Specialist - Lubricants Marketing at Astron Energy (Pty) Ltd.

Job Description

• Managing the lubricants product portfolio and portfolio pricing strategy, the  role is critical in positioning value exchange through alignment to our business goals, to reflect our desired price & product mix positioning, considering competition, and what problems we are solving for our customers.
• Knowledge of gathering and interpreting relevant qualitative and quantitative data to guide decisions is crucial in yielding favorable financial business results, including volume and margin; and coordinate and implement the Price and Product strategy.

Portfolio:

• Coordinate and manage all efforts related to changes (Introductions, change in sourcing, inventory status and sunsets) in portfolio
• Benchmark product performance to determine target thresholds for product introductions and review of product health
• Continuously review product performance from an enterprise point of view iincluding sales (market demand, gaps), supply chain (complexity, efficiencies), slate (optimal productslate,  technical) and financial (volume, profitability) point of view
• Manage relationship with licensor related to global changes (introductions,sunsets, transitions etc.)

Pricing:

• Perform market research on key products in lubricants portfolio, including benchmarking, collecting market intel from various sources (sales, third parties etc.)
• Define Astron Energy pricing strategy across key Sector/Segments
• Lead promotional activities aligned to pricing strategy and tactical operational requirements
• Manage strategic pricing for introductions e.g. penetration pricing and sunsets e.g. disposal, flash sale pricing.

Financial Perspective

• Assist supply chain and sales to deliver a profitable lubricants portfolio
• Minimise write off costs for sunset products – work with the SC team to manage the packaging and additive run down
• Meet business plan margin and volume performance

Customer Perspective

• Deliver brand maps by sector
• Work with sales and business support to deliver channel pricing strategies
• Manage tail end SKUs – working with the sales team and technical team for replacement products, manage the sunset of old technology products and small volume selling SKUs for a smooth customer transition.
• Lead the monthly PLCM meetings with sales and supply chain and update the project management tool to ensure timeous completion of projects.
• Lead the bi-weekly project status meetings to track the completion of action items, resolve any blocks to progress projects.
• Manage packaging development – label approvals, packaging approvals etc. to ensure brand compliance.
• Manage the issue of product barcodes and maintain the database.
• Work with the Chevron regional marketing team – for the development of new fully printed product labels, updating of MSDS and PDS on the SDS link, global OEM labels.
• Development of marketing collateral product / sector brochures
• Prepare customer communications to keep target market informed on PLC and Pricing tactics.

Business Excellence

• Work with procurement on new supplier onboarding
• Ensure packaging complies with the local  National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (N.R.C.S) - Automotive Regulatory.
• Gather market intel (market competitor product line & pricing) and subscriptions to market intel data providers to understand lubricants consumption patterns and growth opportunities

People Management

• Collaborate with Technical for Cross sell and up sell initiatives to increase bottom line.
• Work with technical on the sector specific portfolio development.Work with the sales and technical team on the development of proof of performance data especially for new product introductions to drive market penetration
• Work with channel marketing to launch new products into the market and support cross sell and up sell initiatives

Professional Qualification and Certifications:

• Bcom Marketing qualification or similar SAQA registered qualification.

Work Experience:

• Must have worked for over 5 years as marketing analyst & specialist and have done product and price marketing for a minimum of 3 years.
• Lubricants or FMCG experience is essential.

Knowledge and skills:

• Skilled at Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Excel and outlook
• Data gathering & analytics
• Project management
• Excellent Presentation Skills
• Project reporting
• Collaborate with different stakeholders
• Understanding of Manufacturing, Packaging and Supply
• Demonstrated skills in developing and implementing pricing structures Demonstrated skills in delivering Product Life Cycle strategy Product and Price performance lookback reviews & measurement
• Supplier management