Product Specialist

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in marketing management, Communications or any related field.
• With solid experience in marketing, brand or product management, category management, and customer marketing from the food, consumer goods, retail, or advertising industry an advantage
• Customer-focused with a strong understanding of market trends and consumer behavior
• Willing to report at (Areas of Assignment)
• Amenable to do field work

Job Overview:

The Product Specialist will participate in the formulation, execution, and monitoring of the marketing plan for the brand and/or area with the end view of realizing short- and medium-term optimum business growth.

The post will also assist in the overall management of the product, advertising, promotions, and selling, and general administration of the product.

Principal purpose(s) of the position:

Responsible for the total analysis, planning, recommendation, execution and evaluation of marketing plan for the brand with the end view of realizing short- and medium-term optimum business growth. This spans the product, advertising, promotions and selling and general administration of the brand.

Primary duties and responsibilities:

Policy Formulation

1. Participates in the formulation of the annual marketing plan for the brand/product(s)

entrusted to her

Planning

1. Assists on the planning and monitoring of sales, budgets, and profitability in relation to

agreed targets of brand assigned. Helps monitor market trends, consumer habits and

participates in the analysis and formulation of appropriate action as they relate to the

brand/products assigned.

Main Executive Tasks

1. Assists in initiating innovative programs to ensure continuous brand equity building of the brands assigned

2. Assists in initiating new and creative ways of enhancing existing products and improving plans involving development of new products

3. Assists in the coordination with supply chain departments (Manufacturing, Sales, Purchasing, Dispatch) to ensure achievement of targets; agreement of trade schemes/promos and pricing/merchandising matters

4. Assists in the generation of new concepts for the development of new products, packaging design; coordinates closely with R&D and Production to ensure effective and quality implementation of developed plans

5. Assists in the coordination with external contacts (Ad/Research/Promo agencies, packaging/POP materials suppliers) for development/execution of new and creative advertising/packaging activities/campaigns

6. Initiates planning and ensures smooth execution of specific plans such as below the line activations and in-store promotions, and prepares post event reports

7. Assists in the smooth execution of sales, advertising, media and promotions plans

8. Monitors key brand measures like sales, exchange, GP regularly and assists in the planning and recommendation of appropriate action plan.

9. Monitors and ensures expenses of assigned brands are within approved budget.

10. Gathers and analyzes constantly all relevant market data and obtains additional data when necessary

11. Conducts regular checks and accomplishes reports accordingly

12. Prepares regular reports and submits to line manager based on agreed deadlines (such as but not limited to: Mancom report, project list report, brand performance, budget appropriation & updates, management review).

13. Performs other tasks and duties that may be assigned from time to time upon proper orientation and/or training