Brand Manager

What will you do?

This exciting opportunity for a Brand Manager is available in the Corporate Brand department based in Bellville, Cape Town or Alice Lane, Sandton. 

The Brand Manager interacts cross-functionally on a companywide level (mainly on a management and senior management level) and directs and works closely with the creative agency; media agency and media partners.

What will make you successful in this role?

Internal brand activation to create competitive advantage through people & brand positioning

• Guide and influence internal (staff) activation to ensure ongoing alignment between internal and external brand positioning.
• Lead and direct the translation of the corporate brand strategy into the various support unit strategies to ensure alignment and consistency.
• To increase brand equity through the activation of the corporate brand strategy across all brand touch points. 

Lead, direct and execute a consistent, differentiating brand experience across touch points

• Identify brand touch points for consumers, brokers and other stakeholders
• Evaluate experience against desired brand experience and identify gaps
• Partner with the business and recommend people, process and technology solutions to address this and to enable consistent delivery on the desired brand experience

Activate the corporate brand strategy through the development and implementation of integrated campaigns and media solutions

• Develop strategic and tactical ATL and BTL campaigns that support business objectives and optimise the application of media channels such as advertising, promotions and sponsorships
• Manage the campaign process and rollout

Monitor and track brand performance

• Ongoing measurement of brand performance against brand objectives as well as specific campaign business) objectives.

Govern corporate identity and brand usage 

• Direct and manage brand application to ensure consistency in respect of visual application and execution and messaging (as per brand usage policy, CI manual and corporate brand strategy).

Manage the internal design hub

• Overall management and approval of design work and ensure it meets client expectations.
• Accountability for people, processes and systems that enable delivery.

Project manage external suppliers

• Including ATL agencies; BTL agency; media agency and other partners to ensure focused and efficient execution as per agreed plans, budgets and timelines.

Qualification and Experience

• Relevant Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing or related field.
• Post-graduate degree advantageous
• At least six years’ experience with a proven track record of successful brand management, positioning and communication with a leading brand
• Experience in developing and executing media campaigns
• A proven track record in brand governance and managing corporate identity
• Previous proven track record of managing external agency partners
• Experience in managing a team
• Proven experience of delivering big projects

Knowledge and Skills

• Computer literate (MS Office package)
• Thorough knowledge of above-the-line and below-the-line media platforms 
• Good knowledge of digital marketing and leveraging it to optimise brand performance
• Strategic thinking combined with detailed implementation skills
• Good budget management
• Project management 
• Excellent presentation and negotiation skills
• Creative, innovative, can work independently and under pressure towards strict deadlines
• Excellent people skills

Core Competencies

About The Company

Santam is the market leader in the general insurance industry in Southern Africa. We are a large, diversified, expanding and transforming company and whilst based in South Africa, we are rapidly moving into a number of emerging markets, both in Africa and Asia. 

Our success is rooted in our passion for our clients and everything we do is centered on our delivery of Insurance Good and Proper. We’re about people. People drive our business so it follows that we want to recruit the best people possible whether they work for us permanently or for a short time as temporary employees. 

At Santam we are committed to transformation and embracing diversity. This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse workplace with employment equity as a key goal to create an inclusive workforce, representative of the demographics of our society. In achieving our employment equity goals we give preference to applicants from the designated groups in alignment with the Divisions Employment Equity targets.