Marketing Communications Specialist

Position Reports to:    Deputy Head: Communication and Marketing

Division: Communication, Marketing and Corporate Stakeholders (CoMAC)

Location: SARS Head Office – LeHae La SARS

Advert Closing Date:  09 January 2026

About the position

SARS is looking for an experienced Marketing and Brand Specialist to help us build our brand and raise brand awareness. The individual will work across all levels and divisions of our organisation to understand the brand and communicate it to the world.

Job Purpose

To provide expertise, advice and support in practice formulation and associated best practice improvement tactics, through the achievement of marketing and communication objectives within the organisation, thus enable tactical translation, operational development and implementation of the Marketing strategy, in line with overall Communications strategic objectives.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

Relevant bachelor's degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Marketing, Public Relations, Brand Management and Communication and 8-10 years' experience in the Marketing, Communication, Public relations, and Brand management industries of which 3-4 years is at a Junior Specialist level.

ALTERNATIVE

Senior Certificate (NQF 4) and 15 years' experience in the Marketing, Communication, Public relations, and Brand management industries of which 3-4 years is at a Junior Specialist Level.

Note: The alternative qualifications and experience refer to the internal minimum requirements (internal staff of SARS).

Minimum Functional Requirements

Functional experience in Marketing & Communication

Job Outputs:

Process

• Adhere to the required communication protocol at all times, to maintain a positive image of SARS.
• Adhere to the SARS standards, policies and procedures, to ensure consistency in the actual application and management of communications and information.
• Advise SARS leadership of reputational risks to the organisation and recommend marketing strategies to mitigate these risks.
• Analyse and make recommendations about improvements to specialist systems, procedures, policies and practices. (I)
• Assist with special/ ad hoc assignments.
• Contribute to the optimum utilisation of org. resources, advising on effective planning and development of area of specialisation resource plans. (I)
• Create generic messages for specific campaigns and target audiences, to ensure that relationships with key stakeholders are developed and maintained.
• Develop a marketing and promotions business plan for SARS, to ensure that appropriate action plans are developed for marketing and promotions and translated to the communications strategy.
• Develop a single practice area in alignment with operational activity and procedural frameworks and ensure tactical implementation. (I)
• Draw on own technical or professional expertise, knowledge and experience to identify and recommend tactical solutions to defined problems in practices. (I)
• Drive and take a lead role on various Marketing Communication Campaigns and ensure internal and external alignment of marketing campaigns.
• Ensure collaboration with the creative design, production and Taxpayer educations teams to ensure correct product quality.
• Ensure consistency and implement standards for SARS marketing initiatives including compliance to the SARS brand positioning and Corporate Identity.
• Gather intelligence, conceptualize, develop and manage integrated marketing plans for SARS and its various business units and programmes/projects.
• Integrate business information, compare, analyse and produce reports to identify trends, discrepancies and inconsistencies for decision making purposes. (I)
• Liaise with management across the organisation, provide advice and guidance to ensure that SARS benefits from a positive stakeholder perception.
• Measure and report performance of all marketing and communication campaigns and assess the return on investment (ROI) and achievement of key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Ongoing engagement with various teams in the Communication and Marketing Division and other key stakeholders within the organisation, to establish and maintain a good relationship and support the business.
• Optimise goal achievement through tactical strategy implementation and optimisation of practises, processes and systems across an internal value chain. (I)
• Oversee the conceptualization and creation of imaginative marketing materials.
• Plan for value-added, continuous multiple practice and system improvement optimisation to deliver on objectives and to enhance tactical excellence. (I)
• Plan for value-added, continuous practice and system improvements to deliver on objectives to enhance tactical implementation and excellence. (I)
• Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fit alternatives, best practice implementation solutions. (I)
• Promote SARS brand through design and layout, promotions, sponsorships and distribution of information to positively influence beliefs and behaviours supporting SARS goals.
• Recommend and develop communication channels, processes and procedures that will ensure that objectives are achieved.
• Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, practice areas and associated procedures and execute the implementation of change and innovation. (I)
• Represent division at various communication platforms.
• Translate the brand strategy - At Your Service, into an execution plan with ready to implement tactical plans, analyse and report on perceptions about the brand, taxpayers and traders' insights.
• Translate top-down policy, apply modification in relation to own practice area and communicate impact to relevant stakeholders. (I)
• Work with the creative and media buying Agencies on the delivery of briefs.

Governance

• Develop and /or align governance and compliance policies for own practice area to identify and manage risk exposure liability. (I)

People

• Integrate new knowledge and transfer skills attained through formal and informal learning opportunities in the execution of your job. (I)
• Provide specialist know-how, support, advice and practice thought leadership in area of expertise. (I)

Finance

• Assist to manage and report on expenditure as required.
• Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of specialisation. (I)

Client

• Collaborate closely with social media, website, and media liaison and other channel teams to drive external campaigns.
• Develop and ensure implementation of a practice that builds service delivery excellence and encourages others to provide exceptional stakeholder service. (I)
• Ensure internal client satisfaction by addressing client concerns promptly and professionally.
• Participate in the specialist practice community and contribute positively to organisation knowledge management. (I)
• Provide authoritative, specialist expertise and advice to internal and external stakeholders. (I)

Behavioural competencies

• Accountability (V)
• Adaptability
• Analytical Thinking
• Attention to detail
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Communicating with Impact
• Conceptual Ability
• Creativity
• Expertise in Context
• Fairness and Transparency (V)
• Honesty and Integrity (V)
• Initiative
• Organisational Awareness
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Respect (V)
• Trust (V)

Technical competencies

• Business knowledge
• Business Writing Skills
• Marketing Strategy
• Creative and Innovative Thinking
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Efficiency Improvement
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Quality Orientation
• Reporting
• Research
• Written Communication

Compliance Competency

• GOC- Sensitive - the unlawful disclosure of which may be harmful to the security or national interest of the Republic or could prejudice the Republic in its international relations;(b) commercial information, the disclosure of which may cause financial loss to an entity or may prejudice an entity in its relations with its clients, competitors, contractors and suppliers. E.g. Taxpayer information

Employment Equity

The Employment Equity policy of SARS will be considered as part of the recruitment and selection process and Persons with Disabilities are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates will be required to undertake an oath of secrecy, pre-employment screening, case study, pre-assessment, psychometric assessment and or vetting, and a declaration of private interest. The appointment is also subject to appropriate reference(s) and security clearance where applicable.