Brand Marketing Manager at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa

Job Description

• Brand responsibility (post <PA>) for respective vehicle portfolio (product lines) in Africa Direct Markets – including overall strategy for current products, product launch, cycle plan actions, support for forward model programs, competitor analysis, model year pricing and revenue management)

Responsibilities
What you’ll do:

• Product Lines: TBD
• Lead source for Competitive Intelligence, Customer Insights and Market Studies to support current and forward model strategy.
• Develop suitable strategy and brand plans for portfolio including ongoing revenue improvements (SIP/SVP New Product Requests, Vehicle Personalization opportunities, Mix Management).
• Support Product Marketing with development of Market Equations (Price, Volume, Mix) throughout the GPDS milestones prior to Program Approval.
• Lead Brand Marketing inputs to launch process including pricing, wholesale guide, launch mix and brochure approvals from Program Approval to Job#1.
• Lead in proposing pricing strategy for portfolio, assessing impact on volume, product specification, variable marketing, revenues and brand. Key post <PA> events: Launch Readiness, SoMP Updates, Job#1 pricing and MY pricing.
• Interface with LVEA requirements to ensure availability of PP / MP1 units when and if required
• Provide input to Volumes Planning (FPV) development to support cycle plan updates.
• Support Order Guide/PCV development, Brochure/website approval and wholesale deck development.
• Approve technical product information in brochures and websites.
• Deliver on portfolio complexity reduction and revenue/profit increase.
• Coordinate and manage fixed marketing / Co-Op and market view platform.
• Interface with Distributors in Africa on regular intervals to develop / align on all product related discussions, product life cycle planning, product optimization, pricing strategies and volume discussions developments

Position Communication and Working Relationships:

Internal:

• Interface with Product Marketing, Sales Managers, Portfolio Strategy, PD, FCSD (VP), Pricing, Sales – Production Planning, GTS, Global and Marketing Comms.

External:

• Interface with Distributor Product & Brand Team, Sales Team, Sales & Marketing Management team.

Performance Measures / Success Criteria: 

• Timely launch of new products
• Distributor satisfaction on product planning process / interface
• Closure of product actions (from Product Committee)
• Mix and Segment share improvement 
• Complexity Reduction (in line with Global Guidelines)
• PCV take-rate
• Cost reduction through feature / spec rationalization.

What you’ll bring:

• Knowledge and understanding of marketing frameworks.
• Able to work with a diverse group and understand needs of our diverse customer base
• Analytical thinking, strong conceptual skills, pragmatism and organizational abilities
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to present data and recommendations effectively and efficiently
• Ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships, elicit support and cooperation from a wide variety of sources, including many departments within the business
• Language – Fluent in English
• Sound working knowledge of Microsoft Office tools
• Comprehensive capability with Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to develop processes and procedures to deliver on improvements

Qualifications
Your background:

• Bachelor’s in business from a reputable university. 
• Automotive industry experience
• Business plan development and implementation experience
• Retail automotive experience is a plus