conduct meetings and ensure effective communication to all
• Liaise and communicate with management in all departments
• Set objectives, manage, and measure performance of subordinates