The role of the Sub-Saharan African Marketing Director is responsible for leading the marketing function and activities across all markets in scope. He or she drives the creation of value and our customers by executing the category portfolio strategy making us indispensable to its customers in driving category growth- measured in sales value & profit growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Champion the shift the new Consumer Healthcare culture and 3 key behavior’s – Do what matters Most, Keep it Human and Go Beyond
• Development and implementation of the portfolio and brand strategy inspired by area/global guidelines in Sub-Saharan African Hub
• Works closely with the area teams on developing adequate marketing mixes for innovations and continuously assesses and revises existing brands for Sub-Saharan African markets
• Working closely with the rest of the commercial leadership team to ensure adequate volume forecasting on the short, medium and long terms to achieve business targets and market share gain
• Ensuring that the marketing objectives are implemented in line with the overall portfolio strategy
• Undertake continuous analysis of competitive environment and consumer trends and ensures adequate response to competitive activities to safeguard market share and achieve business targets
• Ensure the presence and implementation of an effective innovation pipeline to address marketing objectives, portfolio strategy and support business growth
• Collaborates with the area insights team to commission and conduct market and consumer research to guide the development of successful marketing mixes in Sub-Saharan African Hub
• Ensures all marketing activities are implemented in adherence to the company’s regulatory and compliance guidelines
• Responsible and accountable for brand activation in the markets in scope in order to deliver brand growth by:
• Custodian of local consumer/customer insights/needs
• Lead the team to prepare inputs to MAPs
• Own and execute annual MAPs
• Lead the team to adopt annual media plans with local media agency
• Conduct regular business reviews and proactively manage business performance
• Lead the team to review media and promotional plans regularly and propose adjustments as needed
• Share assets with customer marketing and Expert field force for tailoring
• Manage markets A&P budget ensuring resources are allocated in line with the approved SRA
• Lead the Marketing organization in markets
• Develop the functional and core skill of direct reports through regular coaching and mentoring
• Set personal objectives, targets, guidelines and assess all direct reports
• Inspire, lead and drive a performance culture within the team
• Manage key talents’ career and succession planning
• Lead the team to provide business case inputs for commercial and product innovation to the Area Marketing Team and enable LOC approval on DRM
• Ensure self and team have in-depth knowledge of the portfolio of products and the consumer/expert/shopper journeys to equip the Sales Force with the knowledge they need to win in market
• regulatory expectations.

Qualifications and skills

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree of Business Administration with marketing focus or equivalent
• 10+ years of proven B2C marketing experience, preferably within an FMCG environment
• 5+ years of experience in a management/leadership position, incl. managing teams and developing talent
• Cross functional experiences, particularly successful experiences partnering with Sales and Commercial Excellence functions to customize winning tactics to win in market
• Proven experiences in omni-channel marketing, strong knowledge and understanding of the changing media landscape (particularly digital) and impact on the consumer, shopper and expert journeys
• Strong analytical skills and business acumen
• Ability to work effectively and influence stakeholders to drive business agenda effectively.
• Proven experience in building and managing a high performing team and developing talent
• Experiences in market leadership teams preferred

Preferred

• Set Direction & Inspire
• Work across boundaries – must have excellent collaboration skills
• Release Energy
• Develop Capability & Talent
• Drive Performance
• Live our Values.