Marketing Operations Manager

VUKA Group; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

VUKA Group is seeking a Marketing Operations Manager in Cape Town to lead systems, automation and data processes across Marketing, Sales and Operations. You will design and optimise HubSpot workflows, manage data integrity and build dashboards to support customer journeys and business decisions.

This hands-on leadership role requires analytical thinking, project delivery across teams and clear stakeholder communication, with responsibility to drive efficiency and innovation while aligning with

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Marketing Operations, CRM Operations or Marketing Automation.
• Strong hands-on experience with HubSpot or a comparable platform, including workflows, forms and CRM processes.
• Advanced Excel skills, including PivotTables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, formulas and data reconciliation.
• Experience with data segmentation, transformation, reporting and dashboards.
• Demonstrated experience leading projects, coordinating people and driving delivery across teams.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to prioritise, make independent decisions and manage multiple projects.
• Confidence and sound judgement to represent senior management on delegated matters.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of Marketing Operations priorities, workload, quality and delivery.
• Coordinate projects and people across teams with clear accountability.
• Design, build and optimise HubSpot workflows, forms and customer journeys.
• Establish testing, QA and approval processes for automation.
• Manage CRM segmentation, data queries, cleaning and quality processes.
• Build reporting and dashboards in HubSpot, Power BI and Looker Studio.
• Translate data into insights and recommendations for business decisions.
• Collaborate with the Data team ensuring responsible data handling.

Skills

HubSpot Automation

Marketing Automation

Excel (PivotTables)

Data analysis

Project leadership

Stakeholder management

CRM operations

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

HubSpot

Power BI

Looker Studio

SQL

Zapier/Make

Job description

Role purpose

The Marketing Operations Manager leads the systems, automation and data processes that support customer journeys and business operations across VUKA Group. Working with Marketing, Sales, Registration, Operations, Portfolio Directors and Event Managers, this role translates business requirements into practical technical solutions while managing priorities, projects and operational delivery. This is a hands-on management role combining technical expertise, analytical thinking, commercial awareness and operational leadership. Reporting to the Marketing Operations & Data Director, the successful candidate will take ownership of Marketing Operations delivery while supporting wider departmental initiatives and representing the Director on delegated matters. The role offers opportunities to develop broader leadership responsibilities as the department evolves.

Key responsibilities

Operational leadership & departmental support

• Take ownership of Marketing Operations priorities, workload, quality and delivery.
• Coordinate projects and people across different teams, ensuring clear accountability and follow-through.
• Support the Marketing Operations & Data Director with departmental planning, operational oversight and key initiatives.
• Represent the Director in delegated meetings, projects and operational discussions, communicating decisions and ensuring agreed actions are implemented.
• Exercise sound judgement, resolve operational challenges and escalat[e] matters appropriately.
• Monitor performance, identify bottlenecks and recommend improvements to efficiency and service delivery.
• Provide guidance, coaching and oversight to colleagues or team members as responsibilities evolve.

Customer journeys, forms & automation

• Design, build and optimise HubSpot workflows, forms and automated customer journeys.
• Translate business requirements into effective solutions, challenging requests where better approaches exist.
• Ensure correct data collection, workflow logic, notifications, autoresponders and integrations.
• Establish robust testing, quality assurance and approval processes.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual tasks and improve customer experience.

Data management & insights

• Manage CRM segmentation, data queries, cleaning and quality processes.
• Confidently analyse and transform data using Excel, including PivotTables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP and conditional formulas.
• Proactively identify data inconsistencies, trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Build and oversee reporting and dashboards in HubSpot, Power BI and Looker Studio.
• Translate data into meaningful insights and recommendations that support business decisions.
• Collaborate with the Data team and ensure responsible data handling in line with POPIA.

Marketing technology & innovation

• Act as the operational lead and subject matter expert for HubSpot and related technologies.
• Oversee system configuration, adoption, integrations and best practices.
• Research and implement new technologies, AI tools and automation opportunities.
• Improve processes, documentation and operational efficiency.

Stakeholder & project management

• Build strong relationships across departments, including Portfolio Directors and Event Managers.
• Understand business objectives and connect technical solutions to commercial and operational outcomes.
• Scope projects, manage competing priorities and coordinate delivery across teams.
• Communicate technical concepts clearly and provide practical recommendations.
• Take ownership of projects from planning through to completion.

Leadership & ways of working

• Think logically, analytically and systematically, with strong attention to detail.
• Enjoy working with data, technology and solving complex problems.
• Demonstrate sound judgement, initiative and independent decision-making.
• Lead through influence, clear communication, accountability and constructive feedback.
• Build checks, balances and quality controls into operational processes.
• Proactively identify problems, opportunities and better ways of working.
• Communicate confidently with stakeholders and follow through on commitments.
• Understand the bigger picture and how decisions affect other teams and business objectives.
• Demonstrate the maturity and confidence to represent departmental leadership when required.
• Be adaptable, curious and committed to continuous learning.

Skills & experience

Essential

• Proven experience in Marketing Operations, CRM Operations or Marketing Automation.
• Strong hands-on experience with HubSpot or a comparable platform, including workflows, forms and CRM processes.
• Advanced Excel skills, including PivotTables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, formulas and data reconciliation.
• Experience with data segmentation, transformation, reporting and dashboards.
• Demonstrated experience leading projects, coordinating people and driving delivery across teams.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to prioritise, make independent decisions and manage multiple projects.
• Confidence and sound judgement to represent senior management on delegated matters.

Advantageous

• Experience managing or mentoring team members.
• Power BI, Looker Studio, SQL or Power Query.
• APIs, webhooks and integration tools such as Zapier or Make.
• WordPress, Gravity Forms or event registration platforms.
• AI productivity and automation tools.
• Knowledge of POPIA and data governance.
• Experience in B2B marketing, events or conferences.

Working environment

Marketing Operations operates in a fast-changing environment where business requirements, technologies and customer expectations continually evolve.

Technology will change. Business processes will evolve. Customer expectations will continue to grow.

Success requires curiosity, continuous learning and the ability to apply logical thinking to unfamiliar challenges. The role requires someone comfortable balancing hands‑on technical delivery with operational leadership, cross‑functional coordination and broader departmental responsibilities.

What success looks like

• Marketing Operations is well organised, responsive and delivers reliable, high-quality work.
• Customer journeys, forms and automations are accurate, effective and thoroughly tested.
• CRM data is reliable, well‑structured and fit for purpose.
• Reporting provides meaningful insights that support business decisions.
• Automation and process improvements increase efficiency and reduce manual effort.
• Stakeholders trust the quality, reliability and professionalism of Marketing Operations.
• Cross‑functional projects are delivered effectively, with clear ownership and communication.
• The Manager operates independently, exercises sound judgement and becomes a trusted representative of the Director on delegated responsibilities.

Cape Town, Hybrid | Full-Time