Senior Manager - Brand Integrated Marketing Communications Group Operations at MTN

JOB DESCRIPTION
This position is primarily responsible for alignment, adoption and implementation of MTN’s brand  strategy and key brand campaigns and initiatives across the MTN footprint. 
The position report to the GM: MTN Brand. The position will interface with Opco stakeholders, Group Management Service stakeholders and consumer divisional heads (not limited to) and partner agencies in order to ensure effective and efficient delivery and performance outcomes.

• Context (Global influences, environmental / industry demands, organisational mission etc.)
• MTN is entering a new phase in its lifecycle where operational and commercial excellence has become critical for success. The urgency for change has become more heightened amidst increased competitive intensity and macro-economic pressures across all markets in which MTN operates. The Group’s Marketing function must therefore ensure the successful delivery in context of:
• Relevant and consistent messaging into the markets in which MTN operates
• Efficient allocation and spend of the marketing budget – drive a positive ROI on marketing spend
• Enhancement of the MTN brand and its brand propositions in all markets
• Drive brand affinity for the MTN brand in the relevant markets
• Implement effective reporting and measurement across all touchpoints to understand the impact of brand activities in all channels

RESPONSIBILITIES
Key Performance Areas: Core, essential responsibilities / outputs of the position (KPA's)

• The Senior Manager: Integrated Marketing Communications must have practical experience in developing successful strategies and campaigns across a wide range of disciplines, including ATL, BTL and digital advertising, direct marketing, public relations, sales promotion & sponsorships, event management, channel development and relationship marketing as well as an understanding of media principles to support IMC campaigns.

They will be accountable to achieve the following objectives:

• Input to definition, development and execution of brand strategy across MTN footprint
• Develop annual marketing plans in line with budgets
• Conceptualise and brief in campaigns to ad agencies and oversee campaigns and relevant processes
• Coordinate efforts with media team to ensure that brand initiatives and campaigns deliver objectives
• Manage and deliver internal and external Group Brand positioning initiatives and activities
• Provide brand guideline input and support for initiatives that impact the MTN Brand in other cross functional teams e.g. Internal & External Communications
• Ensure implementation and adherence to MTN Brand architecture, brand guidelines, and products and services conventions
• Provide guidance and advice into OpCo support of Group brand campaign strategy, design and execution.
• Provide guidance and advice into local OpCo campaign strategy, design and execution where required
• Provide direction and guidance in the form of playbooks, toolkits and other interventions to deliver against brand plans.
• Ensure adoption and implementation and tracking of brand and communications toolkits and playbooks across MTN footprint
• Manage key agency partner relationships in the delivery of Group Brand initiatives
• Drive reporting efficiency and oversight across agency partners
• Report at strategic, functional and process levels across all projects on a weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual basis
• Participate and provide input into commercial, functional, operational and tactical meetings
• Escalate issues that will result in significant time, scope, or cost impacts if not resolved
• Make decisions regarding operational changes that will drive project delivery
• Review key risks, issues, and dependencies and set mitigation actions and resolve escalations that have an impact on critical path of delivery
• Manage and provide solutions to issues that require formal resolution
• Manage project status and delivery
• Manage project or initiative budgets in line with business objectives
• Review performance against agreed KPIs and compliance to SLAs
• Create and monitor plans for continuous improvement
• Review performance of external teams
• Manage day to day brand opex 
• Work alongside colleagues to provide in-depth analysis of trends, market category, brand, competitor trends to deliver brand marketing and business plans for key channels and stakeholders
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance and Internal Audit teams to perform periodic quality and process audits;
• Collaborate with other functional and BU teams to enhance outcomes

Role Dependencies

• Understanding of the MTN business strategy 
• Understanding of MTN brand strategy
• Understanding of the Opcos’ marketing context
• MTN policies and procedures
• Digital Landscape

QUALIFICATIONS
Job Requirements (Education, Experience and Competencies)
Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field of study (Business/Communications/Marketing)
• Post-graduate degree

Experience:

• 5 - 8 years of relevant work experience in a global / multinational business environment (understanding of emerging markets advantageous)
• 3 - 5 years of experience in a supervisory / managerial role / advisory role
• Experience in leading change / transformation (marketing) at an operational level advantageous
• Experience in continuous improvement through the implementation of best practices
• Experience in brand strategy (incl sponsorship) diagnosis, development, design and execution across multiple markets
• Experience in working with other markets on the African continent advantageous
• Experience in working with advertising and media agency partners advantageous
• Experience in working with B2C, B2B and Fintech portfolios advantageous

Competencies:

• Ambiguity in the workplace
• Self starter and self motivated
• Change management
• Complex structures
• Decision making processes
• Empowering others
• Information processing
• Project management
• Relationship management
• Risk management
• Stakeholder management
• Telecommunications industry

Other:

• Regional and international travel
•  Authorities
• As per delegation of authority
• Balancing cost allocation versus benefits to the business
• Expenditure, conformance with budgets as per delegation

Collaboration (Formal and Informal Relationships)

• Responsibility towards:  
• Agency partners
• Key customers and suppliers
• Internal and external stakeholders