This opportunity at FNB's Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) International division calls for a strategic and hands-on Marketing Manager based in Johannesburg. The core mission of this role is to propel RMB International's growth, client acquisition, brand strength, and commercial success across key international markets including the UK, USA, India, and China. You'll be instrumental in shaping RMB's image as a premier African Corporate and Investment Bank, attracting businesses keen on engaging with the African continent. This involves building significant awareness, consideration, and loyalty among a diverse audience of clients, investors, employees, and other crucial stakeholders.

Driving International Marketing Strategy

Your primary responsibility will be to translate RMB's overarching business objectives into actionable, integrated marketing and communications strategies. This entails developing and executing comprehensive marketing plans tailored for priority international regions, ensuring a unified RMB brand presence while respecting local market nuances, regulatory landscapes, and cultural contexts. You will be tasked with enhancing RMB's brand equity and visibility through distinctive and consistent positioning of its talent, capabilities, solutions, and thought leadership.

Collaboration is key. You will work closely with leadership teams in various countries, product and sector specialists, central Marketing and Communications centres of excellence, and external agencies. This partnership is essential for delivering a cohesive international marketing programme. Your role will involve orchestrating multiple initiatives across different markets and channels, maintaining a balanced portfolio that encompasses brand building, showcasing expertise, promoting solutions, engaging clients, and fostering employee marketing and corporate reputation.

Leveraging market intelligence, client insights, and competitor analysis will be crucial for informing strategic priorities, selecting appropriate channels, refining messaging, optimising campaigns, and making sound investment decisions. You will also be responsible for planning, managing, and reporting on marketing budgets, project timelines, performance outcomes, and progress against strategic goals, implementing corrective actions as needed. Adherence to RMB and FirstRand's brand, governance, risk, procurement, and marketing standards is expected in all activities. Furthermore, documenting and sharing key learnings from campaigns will contribute to continuous improvement and enhanced marketing effectiveness.

The Ideal Candidate Profile

FNB is seeking a dynamic marketing professional with a strong commercial acumen and a proactive, hands-on approach to support RMB’s international expansion. This role demands seamless collaboration across diverse geographies and time zones, engaging effectively with country teams, senior business leaders, specialised marketing functions, and external vendors.

The successful candidate will possess a blend of strategic foresight and disciplined execution, underpinned by sound commercial judgment. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential, particularly the ability to articulate complex propositions clearly and craft compelling narratives. A keen eye for detail, coupled with the capacity to understand intricate systems and identify operational efficiencies, will be highly valued.

Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, along with decisive decision-making skills, are required. The ideal candidate will be organised, resilient, and capable of maintaining composure under pressure, adept at managing competing priorities and stringent deadlines. Cultural awareness and the flexibility to adapt strategies for different international markets and stakeholder groups are paramount. Curiosity, a drive for innovation, and a commitment to achieving measurable business and brand impact are also key attributes.

Role Responsibilities

Key areas of responsibility include:

• **Strategy and Planning:** Translating the international business strategy into an integrated annual marketing and communications plan, including market plans, priorities, budgets, and delivery roadmaps. Collaborating with local teams to develop bespoke plans for priority markets, balancing global strategy with local business needs.
• **Brand and Positioning:** Building awareness and consideration for RMB as a leading African Corporate and Investment Bank, positioning it as the preferred partner for African business and investment. Employing a challenger-brand approach to stand out in competitive markets.
• **Campaigns and Content:** Leading the planning and execution of integrated marketing campaigns across digital, social media, PR, content marketing, direct marketing, advertising, and experiential channels.
• **Client Engagement:** Designing and implementing differentiated client engagement programmes, including managing RMB-owned events, industry sponsorships, and conference participation.

This role offers a significant opportunity to shape the international perception and impact of a leading financial institution. Marketing Manager roles within South African financial services, particularly those with an international scope, typically command competitive salaries, reflecting the strategic importance and complexity. Employers range from large established banks like FNB to specialised financial services firms and investment houses. Career progression often involves moving into more senior leadership roles within marketing or broader business management, potentially with expanded geographical responsibilities.

Qualifications and experience

·       Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Communications or a related field.

·       At least eight years of experience in marketing, advertising, communications, media or an integrated marketing role, ideally within financial or professional services.

·       Proven experience in developing and executing integrated marketing and communications initiatives.

·       Experience managing brands, campaigns or stakeholder programmes across multiple geographies or culturally diverse markets.

·       Experience working with advertising, media, digital, PR, content, events and other specialist agencies.

·       Working knowledge of brand management, business communications, public relations, digital marketing, client engagement, sponsorship and events.

·       Demonstrated ability to manage complex cross-functional projects, budgets, timelines, governance and multiple stakeholders.

·       Strong analytical and strategic-thinking capability, supported by excellent written, verbal and presentation skills.

·       Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-performing and team-oriented environment.

Key competencies

·       Strategic and commercial orientation

·       Integrated marketing planning and execution

·       Brand and reputation management

·       Client-centricity and market insight

·       Stakeholder influencing and collaboration

·       Project, budget and agency management

·       Creativity, storytelling and communication

·       Analytical thinking and marketing effectiveness

·       Adaptability, resilience and delivery discipline

·       Cross-cultural awareness and sound judgement

We are looking for a proactive marketer who can embrace complexity, convert strategy into action and make a meaningful contribution to RMB’s international growth agenda.

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Important Closing Date Note

Take note that applications will not be accepted on the below date and onwards, kindly submit applications ahead of the closing date indicated below.