Senior Email Retention Marketing Strategist

Kontak Recruitment; Remote; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Part time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a Senior Email Retention Marketing Strategist for a remote position catering to South African candidates. The ideal applicant should have over 3 years of experience with Klaviyo, a robust background in retention marketing, and a proven ability to work with data. This senior role requires owning the retention strategy and collaborating with US-based eCommerce brands. The compensation is competitive, with an initial contractor basis leading to a full-time opportunity.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on experience using Klaviyo at an advanced level.
• Proven experience working with Shopify-based DTC eCommerce brands.
• Confidence working with data and performance analysis.

Responsibilities

• Owning retention strategy across email and CRM channels.
• Leading advanced email programmes focusing on engagement.
• Developing frameworks for testing hypotheses and recommendations.
• Acting as a point of contact for strategy discussions.

Skills

Advanced Klaviyo use

Retention marketing expertise

Data analysis and performance metrics

Client strategy presentations

AI tool usage

Tools

Shopify

Retention-related tools

Job description

Overview

Senior Email Retention Marketing Strategist (JB5815)

Location: Remote for South African candidates

Salary: R60 - 65 000 CTC (negotiable)

Working Arrangement: Contractor (with clear pathway to full-time), working with primarily US-based DTC eCommerce brands. This is a senior-level retention marketing role for an experienced strategist who owns outcomes end to end. Youll work with established direct-to-consumer (DTC) eCommerce brands, leading retention strategy across email and CRM channels and acting as a trusted, client-facing partner. The role is fully remote and open to candidates based in South Africa. Youll collaborate with a distributed team and work primarily with US-based clients, requiring consistent overlap with US business hours. The position starts on a contractor basis with a structured 90-day probation period and a clear pathway to a long-term, full-time engagement. Youll be responsible for retention strategy across a small portfolio of high-revenue DTC eCommerce brands (typically 58 clients). These are sophisticated businesses with strong acquisition engines and high expectations around performance, insight, and communication. This is not a junior execution role. Youll be trusted to operate autonomously, make strategic decisions, and clearly and confidently represent retention performance to clients.

Minimum Requirements

• 3+ years of hands-on experience using Klaviyo at an advanced level.
• Proven experience working with Shopify-based DTC eCommerce brands (agency or in-house).
• A strong background in retention marketing (not just email production).
• Confidence working with data, metrics, and performance analysis (LTV, repeat purchase, cohorts, testing).
• Experience in presenting strategy and performance insights directly to clients.
• Comfort managing multiple accounts and priorities without heavy oversight.
• Active, practical use of AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) to improve speed and quality of work.
• Experience with retention-related tools such as subscription platforms, analytics tools, or customer insight platforms is beneficial but not required.

Key Responsibilities

• Owning the retention strategy across email and CRM channels, from planning through optimisation.
• Leading advanced email programmes focused on repeat purchase, customer lifetime value, and engagement.
• Developing testing frameworks with clear hypotheses, observations, and recommendations.
• Analysing performance data and translating insights into clear, commercially grounded recommendations.
• Acting as a senior, client-facing point of contact for strategy discussions, performance reviews, and roadmap planning.
• Creating email and retention briefs for copy, design, and technical teams to execute.
• Collaborating closely with internal delivery teams to ensure strategy is executed accurately and efficiently.
• Taking full ownership of outcomes, work quality, and client satisfaction.
• While execution is supported by specialist teams, you must be hands-on enough to validate feasibility, troubleshoot issues, and step in when required.

Application Note

Please do not apply using scanned CVs; no supporting documentation is required at this point. This will be requested later.

Disclaimer

Kontak Recruitment Disclaimer: Equal opportunity: All backgrounds are welcome, with no bias. All are considered based on requirements. Job specifics: Requirements mirror advertisement, duties may adjust for client needs. Fair process: Fair assessment, only shortlisted candidates contacted due to volume. Privacy: Data processed as per Privacy Policy. By applying, you agree to data handling. We safeguard applicant info. Candidate verification: Candidates selected by the client are verified. False info may disqualify or end employment with the client. Offer clarity: The Advert is not a binding offer. Written offers based on pre-employment conditions. No direct link: Advert is not tied to Kontak Recruitment. We assist in the employment process ONLY. Applicant Responsibility: Upon applying, confirmation of receipt for a specific advert is given. If no confirmation is received, you must verify with Kontak Recruitment.