Marketing Manager: Group Sponsorship - GCMA at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Description

Strategic Planning:

• Support Head of Sponsorship:  Group Sponsorship in the execution of integrated marketing and communication strategy
• Work and collaborate with rest of Brand & Marketing team, Communications, and Business Units to drive and ensure integrated marketing and internal / external communications
• Support in the development of project and activations strategies for sponsorship, align to the brand and Business unit vision and purpose
• Review competitor activities and case studies to improve activation approach for sponsorship portfolio
• Marketing campaign & sponsorship execution
• Responsible for delivering conceptual ideas (with agencies where possible) and implementation of activation strategies for sponsorship projects
• Develop sponsorship campaigns that change consumer perception, improve consideration and drive business outcomes.
• Execute sponsorship properties against Absa Group Marketing and Corporate Affairs (GMCA) and Business agenda
• Execute all Group sponsorship properties to the agreed strategy, while driving synergies and integration with the marketing and business objectives
• Manage relationship with preferred external suppliers/ production agencies through event design/ delivery stages and ensure prompt payment post event 
• Work with agencies and key stakeholders to support logistics for delivery of core marketing elements of the sponsorship on behalf of Group Marketing and Corporate Affairs

Project Management: 

• Collaboratively define, coordinate and lead the successful execution of the Group Sponsorship projects
• Establish and articulate project scope, strategy and objectives
• Work closely with Marketing Operations team in driving all aspects of marketing projects, including (but not limited to): 
• Meeting deadlines, contingency planning, approval channels, procedures, budgeting, monitoring and governance etc.
• Oversee the channel mix roll-out from initial concept to finished product and execution
• Plan and use internal and external resources effectively to ensure maximum ROMI
• Research, plan and evaluate project impact at various intervals (pre-, during- and post project reviews)
• Manage risk and compliance

Accountability: Stakeholder Management: 

• Build and maintain positive and collaborative working relationship across Group Marketing and Corporate Affairs, the business and with external parties
• Network and interact with various internal and external stakeholders to promote and drive integration
• Liaise closely with and manage third party supplier relationships to adhere to good governance
• Ensure adherence to agency SLA’s

Accountability: Capability Building: 

• Develop and lead a high performing marketing team by embedding the business performance process, regular feedback and coaching 
• Develop and maintain an effective team through selection, training, motivation, mentoring and performance management
• Translate and communicate the Group Sponsorship Strategy and purpose to ensure buy-in from the team
• Ensure shared learning and collaboration across the different marketing teams
• Responsible for overall quality and presentation of work

Accountability: Risk Management:

• Ensure that processes, control requirements and risk management frameworks that have been designed for the area are understood by all members of the team
• For audit findings that have an impact on the area, work with the Head of Sponsorships to understand what actions are required to close out findings
• Implement required actions
• During scheduled audits and management assurance reviews, ensure that all information required by the auditors are provided timeously
• Log all Risk and Loss events as a result of error or fraud highlighted in the department. Ensure that the issues are thoroughly investigated and closed or escalated as per policy
• Ensure that the team understands all compliance requirements and highlight gaps to the Head Sponsorships
• Monitor compliance training undertaken by team members and ensure that they complete the required training within prescribed timelines
• Ensure that all regulatory requirements are adhered to
• Ensure that the Business Continuity Tool is updated regularly
• Arrange for team members to participate in BCM tests at the required intervals and document test results
• Work with other managers in the area to implement corrective measures in case of test fails
• Ensure that all team leaders and members understand the control requirements related to physical and systems access control and information security requirements
• Collect access cards from employees leaving the department or the bank and send instructions to IT and HR to remove their systems access

Education and experience required:

• B Degree in Commerce or equivalent NQF 7 level qualification
• Minimum of 5 - 10 years’ experience in Sponsorship and banking Marketing with at least 3 years at a middle level Marketing / Group Marketing Manager level

Knowledge and skills:  

• Business Planning & Financial Management
• Strategic brand management
• Branding and advertising (traditional and digital)
• Project management
• People management and capacity planning
• Budget management
• Research and trends analysis
• Consumer behaviour and insights
• Regulatory (including all Customer / Non-Customer Regulation impacting banking e.g. FAIS, NCA, BASEL, Twin Peaks, TCF, KYC etc.
• Risk Management (Legal, reputational, operational, etc.)