Marketing and Communications Manager

Black Pen Recruitment; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,150,000; Full time

Job summary

Black Pen Recruitment is seeking an experienced Marketing and Communications Manager to lead the marketing function and shape the brand strategy for the group.

This leadership role focuses on strategic marketing, communications and stakeholder engagement, guiding a high-performing team and partnering with senior leadership to drive growth across the organisation. The role offers a hybrid work arrangement with on-site collaboration in Cape Town.

Qualifications

• A degree in Marketing, Communications or a related field.
• Certifications in SEO, Google Ads, or social media marketing are advantageous.
• Several years' experience in a senior marketing leadership role.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams and budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of the marketing and communications strategy.
• Align initiatives with growth objectives and brand strategy.
• Oversee campaigns across digital channels and events.
• Manage department budget and stakeholder expectations.

Skills

Strategic leadership

People leadership

Digital marketing

Content strategy

Brand management

Campaign management

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Project management

Analytics

Education

Marketing/Communications degree

Job description

Our client’s passion is keeping businesses in business. As a national supplier of risk management services to independent financial advisors and other licensed financial service providers (FSPs), they know this can only be achieved through the calibre of people they employ – people who are client focused, set themselves high standards of delivery and have a willingness to go the extra mile.

Role Overview

Our client is looking for an experienced and strategic Marketing and Communications Manager to lead their marketing function and help shape the future of our client's brand.

This is an exciting leadership opportunity for someone who enjoys thinking strategically while remaining actively involved in delivering high-quality marketing, communications and business initiatives. You'll lead a talented marketing team, partner with senior leadership and play a key role in supporting business growth across our client’s group. You'll have the opportunity to influence business strategy, lead meaningful projects and make a lasting impact across the organisation.

This is a full-time, hybrid position, offering the flexibility of working both remotely and from our client's head office in Mowbray, Cape Town. During the probation period, you will be required to work on-site full-time.

Job Type: Full Time/Permanent

Location: Mowbray, Cape Town

Workplace: Hybrid

Requirements

• A relevant degree or qualification in Marketing, Communications or a related field.
• Certifications in SEO, Google Ads, or social media marketing are advantageous.
• Several years' experience in a senior marketing leadership role.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong knowledge of digital marketing, content strategy, branding and campaign management.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong project management and organisational abilities.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
• Experience within financial services or a regulated industry will be advantageous.

Core Competencies

• Strategic leadership and business acumen
• People leadership and team development
• Project and change management
• High-level communication and stakeholder engagement
• Creative thinking and innovation
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• Commercial awareness
• Relationship building and influencing
• Accountability and results orientation
• Planning, organisation, and execution excellence
• Technical Competencies
• Marketing strategy development and execution
• Corporate communications and stakeholder engagement
• Brand management and governance
• Project management
• Digital marketing and analytics
• Content strategy and creative direction
• Budget management and procurement oversight
• Event strategy and management
• Leadership and performance management
• Reporting, analytics, and business intelligence
• Governance, compliance, and risk management

Responsibilities

As Marketing and Communications Manager, you will:

Marketing Strategy and Leadership

• Lead the development and execution of the marketing and communications strategy for our client
• Align marketing initiatives with business objectives, growth priorities and brand strategy.
• Partner with Executive Management and business leaders to drive strategic marketing, communication and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen brand visibility, market presence and business growth.
• Contribute to organisational planning, budgeting and strategic decision-making as a member of the Management Team.

Department Leadership and Team Management

• Lead, coach and develop the Marketing team, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture.
• Set departmental priorities and ensure the successful delivery of marketing campaigns, projects and initiatives.
• Allocate resources effectively and oversee the quality of all key marketing deliverables.
• Drive continuous improvement and build the capability of the Marketing team.

Brand Management and Corporate Reputation

• Act as the custodian of our client.
• Ensure consistent brand identity, messaging and communication across all business units and channels.
• Provide strategic direction on brand positioning and the development of marketing and communication materials.
• Drive initiatives that strengthen brand awareness, enhance corporate reputation and support long-term business growth.

Marketing Campaign Planning, Management and Performance

• Lead the planning, execution and evaluation of integrated marketing campaigns across digital, email, social media, events and content marketing.
• Ensure campaigns align with business objectives, target audiences and brand strategy.
• Provide strategic and creative direction throughout the campaign lifecycle.
• Monitor campaign performance, optimise results and ensure the effective management of budgets, timelines and resources.

Strategic Marketing Projects and Business Initiatives

• Lead strategic marketing and business initiatives that support organisational growth and innovation.
• Manage cross-functional projects from planning through implementation, working closely with internal stakeholders and Executive Management.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and aligned with strategic business objectives.
• Monitor project progress, manage risks and report on outcomes and recommendations.

Communications Strategy and Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and implement internal and external communication strategies that support business objectives.
• Provide strategic guidance on executive communications, organisational messaging and stakeholder engagement.
• Support leadership in communicating strategic initiatives and organisational change.
• Strengthen stakeholder relationships through effective, consistent and targeted communication.

Content Strategy, Creative Direction and Thought Leadership

• Lead the development of content strategies that support business objectives and stakeholder engagement.
• Provide creative direction for campaigns, publications, videos and marketing collateral.
• Ensure all content is accurate, engaging and aligned with our client.
• Drive thought leadership initiatives that strengthen the organisation's industry profile and market presence.

Digital Marketing and Technical Oversight

• Lead the organisation's digital marketing strategy across web, SEO, CRM, email marketing, social media and digital advertising.
• Drive the optimisation of digital platforms, technologies and user experience to support business growth and lead generation.
• Monitor digital performance and implement data-driven improvements to maximise marketing effectiveness.
• Collaborate with digital agencies and service providers to ensure digital platforms support business objectives.

Event Strategy and Organisational Engagement

• Lead the strategy and oversight of corporate events that strengthen stakeholder engagement, brand awareness and organisational objectives.
• Oversee the planning and delivery of major internal and external events.
• Ensure events deliver a consistent brand experience and measurable business value.
• Evaluate event outcomes and drive continuous improvement.

Procurement, Supplier and Budget Management

• Manage the annual marketing budget and ensure the effective use of departmental resources.
• Build and manage strategic relationships with agencies, suppliers and service providers.
• Oversee procurement, contract management and supplier performance.
• Monitor marketing investment and optimise return on investment across campaigns and initiatives.

Internal Communications and Employee Engagement

• Develop and oversee internal communication strategies that support employee engagement and organisational culture.
• Partner with HR and leadership to deliver effective employee communication and change management initiatives.
• Ensure employees remain informed, engaged and aligned with organisational priorities.
• Support internal communication campaigns, organisational announcements and employee recognition initiatives.

Governance, Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure marketing and communication activities comply with organisational governance and compliance requirements.
• Maintain governance standards across branding, communications and digital marketing.
• Identify, manage and mitigate marketing-related risks.

Reporting, Analytics and Executive Support

• Analyse marketing performance and stakeholder insights to measure effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Prepare executive reports and present strategic recommendations to senior leadership and the Board.
• Use data-driven insights to support business planning, decision-making and continuous improvement.

Departmental Operations and Continuous Improvement

• Lead the efficient operation of the Marketing Department, ensuring effective systems, processes and workflows.
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation and best practice across all marketing activities.
• Identify and implement new technologies, tools and processes to enhance productivity and service delivery.
• Lead initiatives that enhance departmental performance and support business objectives.

Learning and Development

• Stay informed on developments in marketing, communications, leadership, digital marketing, and the financial services industry.
• Continuously enhance professional knowledge and leadership capabilities.
• Encourage a culture of learning, innovation, and professional growth within the department.
• Share knowledge and best practices across the organisation.

General

• Maintain professional communication across all interactions.
• Demonstrate leadership, professionalism, and sound judgement.
• Manage multiple strategic, operational, and project priorities simultaneously.
• Maintain confidentiality of company, stakeholder, and employee information.
• Adapt to changing organisational requirements and business priorities.
• Support cross-functional collaboration and organisational success.
• Perform any other duties reasonably associated with the role and level of responsibility.