National Marketing Manager – On-site – JHB at Datafin Recruitment

ENVIRONMENT:

• A leading Retailer is looking for a National Marketing Manager who is responsible for leading their marketing strategy and execution across all sales channels—retail, commercial, and digital. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role serves as the custodian of the company’s corporate identity and brand, ensuring consistency, relevance, and impact in all marketing activities.
• The position drives brand awareness, customer engagement, and measurable sales growth through strategic campaign planning, social media excellence, and innovative marketing approaches.
• This role is critical to elevating the group to the forefront of consumers' minds while supporting the company's ambitious growth objectives across all channels.

DUTIES:

Brand Custodianship & Corporate Identity

• Act as custodian of the company’s corporate identity and branding, ensuring consistency and adherence throughout the business across all channels
• Review and improve corporate identity ensuring consistency across retail, commercial, and digital platforms
• Ensure all artwork, copy, and campaigns are aligned to the corporate identity of the brand
• Maintain high-quality, consistent, and effective execution of brand and marketing activities

Strategic Marketing Planning & Calendar Management

• Create and manage a comprehensive annual marketing calendar in conjunction with channel heads and category managers
• Determine marketing priorities for the next 12-24 months aligned to business objectives across all sales channels
• Collaborate with category managers and procurement on upcoming promotions to ensure clear strategy, outcomes, and audiences
• Plan ahead to ensure seamless and timely delivery of all campaigns

Campaign Execution & Promotion Management

• Lead end-to-end execution of marketing campaigns with particular emphasis on flagship initiatives like Back to School
• Brief promotions to graphic designers or agencies as required and perform final review of artwork for errors and omissions
• Facilitate communication amongst departments (Pricing, Procurement, Sales, Retail) to ensure integrated campaign delivery
• Manage voucher processes and supplier-driven promotions in collaboration with stakeholders
• Plan, execute, and report on promotions using CRM tools (Microsoft Dynamics CRM)

Social Media & Content Creation

• Implement and manage a world-class social media strategy across all platforms
• Create and curate engaging content for social media channels that dramatically increases following and engagement
• Provide content to the digital marketing team (managed by in-house partner company) for online platforms, ensuring corporate identity compliance
• Ensure the company remains at the forefront of latest marketing trends and digital innovation
• Leverage AI tools and smarter ways of working to enhance marketing effectiveness

Budget Management & Service Provider Oversight

• Prepare and justify annual marketing budgets based on brand and business outcomes
• Manage marketing budget prudently to ensure cost containment and value delivery
• Oversee external service providers (agencies, designers, printers) to guarantee high quality and faithful execution of briefs
• Obtain quotes from relevant service providers for all printed artwork in line with procurement policies

Performance Measurement & Reporting

• Create and interpret meaningful reporting on the effectiveness of marketing campaigns according to Measure campaign success and adjust strategies accordingly to ensure marketing efforts translate into measurable sales growth
• Present findings to CEO and stakeholders monthly, quarterly, or aligned to campaign timing
• Track and report on lead quality, return on ad spend, and sales growth on promoted products

Stakeholder Collaboration & Communication

• Work with category heads and channel leaders to define brand and category positioning
• Foster collaboration across the business to ensure integrated marketing execution
• Liaise with suppliers for supplier-driven promotions and to obtain high-quality product images
• Manage CSI initiatives and culture charter communications effectively
• Excel at verbal and written communication with internal and external stakeholders across all levels defined objectives

REQUIREMENTS:

Skills & Capabilities

Technical Skills

• Omni-Channel Marketing & Strategy
• Campaign Planning & Execution
• Social Media Strategy & Management
• Brand Management & Positioning
• Marketing Analytics & Reporting
• Budget Planning & Management
• Project Management

Soft Skills

• Strategic Thinking
• Commercial Acumen
• Communication & Influence
• Stakeholder Management
• Problem Solving
• Collaboration
• Creativity & Innovation

Leadership Skills

• Team Leadership & Development
• Performance Management
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Agency & Vendor Management

Technology Skills

• Microsoft Dynamics CRM
• Advanced Excel
• Social Media Platforms
• AI Marketing Tools
• Marketing Automation Tools
• Design & Creative Software

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Marketing, Business Administration, Communications, or a related field is typically expected for this role
• Postgraduate qualifications in Marketing, Brand Management, or Business Administration may be advantageous but are not essential
• Professional certifications in digital marketing, social media management, or marketing analytics may also be beneficial where relevant

Experience

• The role typically requires extensive experience in marketing management, including leadership responsibility for multi-channel marketing campaigns and brand management
• Experience managing marketing functions in retail, wholesale, or B2B distribution environments is particularly relevant given their operational model
• Proven track record of developing and executing successful marketing strategies that deliver measurable business results and sales growth
• Experience in mature organizations with established marketing functions and multi-channel distribution is valuable

Operational Exposure

• Leading omni-channel marketing campaigns across retail, commercial, and digital platforms
• Managing marketing budgets and demonstrating ROI on marketing investments
• Implementing and managing social media strategies with measurable growth in engagement and following
• Working with creative agencies, designers, and external service providers to deliver high-quality marketing materials
• Using CRM systems and marketing automation tools for campaign planning, execution, and reporting
• Developing brand positioning strategies and maintaining corporate identity consistency
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams including sales, procurement, retail operations, and finance to align marketing with business objectives
• Measuring campaign effectiveness through analytics and adjusting strategies based on performance data