HE Experiential Events Manager - Bryanston at The South African Breweries (SAB)

Job Purpose: To holistically manage the Premium Co experiential process and execution at a strategic and tactical BU South Africa level.

Hold responsibility of evaluation and feasibility of Premium Co Event sponsorships, experiential events and gaming as it pertains to Marketing return on investment.

Key roles and responsibilities:

• Develop major events strategy / model, national events plan, calendars
• Managing day to day non routine and routine occurrences targeting opportunities as they arise
• Brief, activity plan, production, execution, evaluation of major flagship events & brand experiences
• Aiding brand teams in ensuring that all consumer touchpoints at AB-InBev brand owned events are of global standard or higher
• Aiding brand teams in the conceptualizing, development and execution of world class experiential events
• Identifying and vetting of new local sponsorship and earned media marketing opportunities
• Representing AB-InBev during union partner and sponsorship stakeholder meetings
• Ensuring that the BU South Africa consumer connections team adheres to all global sponsorship requirements and becomes best in class globally
• Facilitate in trade coaching sessions for internal and external stakeholders on event execution expectations
• Support and ensure brands/regions in best-in-class execution on other
• Leverage HE Spiritual Homes as an eventing platform and amplify through digital marketing
• Develop Premium HE Events Equipment and Maintain through CAPEX investment
• Develop event & brand experience activation toolkits (by type, by size) and lead the communication and training of same
• Lead planning sessions of big hit sponsorship properties and ensure that all functions are aligned in order to reduce the duplication of efforts
• Ensure consistent execution of regional assets across South Africa
• Manage multiple agency and internal stakeholders pertaining event negotiation, planning and execution.
• Negotiate complex sponsorship deals pertaining global event properties at local level e.g Ultra
• Manage and oversee events budget of more than R30m and make sure ZBB principles are adhered to
• Define event & experiential agency / partner / supplier model and grid; manage relationships and develop specialized BTL agencies
• Establish ROI criteria and measure for all events/experiences (Brand teams accountable to manage/monitor/adhere)
• Build capabilities across South Africa (connections, brand, markets, agencies) and transfer best practices and learnings across regions
• Target setting, tracking, correction, evaluation, learnings
• Trends & opportunities, competitive monitoring, Owns ticketing & Hospitality fulfilment
• Subject matter experts (SME) in Experiential execution - Festivals, Stadia -Ticketing & Hospitality"

Profile

Minimum requirement:

• Relevant 3-year Business Degree
• 5 years+ relevant events experience
• Brand marketing experience would be an added advantage
• Project Management in a FMCG environment
• Budget management & Strong collaboration skills
• Very strong negotiation skills with a high degree of commercial acumen.
• A bias for action with a high degree of attention to detail with all activities.
• Sense of urgency, open mindset, team working and strategic thinking as a must have
• Start-up mindset
• Strong understanding of the Premium Co market and Premium Co brands
• Proven leadership skills, capability to drive significant changes in current way of working
• Demonstrate ability to build relationships cross-functionally & work as part of a team
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong quantitative mindset
• Results oriented, committed, able to find pragmatic & simple solutions with limited resources

Reporting structure:

• Direct reports (solid line): 8
• Dotted line reports: None