Job Openings at Ford Middle East & Africa - 2 Positions

Job description

Job Summary

Responsible for the development, implementation and management of a sustainable and progressive Corporate Communications strategy for SA & SSA - including Corporate, Internal and CSR communications. Must build & maintain media relationships with relevant media. Manage corporate communications activities & events (e.g. assembly plant openings, etc.). Represent Ford Motor Company in all community-related affairs and identify those areas where Ford Motor Company should be involved. Actively develop opportunities to drive good news and serve as a company spokesperson.

Position Details:

• Responsible for the development, implementation and management of a sustainable and progressive Corporate Communications strategy - including External, Internal and CSR communications
• Responsible for managing issues and crises
• Build new & cultivate current media relationships with trade, regional & business media
• Effectively pitch and place stories to a wide variety of media
• Develop Thought Leadership plans for key executives.
• Manage corporate communications activities & events (e.g. plant openings, CSR events)
• Be able to set up and manage events, press conferences, round table discussions and interviews
• Work with key agencies and service providers
• Create media statements, Q&A’s and brief executives/spokespeople according to the situation/interview or discussion.
• Writing and editing of media releases, pitches, briefing documents
• Actively develop opportunites to drive good news for all corporate related story's
• Serve as a company spokesperson
• Proactively develops and manages key contacts database (media, suppliers, NGOs, etc.) and ensures this is kept updated in a timely manner.
• Manage relevant budgets
• Develop & implement internal & external plant communications strategies
• Responsible for internal publications, both print and online
• Develop strategic initiatives in support of Corporate Social Responsibility programs, both locally and regionally, as they pertain to SA and SSA.
• Work with the Ford Fund to implement sustainable programmes throughout the region of SA & SSA
• Handle all requests for partnerships, donations, etc and motivate to the company those which should be considered as suitable possibilities.
• Represent Ford Motor Company in all community-related affairs and identify those areas where Ford Motor Company should be involved
• Team-oriented approach with a positive attitude necessary, as well as a can-do attitude and a sense of urgency in this rapidly changing environment.
• Must know how to work with senior executives, especially offering advice and counsel.
• Drives the company’s B-BBEE socio-economic initiatives, Identifying opportunities that support our efforts in the employment and self-employment channels.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Must be a confident communicator
• Clear and concise communication skills
• Strong understanding of the media environment
• Ability to comfortably and credibly present to groups of people
• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, layout and design skills
• Excellent organizational, project management and planning skills
• Self-motivated with a positive and professional approach
• Good administrative skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work cross functionally, within the regional landscape and globally
• Strong inter-personal skills.
• Proven project management experience is a must- experience in managing a budget
• Strong understanding of how media work, including print, broadcast and online. Must be a media consumer as well.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Marketing or Communications
• 5 - 7 Years of Communications experience
• Automotive experience is desired but not essential if the successful applicant can demonstrate a proven track record in public relations and a real interest in the auto industry.
• Crisis management experience beneficial
• Proven ability to create and execute a PR strategy or program

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Job description

Role Summary

The Marketing Communications Manager is responsible for the agency scope of work, strategic planning and implementation of fully integrated brand and retail marketing campaigns across Ford’s vehicle portfolio in South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa. Along with ATL advertising, the role also includes the management of Ford’s Events and Sponsorship portfolios across the continent.

Position Details:

• Manage Ford South Africa and Ford Sub Saharan Africa’s advertising and media agencies and ensure integration with PR and Digital agency. This includes:
• Develop and manage agency Scope of Work in collaboration with Digital Marketing Manager (advertising, digital and media agency only)
• Manage weekly status process
• Manage annual brand planning process
• Manage agency briefing process
• Ensure that combined agency team delivers effective 360 degree marketing campaigns across products
• Ensure that marketing campaigns meet the needs of relevant internal departments
• Work with Brand Managers around marketing plans and nameplate strategies relevant to them, and include them in all relevant planning
• Identify, process and execute on BEAT data and competitive insights to create effective Marketing Communications, including messaging, tone, and other factors based on the products’ Brand Story.
• Lead planning and implementation of Primary Brand campaign across platforms, including earned/owned/paid media
• Develop a sponsorship strategy to lead future sponsorships and ensure that sponsorship and event opportunities are integrated into Marketing plans.
• In consultation with Brand Managers and Marketing Manager, develop and manage the following Marketing budget lines: agency, nameplate (including media and production), sponsorship and Primary Brand
• Line manage Marketing Communications Co-ordinator and Sponsorship & Events Specialist
• Ensure effective SA and SSA Dealer communications around relevant Marketing campaigns and roll out Dealer conferences/meetings with Events & Sponsorship Manager
• Promote efficiencies through the application of best practice from around the globe for creative, pre-launch and other Marketing deliverables where applicable

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong project management skills outstanding attention to detail
• Strong budget management skills
• Solid understanding of Public Relations and Digital/Social Media, and how they support Marketing
• In depth understanding of Scope of Work agreements
• In depth understanding of agency environment (ideally from a full-service perspective)
• Ability to rally different personalities around the same goal
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional departments
• Ability to efficiently organize projects against a predetermined budget
• Communication proficiency - must be articulate and have a thorough command of the English language (both spoken and written)
• Computer literate – ability to work with Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and the Internet is a requirement

Qualifications & Experience:

• Degree – Marketing and/or Communications; post-graduate Degree an advantage
• At least three years’ experience working in an Advertising or Public Relations agency, ideally as an Account Manager or Account Direct (or equivalent)
• At least two years’ experience of managing teams of two or more people