Specialist: Group Marketing and Communications

With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.

Job Summary

Responsible for the seamless end-to-end coordination of group events, sponsorships and activations, ensuring an exceptional and safe guest experience before, during and after each event. This role spans diverse domains such as sport, lifestyle, art, culture and thought leadership, demanding a high level of organisation, precision and attention to detail. As the primary point of contact for all guest-related matters, this individual is committed to delivering a flawless, professional and secure guest experience, and to ensuring that every detail is meticulously handled throughout the entire process.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities:

Guest management:

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to create and maintain accurate guest lists while ensuring due diligence and data protection compliance.
• Oversee the invitation process, including sending, tracking and managing RSVPs via the Cvent process and in line with the Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) framework.

Invitation coordination:

• Ensure that internal processes are followed for invitation design, tracking and sending. Communicate event details and updates to guests, and address special requests and enquiries.

Logistical planning:

• Coordinate seating, travel, accommodation, transportation and special requests (e.g. dietary, medical, security) in line with Absa’s policies and standards.

Guest communication:

• Ensure that guests receive all necessary information before, during, and after an event, including details, directions and itineraries.

Problem-solving:

• Address on-site guest issues and last-minute changes swiftly alongside senior stakeholders, and provide timely updates on any event schedule adjustments or guest requirements.

Vendor coordination:

• Work with vendors, agencies, partners and venues to align guest-related logistics with event objectives.

Monitor and control initiative delivery against defined plans.

Develop and maintain a “journey plan” for the event.

Highlight delivery risks to the business owners and ensure that events’ executive sponsors are adequately engaged.

Act as a key member in project sessions.

Conduct quality assurance with the project team during each stage to ensure that dependencies, sequencing, timelines, risks and benefit potential are realistically planned.

Always ensure close involvement from business engagement teams.

Liaise with business engagement teams to ensure that they are able to mobilise sponsors and business owners to support key projects.

Professionalism:

• Maintain a positive, calm and professional demeanour at all times.

Reporting and post-event follow-up:

• Compile post-event reports, gather guest feedback and maintain accurate records for future reference and continuous improvement.

Qualifications and Experience:

• B Degree/Advanced Diploma (NQF 7)
• Between two to five years of project management experience with corporate clients
• A formal project management qualification (such as PMBOK or CMP) is an advantage.

Knowledge, Skills, Technical and Behavioural Competencies:

• Active listening
• Analytical skills
• Basic understanding of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (85 of 1993)
• Digital literacy (technical and cognitive abilities)
• Excellent communication skills
• Financial acumen
• Monitoring and measuring (people and processes)
• Prioritisation and project planning
• Proven high-performing, independent people management experience
• Resource planning and productivity monitoring
• Risk management
• Situational leadership
• Attention to detail
• Collaboration and integration
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Emotional intelligence
• Professionalism
• Stakeholder management
• Time management and organisational skills
• Adaptability and responsiveness to change
• Ability to create and innovate
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking
• Financial and analytical thinking
• Ability to persuade and influence
• Ability to relate and network

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Marketing (Required)

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised.