Brand & Trade Marketing Manager

Pro-Match Recruitment; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 720,000; Full time

Job summary

Pro-Match Recruitment is seeking a Brand Manager based in Port Elizabeth to drive brand strategy across our portfolio. You will develop positioning, target audiences, and brand architecture, while coordinating artwork, packaging updates and POS materials.

The role requires 5+ years FMCG marketing/brand management experience in the South African retail environment, with a track record in retail promotions, budget management, and supplier liaison. Office-based role with national scope.

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in Marketing, Business or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 5 years FMCG marketing/brand management experience in SA retail.
• Proven ability to plan, implement and evaluate retail promotional campaigns.
• Experience managing budgets and supplier relationships.
• Strong English writing and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage brand positioning, audience targeting and brand architecture.
• Create annual brand and trade marketing plans and 12-month calendars.
• Oversee artwork, packaging updates and point-of-sale materials.
• Coordinate in-store activations and promotions with merchandising teams.
• Lead launch plans for new brands and products in SA retail.
• Manage budgets, supplier quotations and expenditure against budgets.
• Prepare weekly campaign updates and monthly performance reports.

Skills

Brand management

Trade marketing

Retail marketing

Campaign planning

Budget management

Education

Marketing degree or diploma

Job description

Key Responsibilities

1. Brand Strategy and Brand Management

• Develop and manage brand positioning, target audiences, brand architecture and tone of voice across the company's portfolio.
• Establish and maintain clear brand guidelines for each brand.
• Develop annual brand and trade marketing plans and 12-month campaign calendars.
• Oversee brand artwork, packaging updates, point-of-sale material and campaign creative.
• Brief designers and external suppliers with clear specifications, deadlines and feedback.
• Monitor competitor activity, shelf pricing, category developments and consumer trends.
• Provide market and consumer insights to support new product and packaging decisions.
• Ensure consistent brand presentation across all retail and marketing channels.

2. Retail Trade Marketing

• Develop trade marketing strategies for national retail chains, wholesale, forecourt, convenience and specialist retail channels.
• Plan and coordinate promotional campaigns with the relevant commercial and sales teams.
• Develop promotional mechanics, campaign timing and in-store support plans.
• Establish planogram, shelf presentation, point-of-sale and pricing display standards.
• Ensure merchandising teams implement the required standards across retail outlets.
• Plan and coordinate in-store activations, sampling campaigns and promoter activities.
• Manage merchandising and promotional agencies, including briefs, schedules, store audits and performance reviews.
• Ensure promotional campaigns are aligned with stock availability and customer requirements.

3. Promotion Evaluation and Sales Performance

• Establish sales baselines before promotional campaigns.
• Evaluate each promotion after completion, measuring sales uplift, additional units sold, gross profit, total campaign cost and return on investment.
• Analyse retailer sell-out data, distribution reports and internal sales information.
• Monitor sales performance by brand, channel and key customer.
• Identify which promotions should be repeated, improved or discontinued based on measurable results.
• Prepare monthly brand and trade marketing reports.
• Provide practical recommendations to improve sales performance, market penetration and promotional effectiveness.

4. New Product and Brand Launches

• Lead the brand and trade marketing launch plans for new brands and products.
• Coordinate the South African retail launch of the new vehicle air fragrance brand, with further international expansion planned.
• Develop launch calendars, retail sell-in materials, promotional plans and point-of-sale requirements.
• Prepare customer presentation material, product information sheets, listing support documents and planogram proposals.
• Coordinate launch activations and promotional activities.
• Monitor launch performance at 30-, 60- and 90-day intervals.
• Recommend corrective actions to improve product awareness, distribution and sales performance.
• Support the Business Development Manager with marketing material and trade communications for customer engagement.

5. Budget and Supplier Management

• Manage brand and trade marketing expenditure against approved quarterly budgets.
• Obtain comparative quotations for printing, point-of-sale material, activations and agency services.
• Coordinate suppliers and ensure agreed deliverables meet quality and deadline requirements.
• Ensure purchase orders are approved before expenditure is committed.
• Monitor monthly expenditure against budget.
• Verify supplier invoices against delivered products or completed services.
• Maintain supplier records, pricing information and performance reviews.
• Identify opportunities to improve marketing efficiency and maximise return on investment.

