Job Title: Brand Manager
Location: Irene, South Africa
Reports to: Head of Marketing
Field Support: Up to 30%

Welcome to PSI!

PSI is a network of locally rooted, globally connected organizations working to achieve consumer-powered healthcare — people-centered health systems that ensure quality, affordable care wherever and whenever it is needed. Our origins in sexual and reproductive health have grown into a broader mission. Today, we work with the public and private sectors as well as local communities, prioritizing people’s voice and choice and developing solutions to meet their essential health needs. Over the past five decades, we have helped push boundaries, break taboos, set trends, and develop innovative solutions to complex global health challenges.

Do you want to join PSI to help make it easier for all people to lead healthier lives and plan the families they desire? Read on!

Join us!

The Global Fundraising team sparks innovation within PSI by matching risk-tolerant donors to high-impact projects and systems across the firm. In collaboration with colleagues across the globe, we identify and find funding for transformational projects and investments in global public health.  We collaborate closely with corporations, private philanthropists, and foundations to conceptualize the future of global health and translate those visions into reality.

PSI is looking for an accomplished individual for the role of Managing Director. As the Southern Africa Managing Director, you will drive business growth, enhance digital innovations, and ensure operational excellence for the Southern Africa business. This role combines strategic leadership, entrepreneurship, partnership identification and management, stakeholder engagement and sourcing and managing investment into the South African business. 

Sound like you? Read on.

Main Purpose

Brand Manager, Social Enterprise will be responsible for ensuring that the company’s products and product lines resonate with potential customers. In addition, monitor marketing trends as well as keep an eye on competitive companies in the marketplace so they can stay ahead of competition. You will be responsible for understanding what makes our target audience tick, and for developing marketing campaigns that position our brand according to those motivators. These marketing campaigns will not only drive customer engagement but will further define our brand's reputation and image in relation to the market.  

Your Contribution

You will launch new products and manage NPD (products launched in the last 3 years).

• Product Strategy: You will develop strategies for introducing new products to the market, including positioning, pricing, and distribution.
• Market Research: You will analyze consumer needs, market trends, and competitive landscapes to inform product development.
• Creating Brand Identity: You will build the brand identity from scratch, ensuring it aligns with the product’s unique features.
• Risk Management: You will navigate uncertainties associated with launching something new.
• Promotions and Campaigns: You will create buzz through marketing campaigns and promotions.
• Adaptability: Being flexible and open to adjustments based on initial market feedback.

You will need to navigate the following challenges:

• Uncertainty: Launching a new product involves risks and uncertainties.
• Building Awareness: Establishing brand recognition from scratch.
• Educating Consumers: Educating consumers about the product’s value proposition.
• Quick Decision-Making: Rapid adaptation to market dynamics

Major Responsibilities:

Brand Ownership and Strategy Implementation:

• Take ownership of the brand, overseeing planning and execution to meet brand targets.

Align with the Head of Marketing for the following activities:

• ATL (Above The Line) strategy for creative and media.
• BTL (Below The Line) strategy for in-store activities driving awareness, visibility, and conversion.
• Innovation, extensions, and renovations.
• Utilize consumer understanding and brand knowledge to identify powerful USPs.
• Monitor and adjust plans based on market dynamics.
• Lead the development and execution of the annual Brand Plan.
• Advocate for the brand and spearhead key brand activities with the Trade Marketing and sales team.
• Enhance product knowledge within the sales force and sales managers, staying updated on products, competitors, and the category/therapeutic area.
• Conduct regular fieldwork, working closely with representatives, and monitor marketing plans, identifying opportunities and gathering market intelligence.
• Collaborate with regulatory affairs, sales, KAM, Trade marketing and other functions for effective cross-functional communication.

Innovation

• Work closely with Business Development to give input into the innovation pipeline
• Lead innovation projects with cross-functional teams, developing consumer-oriented business cases.
• Manage Innovation P&L with Finance to ensure innovation is not margin dilutive
• Advocate for innovation and collaborate with Trade Marketing for successful implementation of launches.

