Brand Manager at RCL Foods

Job Description    
Are you on the lookout for the next career move that will stretch you and allow you to make an impact?

Our Marketing Team for the Chicken Business is seeking a Brand Manager to join their 'flock'. The role will be based in Durban and will report into the Head of Marketing.

RCL FOODS entrusts the Brand Manager to:

• Manage and develop the Chicken categories profit and loss, image, and positioning in relation to competitors.
• Plan, develop and implement marketing initiatives and activities for the brand(s) or products

Minimum Requirements    

• A degree or diploma in marketing or business management (3 years).
• Valid Code EB drivers’ licence
• 3 - 5 years relevant experience in a Brand Management role
• 3 -5 years experience in a similar industry

Duties & Responsibilities    

• Brand Management
• Participate in the formulation of the Chicken marketing strategy.
• Formulate the brand SIA targets in consultation with the Head of Marketing and ensure alignment with the national targets.
• Drive the achievement of the brand SIA operation targets.
• Operationalise and implement the marketing strategy in the market place and with the category team.
• Drive the brand building execution programme with the category team.
• Liase with advertising creatives to devise comprehensive marketing strategies and conduct the briefing and management of the daily agency requirements.
• Facilitate brand audits and inputs at customer cycle meetings.
• Coordinate events, promotions, marketing project and advertisement campaigns for the brand(s).
• Develop the pricing strategy and maintain strong insights into financial income statements to ensure the development of profitable innovations and profit management of existing products.
• Liase with the category team to develop new instore promotional initiatives.
• Liase with the NPD team to develop new packaging or new products.

New Product Development and Marketing Research

• Lead branded NPD projects with cross-functional teams and external service providers (ingredients suppliers, agencies etc).
• Conduct relevant analysis to identify strengths and weaknesses in the brand portfolio/strategy by reviewing purchased data or proactively scanning other sources.
• Lead market analysis through a variety of mediums such as market research, consumer research and product research.

Information Analysis, Management and Reporting

• Provide detailed and precise reports to illustrate trends, predictions and relevant strategies.
• Analyse and interpret a wide range of key data – research reports, financial income statement, media reports etc
• Provide forecasting input with the category and customer teams into the S&OP forecasts.
• Provide regular reports on brand results and activities and integrate corporate objectives into their brand management strategies.
• Analyse information daily to ensure targets are being met.

Financial Management

• Formulate and manage the brand budget on a monthly basis.
• Meet budgetary targets.
• Manage fixed and operational assets ensuring they are utilised optimally.
• Formulate and control approved NPD budgets.

Organisational Efficiency

• Participate in BU Exco. Meetings to bring to life, research findings and activation updates. This should include any bigger business issues that require resolution.
• Drive efficient working relationship with the Category Teams, Marketing, Sales, Operations to ensure effective delivery of the Chicken strategy.
• Participate in the Cycle Planning Process and ensure your brands has a body of activity at necessary levels for each quarter, covering innovation and activation.
• Implement and simplify appropriate business processes to increase organisational effectiveness and efficiency.

People Management
When and if there is a direct report to this role: -

• Lead and develop staff within the context of the Labour Relations Act, Employment Equity Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Skills Development Act.
• Monitor staff performance in line with the Talent Management system and provide feedback to ensure high performing teams
• Manage staff activities, ensuring service levels are met and protocols are adhered to.
• Coach and support staff where necessary to achieve objectives
• Manage and deliver on succession plans to enable the development of a future generation of leaders and specialists and ensure optimal turnover and retention levels are maintained.
• Champion staff training and development through the utilisation of available training opportunities or contributing to the development of new training solutions in collaboration with HR
• Drive employment equity within the team to ensure that diversity is achieved at all levels and that statutory targets and requirements are met.
• Conduct regular meetings and ensure that records are kept and shared across the team and that action plans agreed to within team meetings are delivered upon
• Your Assistant will need direction from you and workload regulation in line with your priority project and on-going needs