6. Compliance and Brand Control

• Ensure all marketing and trade materials comply with applicable advertising, age-restriction and retailer requirements.
• Apply the relevant restrictions to vaping-related marketing materials.
• Ensure required notices and compliance information appear where necessary.
• Maintain approval records for regulated product marketing material.
• Verify all prices and promotional information against approved price lists before release.
• Escalate potential compliance, pricing or stock-related issues before campaign material is released.

7. Internal Collaboration and Reporting

• Work closely with the Business Development Manager on customer plans, listings, promotions and sales opportunities.
• Coordinate with the Social Media & Content Manager to ensure social media and email campaigns align with retail promotions and brand guidelines.
• Work with the Designer on artwork, packaging, point-of-sale material and campaign creative.
• Coordinate with Operations to confirm stock availability before committing to promotions or launches.
• Work with the Commercial Operations Manager on promotional planning and commercial priorities.
• Prepare weekly campaign updates and monthly performance reports.
• Present marketing performance and KPI results to management.

Key Performance Areas

Performance will be measured against clearly defined commercial and operational indicators, including:

• Promotion ROI: Successful evaluation of campaigns and measurable return on promotional expenditure.
• Sell-out growth: Increased sales volume and value by brand and key customer.
• In-store execution: Compliance with merchandising, planogram, point-of-sale and pricing standards.
• Promotional delivery: Campaign materials and point-of-sale delivered on time.
• New brand launches: Successful preparation and execution of launch milestones.
• Budget control: Effective management of marketing expenditure within approved budgets.
• Reporting: Accurate and timely monthly reporting and performance analysis.
• Brand compliance: Consistent brand standards and adherence to applicable product advertising restrictions.

Minimum Requirements

• A degree or diploma in Marketing, Business, Commerce or a related field, or equivalent proven experience.
• Minimum 5 years' FMCG marketing experience, including at least 3 years of hands-on trade marketing or brand management experience within the South African retail environment.
• Proven experience personally planning, implementing and evaluating retail promotional campaigns.
• Demonstrable experience delivering point-of-sale material, planograms and in-store activations.
• Experience managing merchandising agencies, promoter teams, printing suppliers and external marketing service providers.
• Ability to interpret retailer sell-out data and prepare promotional evaluations and performance reports.
• Experience developing or implementing brand guidelines and briefing designers or agencies.
• Experience managing marketing budgets, obtaining quotations, working with purchase orders and monitoring expenditure.
• Strong written English and the ability to prepare professional marketing briefs and reports.
• Confident presentation and communication skills, including engagement with retail buyers and senior management.
• Understanding of retail marketing, product positioning, promotional execution and consumer behaviour.
• Willingness to apply age-restriction and advertising requirements for regulated products.
• Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel nationally.
• Must be based in Port Elizabeth and able to work office-based.

Advantageous Experience

• Experience in regulated or age-restricted product categories, including vaping, tobacco or liquor.
• Experience in forecourt, convenience or automotive aftermarket retail channels.
• Experience launching new brands or product ranges into national retail.
• Key account or category management exposure.
• Experience working with retailer sell-out data, category reviews, retailer portals or Nielsen information.
• Exposure to international or US market launches.
• Experience managing marketing across multiple FMCG brands.
• Experience working in a growing, entrepreneurial or founder-led business.

Working Environment

The successful candidate will work closely with the Commercial Operations Manager, Business Development Manager, Social Media & Content Manager, Designer and E-commerce team.

The role combines strategic brand management with practical retail execution. Regular interaction with retailers, distributors, merchandising agencies, suppliers and internal stakeholders will be required.

The candidate must be comfortable managing multiple brands, coordinating campaigns, controlling budgets and ensuring that all marketing activities are delivered on time and within approved budgets.