Marketing Manager at Discovery Limited

Key Purpose

• Experiential marketing, also called "engagement marketing," is a marketing strategy that invites an audience to interact with a business in a real-world situation. Using participatory, hands-on and tangible branding executions, the business shows its customers not just what the company offers, but what it stands for.
• The Experiential Marketing Manager role is an integral part of a team specialising in experiential marketing initiatives. Properties include the brand ambassadors’ programme, sports and lifestyle events and initiatives, consumer engagements and other marketing extensions.
• This position is expected to deliver creative solutions that foster lasting relationships with consumers and the broader South African community. We are looking for a leader to develop programmes and implement cutting-edge ideas that reflect our company’s innovative spirit.
• The position requires collaboration with internal and external stakeholders and to help identify unique opportunities to deliver against business objectives, while carefully tracking budgets and results.

Responsibilities

• To manage and deliver experiential marketing assets by:
• Functioning as a thought leader with significant knowledge of all aspects of experiential marketing, including cutting-edge techniques to engage and excite the consumer.
• Monitor industry trends, competitive landscape (strengths, weaknesses and opportunities), digital and social media to inform all existing activity and/or inspire the development of new executions and experiences.
• Be a student of consumers, of competitors and culture. Listen, learn and mine insights that direct the brand into amazing places. 
• Develop creative as well as seed ideas for experiences based on marketing strategy, messaging and objectives.
• Write conceptual content and deliver it in a compelling way in order to achieve buy in.
• Interpret consumer insights and develop and build strategies to deliver on marketing objectives.
• Lead integration amongst the various marketing, advertising and PR partners to ensure consistent brand identification and exposure.
• Provide aesthetic oversight to projects, evaluate and select creative (art and copy) pertaining to the portfolios assets (brand ambassadors’ programme, sports and lifestyle events and initiatives, consumer engagements and other marketing extensions).
• 360° event / project management from scheduling to real time execution.
• Oversee all event planning estimates for project scope. Manage schedules and resource requirements.
• Develop and manage assigned project budgets ensuring programmes are properly budgeted, estimated, and scheduled.
• Develop and manage assigned project plans to ensure milestones are met to a global standard.
• Proactively direct and manage multiple assignments on time and on budget.
• Deliver both internal and client-facing proof of accomplishment.
• Responsible for overall quality and presentation of project work and effectively developing and communicating marketing strategies and creative standards.
• Own post-mortem ROI evaluation/event follow-ups.
• Areas of responsibility may include but are not limited to:
• Overall sponsorship management.
• Key input in developing marketing and sponsorship strategies.
• Management of the brand ambassadors and ensuring maximum effectiveness in relation to portfolio businesses.
• Deploying multiple touchpoints effectively to underpin a Discovery-worthy brand experiences.
• Co-ordination of suppliers, and communications to, Discovery communities, including social media and PR coverage.
• Liaising with advertising agencies, writing and managing creative briefs.
• Ensuring that briefs are met timeously.
• Ensuring that events are planned and executed appropriately.
• Managing the production of print and promotional items for sponsorships.
• Managing procurement and budget control processes.
• Ensuring that all sponsorship queries are responded to timeously.
• Monitoring the implementation progress of experiential marketing plans for sponsorships.
• Production of monthly reports, status reports, project reports.
• Managing sponsorship queries and feedback - telephonic and written.
• Unpacking complex business needs and providing creative solutions considering all stakeholders.
• Create integrated solutions, which are consistent across all Discovery brands/businesses and communities and which meet best practice marketing and sponsorship principles.
• Ensure solutions are in line with Discovery’s marketing model.
• Convert technical information to audience appropriate communication.
• Long-term strategic thinker & ability to identify parallel opportunities.
• Influence and persuade people to get things done.
• Development and management of people by
• Coaching, guiding and developing direct reports to successfully manage and market sponsorship properties.
• Build and maintain relationships with key business people, both at a strategic and operational level.
• Instil confidence in others
• Proactive
• Bring ideas to business.
• Solve complex problems.
• Measure impact and drive corrective action.
• Ensure effective implementation of plans.
• Manage conflict.
• Manage trade offs.
• Be responsive to business needs.

Competencies

• Strategic thinker
• Flawless executor
• Lateral thinker
• Influence and persuade people to get things done
• Experienced negotiation skills
• Excellent presentation skills to sell ideas
• Multi-task projects
• Leadership skills: guide, develop and motivate others
• Effective decision maker
• Solve complex problems
• Build trusted partnerships
• Manage trade-offs
• Instil confidence in others
• Communicate well in English (written and verbally)

Attributes:

• Empathetic
• Diplomatic
• People and relationship focused
• Sociable
• Team player
• Must show accountability and take responsibility
• Resilient
• Able to work calmly under pressure and provide answers and direction to others
• Flexible and adaptable
• Tenacious and persistent
• Dynamic and energetic
• Driven
• Confident
• Passionate
• Have initiative – be a self-starter
• Naturally inclined to work hard
• Action oriented (doer)
• Solution oriented
• Detail oriented
• Ability to think outside the box

Education and Experience

Essential:

• Minimum 3-year undergraduate degree or diploma (marketing or communication focused) OR
• Relevant industry qualification e.g. “chartered marketer”
• Minimum 5 years of experience in marketing or communication

Relevant industry experience

• Post graduate qualification in marketing preferable

 A knowledge of the following will need to be developed or will be advantageous:

• Sponsorship and Marketing environment in South Africa and internationally
• A love of sports and wellness
• Different Discovery audiences
• Various media channels, including electronic and social media
• Discovery’s products and business processes