Marketing Manager (Senior) at Discovery Limited

Key Purpose

• The Senior Marketing Manager role partners with business to develop and implement integrated, strategically aligned marketing solutions and delivers marketing, PR, written communications and brand projects.  The incumbent operationalises strategy through project management and delivers within budget, applying best practice marketing principles and leveraging key partnerships internally and externally. In addition, the Senior Marketing Manager provides specialist marketing advice to stakeholders and is responsible for managing, coordinating and coaching a team.

Areas of responsibility may include but not limited to:

Drives the strategic direction of the Brand & Engagement Portfolio

• Drives the Marketing, Engagement and Communication Strategy
• Implements the Marketing, Engagement and Communication Strategy, operational plan and targets for area of responsibility.
• Implements principles and workflows to ensure marketing strategy is aligned to Discovery marketing model and overall business strategy.
• Implements fit for purpose marketing systems, policies and practices and continually reviews and improves on them.
• Creates innovative, consistent, integrated solutions to improve business practices, processes and synergies to increase sales, efficiencies or effectiveness. 
• Unpacks complexity and provides new ideas and thought leadership to build equity, drive sales and engagement with brand.
• Works cross-functionally to help develop advertising and promotional programmes, positioning and manages information flow between the department, clients and service providers.
• Collates, compiles and reports on key business metrics.
• Proposes initiatives and identifies opportunities for growth, expansion or new direction.

Operationalises, aligns and optimises large strategic marketing projects

• Liaises with different business units to understand business needs as they relate to marketing and business campaigns.
• Develops and manages the execution of multiple projects from conception to post implementation.
• Project manages and ensures effective delivery of all campaigns
• Ensures campaign activities translate into profits or other strategic business objectives and creates value for customers and shareholders.
• Oversees short/medium term planning and optimises resource allocation across projects
• Monitors and measures the success of marketing initiatives, drives corrective action and advises the organisation accordingly.
• Guides and enables change management initiatives and communication requirements for all projects.
• Defines and plans delivery of projects from start to completion within the scope, budget, agreed time-lines and to specified quality requirements.
• Performs a coordination and liaison role between project team members and business.     
• Identifies possible risks and opportunities and provides contingency plans.
• Analyses the internal service delivery processes, identifies areas for improvement and makes changes to comply with best practices

Manages people and ensures continuous improvement and professional development

• Fosters an environment conducive to cross-functional skills transfer and integrates and harnesses team specialities and talent.
• Cultivates an environment where creativity and innovation are encouraged and provides necessary guidance, coaching and support in this regard.
• Ensures team is highly motivated, challenged and supported.
• Implements fit for purpose marketing systems, policies and practices and continually reviews and improves on them.
• Ensures staff are clear about their roles, procedures and practices - conducts regular performance contracting and review processes.
• Delegates responsibility and authority whilst monitoring and managing performance 
• Maintains up to date professional and technical knowledge and keeps abreast of industry trends and pertinent legislation.
• Ensures team has excellent product and technical knowledge in order to deliver strategy and build brand.
• Contributes to team success by ensuring team commitment and cohesion; values individual contributions and shows respect for others.
• Respects diversity and encourages an environment that values inclusivity.

Builds and manages both internal & external stakeholders

• Interfaces with senior business colleagues to contribute to brand, engagement or communication strategy.
• Participates in meetings and forums to share knowledge, encourage innovation and manage complexities.
• Engages with business partners, resolves conflicts and builds effective relationships. 
• Collaborates with stakeholders to plan and implement solutions to business challenges.
• Aligns key business strategies and goals and ensures deliverables are communicated to internal and external customers; secures necessary documentation and sign-off.
• Builds and maintains vendor and supplier relationships, ensuring good communication and clear expectations.
• Facilitates constructive meetings.
• Ensures that the company's image is enhanced in all interactions with external and internal stakeholders
• Creates opportunities for keeping the organisation and its products/ services in front of public and the trade.

Functional Competencies

• Strategic thinking (High): Shaping the future direction of the brand by considering the market context, trends, the consumer and ensuring marketing plans support overall business objectives to drive sustainable growth
• Integrated execution (Intermediate): Develops holistic and integrated plans across multiple channels & touchpoints in a way that aligns with strategic objectives, drives consistent brand experience and is executed brilliantly
• Business Performance (Intermediate): Understand key business metrics and how marketing plans deliver business growth, customer acquisition, retention and profitability leveraging data driven insights to drive performance KPIs
• Building winning brands (High): Ensures their brand positioning, brand world & consumer is at the heart of their plans, is able to decipher good ideas from bad ones, demonstrates good creative judgement and storytelling
• Powerful Partnerships (High): Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across roles and business units to achieve shared objectives and deliver business deliverables

Leadership Competencies

• Leading and Supervising
• Working with People
• Persuading and Influencing
• Presenting and Communicating Information
• Creating and Innovating
• Planning & Organising
• Delivering Results and Meeting Customer Expectations
• Adapting and Responding to Change

Education and Experience

• Relevant Bachelor's Degree: Honours/ Masters in BA / B.Comm in Marketing / Communications or other relevant qualifications
• 8 years + marketing / industry experience
• Knowledge of insurance and/or financial services advantageous but not a pre-requisite