Marketing Assistant – FTC

Position: Marketing Assistant

Reporting to: Marketing Manager

Division: Fragrances & Beaute

Employee Type: Fixed-term contract (5 months)

Location: Cape town

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The core purpose of the role is to work together with the Marketing Manager and Brand Team to develop the brand in South Africa through optimum use of the A&P investment tools, adaptation of international strategy and ensuring a 360̊ approach to all local marketing strategies, ultimately growing market share and brand image in South Africa.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide Support to Brand Strategy and Development 

• Be a custodian of the brand image in South Africa, maintaining brand equity and integrity at all times
• Assist the Marketing Manager to adapt global strategies to suit the local market and to meet the retailer's expectations while fully adhering to all international brand rules and guidelines
• Assist the Marketing Manager to develop and present brand strategy to retailers at seasonal strategy sessions
• Liaise with senior marketing and other managers to understand marketing goals
• Present marketing and branding ideas to senior managers
• Ensure compliance with relevant legal requirements

Sales Performance

• Regularly review business performance to ascertain challenges and opportunities
• Assist in the management of inventory to ensure brand stock levels in house meet both the brand and organisational requirements
• Report on brand performance monthly as required (including but not limited to sales, retailers performance, SKU performance, PR, new launches)
• Assist in the management of new launches including stock tracking with demand planning, receipt of retailer orders vs plan, stock distribution (together with POSM) from the warehouse, communication with the sales team, proactive adaptations to plans to maximise launch potential and follow up and reporting following launch period
• Engage in research to gain relevant information including but not limited to competitors, pricing and target markets

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-ordinate and implement PR activity including distribution of new launches and tracking and reporting on local media and digital coverage

Budget and financial responsibilities

• Allocate resources and work with others to ensure specified budgets and ROI requirements are observed

Marketing/Brand Support Functions

• Systematically develop processes that provide relevant information and support to the Marketing Manager, including but not limited to:
  • Inventory review and reporting
  • Monthly brand reporting
  • Retailer sales performance and stock reporting
  • Administrate the process flow of all new products both internally and externally to ensure products are loaded correct and timeous
  • Timeous accurate completion and submission of all retailer buy plans/master files and seasonal marketing/online booking calendars and forms
  • Timeous and accurate management of price increases as required
  • Ensure all documents are accessible at all times
  • Deliver within set deadlines
  • Provide optimum service levels to all stakeholders internally and externally
• Manage customer and consumer queries professionally to achieve a positive outcome
• Assist with project-based assignments set out by the Marketing Manager to gain knowledge and practical experience in development-focused tasks
• Track competitor activity monthly and gain learnings from analysis
• Spend time in-store to obtain trade experience/knowledge and gain customer insights

COMPETENCIES

• Taking decisions and initiating action, taking responsibility for these
• Working with people
• Writing, reporting and communication
• 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

• Understanding of brand management and marketing concepts
• High attention to detail
• Proactive, adaptable and flexible
• Organised with ability to multi-task, ensuring deadlines are prioritized and met
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with internal/external partners
• Strong communication and reporting skills
• Business acumen
• Results driven

MINDSET

• Energetic team player with the ability to positively impact the internal Shiseido team
• Proactive self-motivated attitude that delivers results and works towards excellence
• Compliant with all policies, procedures, ethics & values in the business

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS

• Business/Marketing degree
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (including word processors, spreadsheets, design applications and presentation programmes)
• 2 - 3 years brand/marketing experience
• Cosmetics industry experience in the luxury sector is advantageous