Brand Manager at Alan & Grant

Industry: FMCG/Foods/Beverage

Job Objective

• The Brand Manager is a middle manager role with the responsibility for planning, production, execution, tracking and reporting of all marketing and brand campaigns to deliver the Company’s annual business objectives, drive business growth, and achieve the set key performance indicators (KPIs).
• The person in the role is responsible for working with and managing key internal and external stakeholders with middle to a high level of authority to deliver the brand projects.
• The Brand Manager is responsible for developing the brand’s vision, architecture, and communication development guidelines, and ensuring that these are always adhered to and clearly communicated in all brand campaigns across multiple connection points.
• The Brand Manager implements the defined marketing and brand strategies for the company and manages the marketing agencies, vendors, and third-party suppliers to deliver the brand briefs.
• The Brand Manager has People Management responsibility and is the line manager to the Assistant Brand Manager and other assigned Marketing team members.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, and execute short-term and long-term marketing strategies, roadmap, and annual plans for the assigned brands across various consumer connection and media platforms.
• Collate relevant data, analyze, and report on brand performance across multiple metrics and KPIs at advised periods.
• Review market research reports understanding the brand performance and consumer needs/trends. Regularly gather, update, and advise key internal stakeholders on the intelligence of key competitive players within the brand’s category.
• Monitor and analyze the market and industry trends and leverage the insights to provide input into developing winning marketing strategies and plans.
• Develop briefs for brand campaigns that effectively and clearly communicate the brand’s message, values, and culture, anchored on a Core Creative Idea that can be brought to life through impactful storytelling and communicated across multiple media platforms.
• Manage the brand DME budget, implementing cost-effective strategies and solutions to drive optimum efficiency, spending, and ROI delivery on the DME budget for all budget line items.
• Work with the Assistant Brand Manager to ensure the integrity and accurate information of the brand databases which house the brand and product information.
• Manage the New Product Development Process for the innovation projects and follow-up with all internal stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of all project tasks.
• Work closely with the IMC team and packaging agencies in the packaging development process for new brands/products and the re-design/adaptation process for packaging of existing brands.
• Coordinate the regulatory approvals of brand campaigns, innovations, and new products.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders – Sales, Production, R&D, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Finance, Procurement, etc. – to drive the timely execution of annual business plans and other project management deliverables.
• Project Management. Manage, and work with external stakeholders, specifically marketing agency partners, vendors and third-party suppliers to develop, produce, and execute brand campaigns while ensuring adherence to brand development guidelines.
• Ensure adherence to company procedures, policies, rules and guidelines as they pertain to the Marketing function by direct reports, marketing agencies, vendors and 3rd party suppliers.
• Execute other projects which may be assigned by the Marketing Director or Category Manager from time to time.

Requirements
Education / Knowledge:

• Bachelor of Science (BSc. Hons) Degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marketing or other applicable courses from a reputable higher institution.
• An MBA or Master’s Degree in a related field would be an advantage.
• 5 - 7 years working experience in a Brand Management role in an FMCG or B2C company.
• Additional working experience in the Account Management or Strategy department in a marketing creative agency is acceptable.

Working Experience:

• Experience in Brand Management and a good understanding of the Marketing Mix elements, Media Execution, and Digital Marketing.
• Knowledge of developing and implementing above-the-line, below-the-line, and through-the-line marketing/brand campaigns.
• Result Oriented. Good understanding and application of strategic and tactical brand initiatives to drive achievement of brand volume, revenue, profit, and equity targets.
• High business acumen, commercial awareness and understanding of Sales, Distribution, Trade Marketing, & Merchandizing.
• Good knowledge and experience in DME budget management and ROI delivery.
• Creative & Innovative. Ability to apply creativity and innovativeness to develop exciting brand campaigns to communicate the brand’s value to consumers.
• Knowledge and use of research tools, reports, and application of market research information to brand strategy development, planning, and campaign execution.
• Knowledge of Brand/Product Innovation principles and New Product Development process and launch steps.
• Planning and Execution Excellence. Good Project Management skills, experience with observing Marketing processes and principles to deliver Marketing brand plans on time and in full.
• Ability to prioritize between strategic and tactical brand initiatives to ensure optimum delivery of brand volume, revenue and profit targets.
• Ability to work in a matrix environment, engage and manage multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to build effective and collaborative working relationships; working effectively in teams.
• Demonstrates a high level of accountability and ownership for the brand he/she manages and all assigned projects.

Skills & Other Requirements:

• Good Verbal & Written Communication – Ability to communicate clearly and without ambiguity. Demonstrate exceptional command of the English Language.
• Problem Solving – Develop innovative solutions to address business, brand or company issues. Innovate and/or create new opportunities to ensure future company success.
• Business Knowledge – Ability to understand key elements of the company's supply chain and value chain; understand all areas of the business with a view to being able to make decisions that positively impact the company's bottom line.
• People Management – Responsible for managing and coaching the Assistant Brand Manager or other direct reports to ensure result delivery and achievement of each individual's set objectives.
• Influencing & Negotiating – Ability to convince Internal and External Stakeholders toward making decisions that would benefit the organization. This also involves being able to reach an agreement with External Stakeholders in favour of the organization.
• Performance Delivery – Provide strategic direction and leadership to direct reports, marketing agencies, vendors and third-party suppliers activation team(s) to develop, produce and execute the best and most engaging communication campaigns possible in line with brand plans and business expectations.
• Analytical Skills – Able to collect, read, and correctly interpret data and information, proffer recommendations, and develop plans that enable effective decision making to drive the achievement of positive business results.
• Planning & Organizing – Utilize systematic processes and orderly procedures to execute deliverables on brand projects. Ensure all brand projects are accurate, precise, and executed on time and in full as required.
• Assertiveness – Exudes confidence, not aggression. It involves persuasive skills, demonstrating initiative, and communicating clearly to drive home a point.
• Good Teamwork– Display a synergetic attitude and commitment to working with individuals and teammates towards achieving a shared goal. It involves collaboration, knowledge sharing, and supporting fellow team members to win.
• Self-Development/Self-Drive–Ability to assess current skills and capabilities, identify gaps and development areas, develop a hunger for knowledge and continuous learning, and set and achieve goals to close knowledge and experience gaps.
• Project Management - Ability to break down bog projects into smaller executable tasks, assigning resources to each task, initiating, planning, controlling, executing, and measuring all deliverables on time, in full and accurately, within approved budgets to achieve success on set targets/metrics.
• Be Authentic - Being a role model who respects the company's values and displays integrity, trust and respect for other people at all times.