Head of Brand & Communications

Core Competencies

The competencies below require the incumbent to be at an expert proficiency level providing leadership in the field within the organization and the broader industry

Technical

• Brand management: The ability to use marketing techniques to increase the perceived value of the organization over time and build customer loyalty through positive brand awareness
• Media and public relations: the ability to understand the role public and media relations play in managing communication and brand reputation across audiences 
• Effective business communication: the ability to communicate information and ideas in a clear and concise manner appropriate for the audience to explain, persuade, convince, and influence others to achieve desired outcomes
• Excellent presentation development and presentation skills: the ability to communicate and deliver information in a clear, concise, and comprehensive manner to others, using appropriate props and tools
• Strategic planning and reporting: knowledge and understanding of the process and thinking required to formulate objectives and priorities and implement plans consistent with the long-term interests of the organization. Includes the ability to identify and capitalise on opportunities and manage risks
• Campaign management: Plan, track, create, distribute, and analyse results of communication, branding, or advertising campaigns
• Project management: Ability to drive timeous delivery, within budget and with required quality standards
• High involvement facilitation: the ability to facilitate a session by dealing with ambiguity. The ability to elicit specific behaviour, change and influence attitudes, viewpoints, and values by adapting style. Encourages debate and differences in opinion, integrates thoughts, objectives, and problems
• Filtering core issues and patterns: The ability to identify patterns and concepts from complex information or situations resulting in more successful and impactful ideas
• Stakeholder management: the co-ordination of relationships with and between key stakeholders during the design, management, and implementation of business change
• Managerial budgeting: the ability to plan and manage income and expenditure

Behavioural

• Leadership: Ability to lead people, take control, provide direction and co-ordinate people and resources
• Relationship management: ability to build and cultivate relationships with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders
• Strong problem-solving skills: strong organizational skills, attention to detail, the ability to balance the big picture with detailed steps to reach the end goal and the ability to balance multiple projects under tight deadlines 
• Providing insights regarding aspects that can impact the organization. Making clear the implications of internal and external factors and how they impact the competitive positioning of the organisation
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously
• Embracing change: ability to be adaptable, flexible, agile mindset, optimistic approach; committed to overcoming challenges; comfortable with change and ambiguity
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and achievement-oriented environment, Managing towards outcomes and ambitious goals 
• Professional growth: desire to grow professionally, develop expertise and seek out new opportunities to learn, learn quickly and take initiative
• Upholding standards: ensuring that within the organization high quality products and services are provided and that trust is created and maintained. This refers to honouring commitments, integrity and demonstrating discreet behaviour

Tools and Software

• Fluency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, Power, Point, Power Business intelligence, Microsoft Team (for team collaboration), Visio (Process mapping tool), Projects (project management tool) and other basic Web browsers and searches
• Fluency in Brand and Communication management, market monitoring analytics and solutions that will support business processes and analytical capabilities e.g. media monitoring
• Fluency in data analytics and applicable tools

Experience & Qualifications

• Honours degree relevant to Marketing or Communication
• Public relations qualification advantageous
• 10-15 years’ experience in a senior brand marketing or corporate communication role
• An understanding of financial services 
• A proven ability and track record of managing brands and brand reputation
• A proven track record in managing and implementing both internal and external communications initiatives and plans