Retail Lubricant Category Manager

Job Purpose:

• Drive the implementation and execution of Retail Lubricants Marketing initiatives on the forecourt and lead the delivery of the lubricants category plans.
• Address daily challenges related to Retail Lubricants and work towards enhancing profitability for both VEB and the Retailers.
• Responsible for operational excellence in execution of sales and marketing of lubes on the forecourt
• Works in collaboration with other internal stakeholders to ensure that the brand remains relevant to consumers and that all initiatives support the brand promise.

Principal Accountabilities:

Marketing Plan

• Execute the brand strategies and marketing plans for the brands, including managing both the existing product portfolio and new product launches
• Manages the day-to-day activities associated to all marketing efforts, including, project management, creative development, cross-functional implementation, campaign tracking and reporting as necessary.
• Leverage knowledge of business, category and brand marketing strategy into actionable marketing strategies and plans to deliver against the company’s business objectives.
• Collaborates with a wide variety of functional areas such as sales, editorial, marketing, design, and operations to develop, coordinate and execute specific marketing plans for each assigned title.
• Involvement in the development of the company’s long-term planning that identifies new business opportunities, markets and partners.
• Implementing the marketing plans by working with internal and external suppliers to deliver in a timely manner and on budget.
• Participate in key sales and marketing presentations as necessary.

Brand

• Maintains brand integrity across product lines, advertising, and all other internal and external communication as it pertains to assigned brand.
• Develops and manages the Brand platform to include a definition of the brand vision, promise and value proposition as well as positioning, personality, voice, tone and manner, behaviors.
• Be the most knowledgeable resource in the company as it relates to the brands and champion the brand throughout the organization, with partners and external agencies.
• Manage brand guidelines to ensure all vendors and internal audiences follow them and update them as necessary.
• Assist in monitoring brand health metrics and support the development of new brand tracking across businesses.

PLM

• Leads the Marketing lifecycle process for designated brand(s).
• Prepares marketing objectives and schedules for all phases of product solicitation and introduction to market including but not limited to sales materials and retail presentations.

Communication

• Works closely with all relevant Media departments to integrate media mix plans.
• Develop and execute national advertising and promotional activities to effectively communicate the strategic positioning and lifecycle development of products to customers.
• Assist with management of third-party agencies.

Research

• Lead insight gathering research into consumers and competitive category to secure knowledge that can be utilized to enhance and evolve the brand. Leverage consumer insights to develop brand and product positioning.
• Produces competitive analysis materials comparing product with its key competitors.
• Working closely with distribution partners and Marketing Research companies to obtain relevant information, including the development and implementation of brand audit studies and focus groups.

Financials

• Develops monthly and quarterly reports for management.
• Monitoring and analysing business performance vis-à-vis business goals (awareness, share, consumer diagnostics, profitability, etc.) and the competition.
• Assist with financial projections and budgeting process.
• Be the owner of pricing in the relevant brands

Key Challenges:

• The incumbent will be responsible for driving forward the business in the OU Structure and will need to work very closely with other sales, technical, operation and marketing colleagues.
• New Business Opportunities, both in sectors and geographies
• Highly mobile role will need to spend significant time traveling in the Country.
• Will need to work effectively with Local staff and with Pan African Marketing, Technical and other functions
• Manage the diversity of indirect channels and implement Marketing programs in order to improve the profitability of the business
• Optimal integration of Global/Local OEMs Partnerships outcomes

Requirements

Job Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Possess a BAC+5 qualification
• Educational background: Business schools, Engineering schools, MBA, etc.
• Preferably having experience in sales within a retailing business (+/- 2 years) in which he/she had manage retailers to achieve volume and financial targets.
• Experience in team management and coaching with a special Achievement” profile
• Driving license
• Be immediately available or at short notice

Competence

• Generating Insights: Skill
• Strategic Marketing & Planning: Mastery
• CVP Development – Brand: Knowledge
• CVP Development – Product/Service: Portfolio Knowledge
• CVP Development – Pricing: Knowledge
• CVP Development – Promotions: Knowledge
• CVP Development – Channel/Sector Management: Knowledge
• Effective Messaging: Knowledge
• Delivering Excellence in the Market: Mastery

NB: Interested Applicants should apply no later than 15th July 2025. Only candidates who are selected will be contacted.