Marketing Communications Manager at Ford Middle East & Africa

Job description

Role Summary

The Marketing Communications Manager is responsible for the agency scope of work, strategic planning and implementation of fully integrated brand and retail marketing campaigns across Ford’s vehicle portfolio in South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa. Along with ATL advertising, the role also includes the management of Ford’s Events and Sponsorship portfolios across the continent.

Position Details:

• Manage Ford South Africa and Ford Sub Saharan Africa’s advertising and media agencies and ensure integration with PR and Digital agency. This includes:
• Develop and manage agency Scope of Work in collaboration with Digital Marketing Manager (advertising, digital and media agency only)
• Manage weekly status process
• Manage annual brand planning process
• Manage agency briefing process
• Ensure that combined agency team delivers effective 360 degree marketing campaigns across products
• Ensure that marketing campaigns meet the needs of relevant internal departments
• Work with Brand Managers around marketing plans and nameplate strategies relevant to them, and include them in all relevant planning
• Identify, process and execute on BEAT data and competitive insights to create effective Marketing Communications, including messaging, tone, and other factors based on the products’ Brand Story.
• Lead planning and implementation of Primary Brand campaign across platforms, including earned/owned/paid media
• Develop a sponsorship strategy to lead future sponsorships and ensure that sponsorship and event opportunities are integrated into Marketing plans.
• In consultation with Brand Managers and Marketing Manager, develop and manage the following Marketing budget lines: agency, nameplate (including media and production), sponsorship and Primary Brand
• Line manage Marketing Communications Co-ordinator and Sponsorship & Events Specialist
• Ensure effective SA and SSA Dealer communications around relevant Marketing campaigns and roll out Dealer conferences/meetings with Events & Sponsorship Manager
• Promote efficiencies through the application of best practice from around the globe for creative, pre-launch and other Marketing deliverables where applicable

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong project management skills outstanding attention to detail
• Strong budget management skills
• Solid understanding of Public Relations and Digital/Social Media, and how they support Marketing
• In depth understanding of Scope of Work agreements
• In depth understanding of agency environment (ideally from a full-service perspective)
• Ability to rally different personalities around the same goal
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional departments
• Ability to efficiently organize projects against a predetermined budget
• Communication proficiency - must be articulate and have a thorough command of the English language (both spoken and written)
• Computer literate – ability to work with Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and the Internet is a requirement

Qualifications & Experience:

• Degree – Marketing and/or Communications; post-graduate Degree an advantage
• At least three years’ experience working in an Advertising or Public Relations agency, ideally as an Account Manager or Account Direct (or equivalent)
• At least two years’ experience of managing teams of two or more people