 Creative and Media

• Lead and own the relationship with Creative and Media agencies.
• Provide clear and inspiring briefs for creative and media solutions.
• Evaluate creative executions for alignment with brand goals.
• Demonstrate media expertise for strong media plan co-creation.
• Critically evaluate overall media plans and KPIs presented by the Media Agency.

Digital

• Understand the digital consumer journey.
• Critically evaluate digital plans presented by the in-house digital team or agency.

Consumer, Shopper & Trade Insight:

• Connect with consumers and differentiate between consumers and shoppers.
• Convert data into insights for growth and articulate key tasks for brand success.
• Participate actively in trade visits and stay informed about competitor activity.

Financial Management:

• Fully own and be accountable for the brand's performance and contribution to PSI South Africa's results.
• Manage budgets, ensuring adherence to agreed ratios.
• Understand P&L levers to drive profitability.
• Achieve agreed savings and monitor all expenses.
• Achieve budgeted targets for sales, market share, profit contribution, and market penetration.
• Exercise full ownership of brand budget management.

IRI/Nielsen/IQVIA Data, Other Data:

• Effectively use market intelligence tools to analyse sales performance, market dynamics, and consumer demographics.
• Derive actionable insights from various data sets for informed decision-making.
• Management and Leadership:
• Manage and motivate direct reports, conducting performance management and review processes.
• Mentor and coach team members as needed.

What are we looking for?

Your Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business qualification, Health Sciences/ Business Sciences or equivalent.
• Additionally, Marketing qualification / IMM / Commercial qualification or training is an advantage.

EXPERIENCE:

• Essential: Min 3 years commercial marketing/product management/sales experience in pharmaceutical industry or FMCG.
• Preferred: 5+ years commercial marketing/product management/sales experience in pharmaceutical industry.
• Experience in dealing with data sources such as IRI(Aztec) or AC Nielsen.
• Strong business acumen, to anticipate market trends and articulate financial growth prospects.
• Willing to be hands on, involved on day to day business activities.
• Self-Starter. You are not afraid to jump in from the start and get your hands dirty with minimal direction.

FUNCTIONAL KNOWLEDGE:

• Business Orientation (product & industry, SOPs)
• PSI SBU SA SOPs related to Marketing/Product Management

FUNCTIONAL SKILLS

• Customer Orientation (customer relations skills)
• Planning and Organizing skills
• Creative Problem Solving and Analytical Thinking
• Presentation and facilitation skills
• Financial acumen (cost centre budgeting and management)

COMPETENCIES: INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR LEVEL

• Strategic Agility
• Technical & Business Expertise
• Decision Making
• Communication
• Inspiring and Influencing
• Achieving Results
• Managing Change
• Innovation
• Feedback and Coaching
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Analytical

The candidate we hire will embody PSI’s corporate values:

• Measurement: You use hard evidence to make decisions and guide your work. You set clear goalposts in advance and explain clearly if you need to move them.
• Pragmatism: You’ll strive to deliver the best possible result with the resources available. You won’t be paralyzed by a need to make things perfect.
• Honesty: You own your mistakes and are open about your shortcomings – it’s the only way you’ll learn and improve.
• Collaboration: You’ll quickly establish a mental map of whom you can rely on for what, on your team, at headquarters, and in our country offices – if you try to do it all yourself, you won’t succeed.
• Trust: You accept limits to your sphere of control and give colleagues the benefit of the doubt.
• Commitment:  You are in it for the long-haul and want to grow with the organization, just like PSI serves its consumers and partners with host-country governments through thick and thin.

PSI is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from individuals regardless of actual or perceived race, religion, tribal belonging, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, matriculation, political affiliation, family status or responsibilities, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions or breastfeeding, genetic information, amnesty, veteran, special disabled veteran or uniform service member status or employment status. PSI is a safe, inclusive workplace that welcomes people from all backgrounds and walks of life, and it’s reflected in our diverse community.

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