Head of Marketing Job Nairobi- Showmax

Job Description

About Showmax

Showmax is an internet TV service. What sets Showmax apart is a unique combination of hit African content, first and exclusive international series, the best kids’ shows, and live sport. For a single monthly fee, get unlimited access. Start and stop when you want. No ads. Cancel anytime – there’s no contract. Stream Showmax using apps for smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, computers, media players and gaming consoles. Manage data consumption using the bandwidth capping feature. No internet? No problem – download shows to smartphones and tablets to watch later offline. Showmax was born in 2015. The service is available throughout sub-Saharan Africa and to selected diaspora markets worldwide. For a free trial, visit www.showmax.com.

Purpose of the role:

• To develop the Marketing and PR Strategy in the East Africa Region (within the broader corporate strategy) and implement the business plans, achieve operational targets, and ensure that processes and systems are robust enough for Showmax to achieve its growth targets.
• To establish and grow a healthy brand position within the market, and drive all Sales, Marketing and CVM channels to grow market share
• Oversee marketing and PR activity planning, operational forecasting, partner management and trade marketing.

Key Accountabilities:

Strategy

• Develop (with Showmax corporate) and implement the regional marketing, PR and branding strategy (both short term and long term)
• Formulate, develop and implement creative, advertising, media and promotional campaigns for channels
• Launch Viable projects in support of business objectives
• Work closely with Regional and in-country teams to leverage synergies in Sales and Marketing where possible

Marketing Budget Management

• Manage annual budget and forecast exercises
• Rigorously monitor Marketing performance against approved budgets and put measures in place to address variances; Continuously identify areas for improved efficiency

Sales Operational Support

• Analyze the needs of sales channels and provide appropriate support via branding and marketing collateral and ensure it is updated frequently

Marketing Operational Delivery

• Execute on the newly developed Brand Strategy and set up metrics to measure success of rollout
• Develop and manage creative marketing initiatives in support of organization’s range of activities, across traditional channels and digital channels including PR, Social (organic) and ideally performance marketing
• Introduce key marketing policies and processes in order to optimise Subscribers’ engagement
• Align the organization internally around marketing, brand, and customer objectives
• Guide and direct the development and execution of through-the-line marketing communications across all touchpoints
• Manage advertising agency, PR agency and marketing consultants
• Guide and direct the design, development, and deployment of campaigns to specific markets; Provide weekly, monthly and quarterly report on the performance of campaigns in across the region
• Ensure consistent brand messaging across the organization to optimize ROI and brand health
• Drive customized marketing based on knowledge gathered and assist sales in driving customized sales drives in those territories

Stakeholder relations (Local Board members/Shareholders/in-country teams)

• Ensure strong relationships with local teams, Corporate Showmax teams and Corporate Multichoice Teams (MAH, CII, anti-piracy, etc.) leveraging synergies between the two companies where possible to drive cost and revenue efficiencies
• Ensure strong relationships with external marketing and PR agencies, as well as partners that benefit downstream from sales (such as payment agencies, e.g. Safaricom, Vodacom, MTN, etc.)

PR Strategy Execution

• Ensure the reputation of the business is actively managed and promoted via all relevant channels
• Develop and maintain a strong pipeline of proactive stories in the form of press releases, bylines, blogs, social media posts,
• Identify thought leadership opportunities/campaigns for Showmax Leadership and deliver any associated external communications activities
• Measure the business impact of the region and identify and exploit impact of future messaging
• Oversee the execution of communications programs
• Proactive development of relationships with key journalists across a range of media in support of the promotion of Showmax’ corporate image and reputation
• Devise targeted media relations campaigns for high profile events and projects
• Manage stakeholders at key Showmax East Africa events
• Research, develop, write and/or edit communications materials for internal and external communications such as stakeholder reports, opinion pieces and editorials

People Management

• Build a high-performance team (including marketing and PR agency talent)
• Provide leadership in the aspect of Performance direction, goal clarification, communication, engagement, ethics, commitment and energy (Talent management, capacity, competence and skills development)
• Responsible for team strength and performance level (attraction, selection, retention and development of team)
• Ensure subordinate managers have clear, current and measurable goals; hold direct reports accountable for their own results and obstacles and deal with underperformance
• Ensure alignment with Team strength, performance and energy matches strategic requirements – under performers identified, improved or exited
• Encourage frequent knowledge sharing between team members
• Interview and recruit new members of the team, including determining appropriate compensation levels with input from Human Capital
• Approve leave requests for team members and create a leave plan to ensure adequate coverage
• When required, initiate disciplinary processes for team members calling on support from Human Capital when required
• Resolve grievances raised by team members and escalate only if required
• Motivate team members and ensure that their efforts are recognized

Qualifications:

• MBA or equivalent qualification

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years relevant working experience
• At least 7 years of marketing leadership experience, with a history of launching new brands
• Detailed commercial and financial acumen, balanced with creative flair
• Ideally experience in the Pay TV or OTT industry (or experience in selling and marketing digital B2C services)