A fast-growing FMCG business is building a multi-brand portfolio across vaping, vehicle air care and other categories. The Brand & Trade Marketing Manager will lead how the brands are positioned and presented to customers, and will plan and deliver trade marketing activity that supports sales and moves products off the shelf. The role includes preparing the South African retail launch of a new vehicle air fragrance brand, planned for Q1 2027, and supporting its planned United States launch thereafter. This is a hands-on, office-based position in Port Elizabeth, with regular store visits and national travel to retailer head offices, distributors and launch activations. The successful candidate will report to the Commercial Operations Manager and work closely with the sales, social media, design and e-commerce teams. The package includes a company laptop and smartphone, with business travel and store-visit costs covered under the company travel policy.
Minimum Requirements:
Degree or diploma in marketing, business or commerce, or equivalent proven experience.
At least five years' FMCG marketing experience, including a minimum of three years personally managing trade marketing or brands in South African retail.
Demonstrated experience personally planning, running and evaluating retail promotions, with the ability to explain the costs and sell-out results.
Experience delivering point-of-sale (POS) materials, planograms and in-store activations through agencies, suppliers or merchandising teams.
Ability to read retailer sell-out data and prepare promotion evaluations and monthly reports using Excel or Google Sheets.
Experience developing or applying brand guidelines and briefing designers or agencies on packaging, POS or campaign artwork.
Experience managing a marketing budget, including purchase orders, supplier quotes and spend-versus-budget reporting.
Clear written English and confidence presenting to retail buyers and senior managers.
Willingness to apply age-restriction, legal and retailer advertising rules to vaping materials, including when this limits marketing activity.
Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel nationally for retailer meetings, store visits and launches.
Based in Port Elizabeth and able to work office-based.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Own brand positioning, target consumer, brand architecture and tone of voice for each brand, and maintain brand guidelines.
Develop annual brand and trade marketing plans and 12-month campaign calendars for approval.
Prepare quarterly brand and trade campaign budget proposals for approval by the Finance Manager, then monitor spend against the approved budget.
Review and approve artwork, packaging updates, POS and campaign creative for brand fit before release; brief the Designer in writing with specifications, deadlines and feedback.
Build trade marketing plans for each channel and key customer, aligned with customer plans prepared by the Business Development Manager.
Plan the promotions calendar, including promotion mechanics, timing and in-store support. Promotional prices must use the approved price list.
Set planogram, shelf, POS and price-display standards, and oversee their application in stores.
Plan and coordinate in-store activations, sampling and promoter campaigns, including briefs, staffing, stock and reporting.
Manage merchandising and promoter agencies, including briefs, store-audit call cycles, dated store photos and performance reviews.
Set a baseline for each promotion and complete a post-promotion evaluation within 20 business days, covering sell-out uplift, incremental units, gross profit, total cost and return on investment.
Report on sell-out, rate of sale and distribution by brand, channel and key customer using retailer sell-out data, depletion data and Sage sales.
Recommend which promotions to repeat, change or stop, based on their results.
Prepare a monthly brand and trade report covering sell-out, promotion results, in-store compliance, launch progress and spend against budget.
Lead the brand and trade launch plan for the vehicle air fragrance brand and future brands, including launch calendars, sell-in materials, POS, listing support, activations and launch tracking.
Prepare sell-in kits for the Business Development Manager, including customer presentations, product and listing sheets, approved pricing and promotion summaries, and planogram proposals.
Review launch performance at 30, 60 and 90 days and recommend corrective action.
Manage brand and trade marketing spend in line with the Finance Manager's approved quarterly budget. Ensure spend has an approved purchase order and invoices are matched to delivery or proof of execution.
Obtain comparative supplier quotes where required and maintain supplier records, including specifications, prices and performance.
Apply age-restriction and advertising rules to vaping materials and keep approval records for each item released.
Check prices and promotions shown on POS, sell-in materials and retailer communications against the approved price list before release.
Hold monthly trade-planning meetings with the Business Development Manager and Commercial Operations Manager, and confirm stock cover with Operations before promotions or launches are committed.
Share confirmed promotions and launch dates with the Social Media & Content Manager and e-commerce assistant so customer-facing activity is aligned with in-store plans.
Provide weekly updates on live, upcoming and at-risk promotions, and present the monthly KPI report to the Founder.