Marketing Manager: SME & Education
iStore · Johannesburg, Gauteng
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- We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Marketing Manager: SME & Education to lead the integrated marketing strategy and execution for two key business channels within a leading technology and retail environment.
- This role is responsible for developing and delivering campaigns that drive brand awareness, customer engagement, lead generation and sales pipeline growth across the SME and Education markets.
- The successful candidate will manage campaigns across digital and traditional channels, oversee agency and creative partners, manage marketing budgets and funding requirements, and lead events and partner activations. This is a hands-on role that combines strategic marketing, campaign execution, digital performance, content, events and people leadership .
Key Responsibilities
Integrated Marketing Strategy & Campaign Management
- Develop and execute integrated marketing plans for the SME and Education channels, aligned to commercial objectives.
- Plan and manage end-to-end campaigns across digital, traditional, retail and experiential channels.
- Develop clear creative briefs and manage the creative development, review and approval process.
- Collaborate with internal marketing teams to coordinate media campaigns and ensure activity launches on time.
- Ensure campaign landing pages, content and supporting assets are ready and accurately implemented ahead of launch.
Digital Marketing & Performance
- Brief and manage digital marketing agencies across paid search, social media, display, video and retail media.
- Develop media schedules covering target audiences, regions, budgets, flighting and required assets.
- Monitor campaign performance and use data and insights to optimise campaigns throughout their lifecycle.
- Ensure campaigns are correctly tracked through UTM structures, GA4 and relevant tracking technologies .
- Analyse campaign results and translate performance data into actionable recommendations and future testing opportunities.
- Develop and manage the newsletter and customer communication calendar across both business units.
- Plan and oversee organic social media content and ensure consistent communication across channels.
- Work with internal content teams and creative partners to develop relevant, engaging marketing assets.
- Collaborate with customer value and CRM teams on targeted lifecycle and customer engagement campaigns.
- Partner with Trade Marketing teams to support in-store, mall and retail marketing initiatives.
Events & Partner Engagement
- Develop event strategies, briefs, objectives and budgets for SME and Education initiatives.
- Manage agencies, suppliers and external partners to ensure events are delivered on time, within scope and budget.
- Develop event toolkits and ensure sales and internal stakeholders are fully briefed.
- Identify opportunities to use events and activations to generate leads, strengthen relationships and support commercial objectives.
- Lead, coach and develop the Events & Marketing Administrator, providing clear objectives and regular performance feedback.
- Own marketing budget tracking and monthly reconciliation across the SME and Education channels.
- Ensure marketing spend is accurately allocated and aligned with approved budgets and funding requirements.
- Manage co-funded/vendor marketing investment and maintain accurate supporting documentation.
- Ensure marketing activities comply with relevant brand, regulatory and legal requirements, including POPIA and advertising standards .
Website & Owned Channels
- Work closely with digital and e-commerce teams to ensure website content remains current and relevant.
- Brief and coordinate website design, content and copy updates.
- Ensure campaign landing pages are delivered accurately and on schedule.
- Identify opportunities to improve owned digital channels and customer journeys.
What We're Looking For
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Communications or a related field .
- 3–5 years' experience in marketing management or a senior marketing coordination role.
- Experience within retail, technology, FMCG or a similar fast-paced consumer environment would be advantageous.
- Proven experience managing integrated marketing campaigns across multiple channels.
- Strong experience managing paid and organic digital campaigns through agencies .
- Working knowledge of GA4, UTM tracking, campaign analytics and performance reporting .
- Experience managing marketing budgets and measuring campaign ROI.
- Experience within the SME, B2B or Education sectors would be advantageous.
- Experience with vendor-funded or co-funded marketing programmes would be beneficial.
- Previous experience managing, mentoring or developing team members is advantageous.
Key Skills & Competencies
- Strong strategic and commercial marketing mindset.
- Excellent campaign and project management skills.
- Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building abilities.
- Confident managing agencies, suppliers and creative partners.
- Strong creative judgement and ability to translate commercial objectives into compelling marketing campaigns.
- Highly analytical and comfortable using data to make marketing decisions.
- Strong budget management and financial discipline.
- Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Strong communication, presentation and influencing skills.
- Ability to work under pressure and deliver against tight deadlines.
- Proactive, innovative and solutions-focused.
- Strong people leadership and coaching capability.
- Customer-focused, collaborative and committed to delivering results.