Brand Manager: Luxury Cosmetics

Brand Manager: Luxury Cosmetics

**Position**: Brand Manager: Luxury Cosmetics

**Department** : Luxury Cosmetics Brands

**Location**: Cape Town, Observatory

**Reporting to** : Marketing Manager

Purpose of the Role

The core purpose of this role is to launch and grow one of the largest global and most exciting make-up brands in South Africa. This dynamic role manages and leads projects and tasks across multifunctional teams to position and develop the brand in South Africa across own boutiques, multi-branded retail, and e-commerce. It will require the development of a best-in-class brand and marketing strategy, optimized use of the A&P investment tools, adaptation of international strategies and a 360̊ approach to all local marketing plans to ultimately grow market share and the brand image in South Africa. This brand will change the South African Beauty and Make-Up Market and needs to deliver on the ever-growing and rapidly evolving demands of the local consumer. We are looking for a true trailblazer who has a passion for make-up and the tenacity to introduce one of the best make-up brands in the world to South Africa.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

**Business Performance**
- Develop, communicate, and share the marketing vision within the organization to ensure the strategy is executed impeccably and timeously in the market
- Be a custodian of the brand image in SA; ensure brand equity and brand integrity at all times
- Plans, implements, and executes successful consumer and trade marketing programs (including brand strategic planning, market positioning, pricing, promotion, advertising)
- Formulation of brand strategy and long-term growth plans
- Analysis of brand strategy and performance and effect changes as needed
- Lead the e-commerce team and ensure seamless omnichannel integration across all channels
- Sets brand planning calendar, coordinates cross-functional activities and planning processes, manages timelines, and ensures timely completion of all deliverables.
- Leads the development of strategies and objectives for building and executing year-round brand engagement through partnerships, social media/digital/e-commerce, and other marketing vehicles
- Using historical performance, accurately set annual wholesale budgets for the brands and formulate plans to alleviate any sales deficits
- Effectively set global sell out targets for the brands with the sales team
- Effective adaption of global strategies to suit the SA market and to meet the retailer’s expectations
- Effective and regular business reviews to ascertain challenges and opportunities
- Monitoring of retail prices in the market to ensure the brand remains competitive, while at the same time monitoring brand ex works and forex trends and formulating strategies to manage pricing effectively
- Distribution management and review to ensure that the brand follows international guidelines and strategy, at the same time ensuring that doors deliver ROI by reaching minimum turnover levels
- Inventory management to ensure brand stock levels in house meet both the brand and organisational requirements, including accurate promotional forecasting
- Brand reporting

**Stakeholder engagement and management**
- Build and maintain strong relationships with all stakeholders to ensure full support of the brand in the market
- Work with stakeholders to gain maximum exposure for the brand
- Co-ordination and implementation of PR activity

**Budget and Financial Management**
- Management of marketing budget
- Management and analysis of A&P spend to ensure effective usage thereof and ensuring a ROI and brand profitability
- Provides reporting to allow proper measurement of marketing activities and strategic recommendations based on analysis of ongoing trade and consumer promotion programs

**COMPETENCIES**
- Deciding and Initiating Action
- Working with People
- Writing and Reporting
- Persuading and Influencing
- Planning and Organising
- Delivering Results & Meeting Customer Expectations
- Adapting and responding to change
- Coping with pressures and setbacks
- Analysing
- Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking

**SKILLS**
- Strong understanding of Brand management & Marketing concepts
- Attention to detail
- Proactivity, adaptability & flexibility
- Multitasking
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Negotiation skills
- Communication skills
- Business acumen

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS
- Business/Marketing degree/qualification
- 5 years relevant experience in the luxury/beauty industry
- Must have experience in digital marketing and e-commerce
- Premium make-up brand management experience required
- Management of cosmetics brands in a retail counter environment and within standalone stores

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Cape Town, Western Cape: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (required)