Marketing Manager (Vision Works) - Midrand at Dis-Chem Pharmacies

Dis-Chem Pharmacies has an opportunity available for a Marketing Manager to join their Dis-Chem Vision Works team. The Marketing Manager is responsible for developing the profile of the various companies and brands within the Vision Works and Hearing Works group/s. The incumbent is responsible for implementing an integrated marketing strategy across the organisation by translating the Company’s strategic vision into an effective supporting marketing strategy. This will include the implementation of marketing campaigns to build brand awareness, improve product approval ratings and to support the franchisees to attain the revenue goals and franchise development targets. At the same time the incumbent is required to work with Vision Works franchisees to develop and implement market strategies across all marketing platforms.  Namely Google and Social Media.

Minimum Requirements…

Essential:

• Grade 12 / Matric
• An applicable tertiary qualification in Marketing or allied field
• 4+ years of proven experience as a Marketing Manager.
• Proven experience in being responsible for the overall marketing strategy of a company

 Advantage: 

• Experience of dealing with the media (newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, social media etc.).
• Experience of managing and delivering marketing campaigns to the company’s franchisees.
• Extensive experience of people management.

Job Specification…

• Work with the CEO of Vision Works and third-party marketing / advertising / digital companies, to create and deliver promotions, with related content in line with the Marketing Strategy of Vision/Hearing Works to ensure that the Company communicates in a consistent, accurate, professional and efficient manner with all key audiences.
• Work with the relevant agencies to keep the Marketing & Communications Strategy under review and to update Marketing Strategy Plan on a semi-annual basis. 
• Meet if not exceed the marketing needs of the Company. 
• Publish content on social media channels on a regular basis (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) in line with guidelines contained in the Marketing Strategy.
• Execute and manage social media campaigns to build followers, enhance visibility, and drive engagement with the Company’s customer base.
• Conduct ongoing analysis to assess the effectiveness of the performance of promotions, digital content and campaigns.
• Build relationships with third-party entities/publishers/web sites to provide regular content contributions in relevant public platforms and forums.
• Work with internal resources and external agencies to provide content to third-party publishers on a regular basis. Create and distribute digital content to appropriate audiences.
• Perform “social listening” to identify market influencers and marketing outreach opportunities.
• Optimize content for search engines and provide ongoing analysis and performance reporting. Make recommendations to management regarding improvements in this regard.
• Ensure all digital marketing campaigns and content are in compliance with the MarketingStrategy, the organisation’s overall Strategic Plan and the Healthcare Professions Council of So. Africa (HPCSA).
• Create and manage scoping documentation, program schedule, project checklists, annual marketing plan and budgets
• Advise and strategise with various suppliers, third party agencies on marketing and advertising requirements for all business entities within the Company.
• Identify suitable print/digital advertising opportunities and negotiate space accordingly. Undertake same for all digital media platforms including but not limited to Google, Facebook, Instagram etc.
• Create strategic promotions and advertisements in various media in liaison with external/internal (where applicable) graphic design consultants, where necessary.
• Create strategic promotions and advertisements in various media in liaison with external/internal (where applicable) graphic design consultants, where necessary.
• Act as ‘brand guardian’ and maintain brand assets – in conjunction with the suppliers, manufacturers and franchisees to maintain guidelines for use of the Company’s CI material, trade-marks and co-ordinate all print production/online templates for stationery, retail accessories, publicity material, using the logos/brands to ensure correct use of the Company’s identity relative to the Company’s website and ”brand share” marketing repository.
• Manage, develop and market new promotions and or brands which the Company brings to the market from time to time, working in collaboration with the Brand Partners, as and when required.
• Conceive and order branded marketing goods, maintaining an appropriate corporate identity across the Company.
• Conduct appropriate market research including competitor analysis, demographic and economic reviews, and examination of local and international trends etc.
• Ensure the systematic collection, review and analysis of market information to identify competitor tactics, market trends, new opportunities and challenges.
• In conjunction with an external digital design agency, create a development plan for the company’s website to meet the marketing needs of the organisation.
• Work closely with staff, management, franchisees etc. to establish and maintain an accurate and up-to-date CRM database on an appropriate software platform.
• Ensure the CRM database software platform is integrated website, email and other social media platforms so as to collect and extract effective marketing data.
• Play an active role in improving internal data processes, suggesting changes to streamline the processes and implementing these where appropriate.
• Work with the data from the CRM system to generate user-friendly information for effective direct marketing initiatives.
• Apply research skills to generate new data, e.g., collecting detailed customer information.
• Ensure ongoing and full compliance with the relevant national legislation to mitigate any risk to the Company.  This includes but not limited to the South African Healthcare Professions Council of South Africa, South African Optometric Association, South African Audiology Association to name a few.
• Work with relevant colleagues to ensure that the department’s work meets all organisational and legal frameworks, including but not exhaustively health and safety as well as any relevant legislation

Competencies

Essential:

• A good understanding of the broader marketing industry and specifically the industry/ies, sectors within which the Company operates
• A keen interest in and knowledge of the arts, marketing and the media.
• A solid working knowledge of the technical side of the vari0ous products, which the Company brings to market.
• A solid working knowledge of the relevant legislation that governs the products and services which the Company offers to the general public.
• The ability to analyse data
• Strong communication skills
•  A high level of Information Technology skills, specifically being highly PC and/or Mac literate, graphic design, Power Point etc.
• Highly developed skills in Web development as well as print, editing and copywriting skills
• Excellent numeracy skills, including forecasting, reporting and budgeting skills.
• The willingness to lead a work team and to participate in its development.
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) required.