Digital Marketing Officer

SmartStart South Africa; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 290,000 - 502,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Provident Fund

Medical Aid

Job summary

SmartStart South Africa is seeking a Digital Marketing Specialist to execute national digital campaigns, manage online communities and CRM-driven communications. The role involves updating website content, sending newsletters and optimizing campaigns through analytics.

You will collaborate with Comms, Design and IT to ensure accurate content and data-driven decisions, while monitoring brand sentiment and digital risk.

Qualifications

• Qualification in graphic and digital design.
• Minimum 3+ years in design.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, UX and digital design.

Responsibilities

• Implement national digital campaigns across owned and paid channels (website, CRM, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn).
• Build and manage campaign assets and schedules with Comms and Design.
• Manage social media platforms and digital communities with call centre collaboration.
• Respond to comments and queries per brand tone and escalation protocols.
• Update and maintain website content with IT and Brand Marketing teams; monitor links.
• Build newsletters and messaging for SMS/WhatsApp; manage lists in Zoho CRM.
• Track KPIs across platforms and produce dashboards; conduct A/B tests.
• Monitor online sentiment and contribute to brand guidelines and risk management.

Skills

Campaign planning

Social media

Content creation

CRM admin

Analytics

A/B testing

Paid media

Graphic design

Project management

Stakeholder coordination

Education

Graphic and digital design

Project management

UX

Tools

Zoho CRM

Job description

Execute SmartStart’s digital marketing strategy across web, social and email; manage community engagement on digital platforms; use analytics to drive growth; and support brand monitoring and digital risk management.

Key Responsibilities

Digital Campaign Execution

• Implement national digital campaigns across SmartStart’s owned and paid channels (website, CRM, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn).
• Build and manage campaign assets and schedules aligned with campaign plans in collaboration with Comms and Design.

Community Management

• Manage social media platforms, community groups and digital communities (practitioners, parents, supporters) in collaboration with call centre team.
• Respond to comments and queries in line with brand tone and escalation protocols.
• Flag issues and contribute to knowledge base and management discussions.

Website & CRM

• Update and maintain website content, working with IT, Brand Marketing Manager, Network Communications Manager and Communications Manager to ensure fresh, accurate content aligned with strategy.
• Regularly check links and monitor website analytics to inform decision making.
• Build and send newsletters, email campaigns and messaging on SMS and WhatsApp to selected audiences
• Manage contact lists and segmentation on Zoho CRM.
• Manage data transfers with Programme/IT team as required
• Support journey building and messaging for Network Communications
• Support journey building and messaging for Ecosystem and funder communications.

Analytics, Insights & Optimization

• Track KPIs across digital platforms (reach, engagement, conversions).
• Produce regular dashboards and insights to inform strategy and content.
• A/B test content and formats to improve performance.
• Manage promotion and advertising budget for digital campaigns

Brand Monitoring & Risk

• Monitor online sentiment and mentions of SmartStart.
• Support development and roll‑out of digital brand guidelines and training.
• Flag and manage reputational risks online with Brand Marketing Manager and Communications Manager.
• Check 3rd party mentions and content pages regularly for required updates.

Requirements

Purpose: Execute SmartStart’s digital marketing strategy across web, social and email; manage community engagement on digital platforms; use analytics to drive growth; and support brand monitoring and digital risk management.

Key Responsibilities

Digital Campaign Execution

• Implement national digital campaigns across SmartStart’s owned and paid channels (website, CRM, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn).
• Build and manage campaign assets and schedules aligned with campaign plans in collaboration with Comms and Design.

Community Management

• Manage social media platforms, community groups and digital communities (practitioners, parents, supporters) in collaboration with call centre team.
• Respond to comments and queries in line with brand tone and escalation protocols.
• Flag issues and contribute to knowledge base and management discussions.

Website & CRM

• Update and maintain website content, working with IT, Brand Marketing Manager, Network Communications Manager and Communications Manager to ensure fresh, accurate content aligned with strategy.
• Regularly check links and monitor website analytics to inform decision making.
• Build and send newsletters, email campaigns and messaging on SMS and WhatsApp to selected audiences
• Manage contact lists and segmentation on Zoho CRM.
• Manage data transfers with Programme/IT team as required
• Support journey building and messaging for Network Communications
• Support journey building and messaging for Ecosystem and funder communications.

Analytics, Insights & Optimization

• Track KPIs across digital platforms (reach, engagement, conversions).
• Produce regular dashboards and insights to inform strategy and content.
• A/B test content and formats to improve performance.
• Manage promotion and advertising budget for digital campaigns

Brand Monitoring & Risk

• Monitor online sentiment and mentions of SmartStart.
• Support development and roll‑out of digital brand guidelines and training.
• Flag and manage reputational risks online with Brand Marketing Manager and Communications Manager.
• Check 3rd party mentions and content pages regularly for required updates.

Decision-Making Authority

• Decisions this role can make independently Brand design application

Key Relationships

• Internal stakeholders (teams, departments, levels)
• Event Manager, Head of Societal Communications; Communications Manager; Network Communications Manager; Brand Marketing Manager, Heads of Departments, Chiefs
• External stakeholders (partners, funders, government, communities) Partners, suppliers, regional contacts

Qualifications

• Minimum Required Qualifications (non-negotiable) Qualification in graphic and digital design
• Advantageous / Nice-to-Have Qualifications Project Management, UX

Experience

• Minimum Years of Experience 3+ years in design
• Type of Experience Required (industries, contexts) Design, brand application
• Advantageous / Nice-to-Have Experience Stakeholder engagement, UX, Digital Design

Key behaviours

• Proactive, self-motivated and accountable
• Collaborative and audience-centred
• Curious, adaptable and committed to continuous learning
• Responsive, professional and tactful
• Detail-oriented
• Able to work independently while escalating issues appropriately

Skills

• Digital campaign planning, execution and optimisation
• Social media and online community management
• Content creation, copywriting and scheduling
• CRM administration, database management and audience segmentation
• Digital analytics, dashboard preparation and performance reporting
• A/B testing and conversion optimisation
• Paid media coordination and budget monitoring
• Graphic and digital design, photo editing and visual storytelling
• Project management
• Stakeholder and supplier coordination

Competencies

• Strong written and verbal communication
• Analytical thinking and data-informed decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Problem-solving and sound judgement
• Customer and community orientation
• Data accuracy, confidentiality and responsible information management
• Awareness of digital safeguarding, privacy and reputational risk
• Ability to translate strategy into practical digital activities

Benefits

• Provident Fund
• Medical Aid