Marketing & Communications Manager, South Africa

Job Title                                      Marketing & Communication Manager, South Africa

Designation                               Manager

Reporting To                              Sub-Regional Marketing and Business development Head – Southern Africa

Function                                     Marketing

GJL                                               4

Location                                     UPL Office in La Lucia (Kwazulu-Natal) or

                                                     UPL Clayville offices (Gauteng)

ABOUT UPL:

UPL is focused on emerging as a premier global provider of total crop solutions designed to secure the world’s long-term food supply. Winning farmer's hearts across the globe, while leading the way with innovative products and services that make agriculture sustainable, UPL is the fastest-growing company in the industry. Our successes in the field add up to powerful financials. UPL delivers results from protecting crops that translate into attractive investor value. Based on the recognition that humankind is one community, UPL’s overarching commitment is to improve areas of its presence, workplace, and customer engagement.

Our purpose is ‘OpenAg’. An agriculture network that feeds sustainable growth for all. No limits, no borders.

We are one team, for maximum impact. One team with shared goals. We have a laser-like focus on what our customers need and want, on anticipating their future needs, and on how we can create innovative solutions and experiences for them. We think outside the box and go beyond our comfort zone. We believe in agility, we mix the power of speed, with structure from process. And wherever we can, we always believe in having fun

Role Summary

UPL South Africa, a prominent organisation in the agricultural inputs industry, is offering an exciting role for a Marketing & Communication Manager across South Africa.

The focus of this role will be to drive and execute:

• Build a strong UPL image through proactive content management and structured branding processes.


• Managing all internal and external communications and communication channels (including social media) for UPL in Southern Africa, ensuring its messages and branding are consistent with Regional and Corporate guidelines


• This position will be responsible for the planning and implementation of communication strategies at Sub-Regional and country level.


• Work closely with all UPL Southern Africa departments and business units to ensure that collateral and other communications accurately represent UPL and will require managing a number of external agencies and contractors ensuring that project timelines and budgets are managed.

Role Responsibility

Promotion & Branding: - 60% of time allocation

• Draft an annual marketing promotion plan in conjunction with head of department after inputs form relevant team members in portfolio management and regional marketing officers.


• Keep good record of approved annual marketing expense budget and report status monthly to the head of department.


• Execute product and services communication (launches, campaigns, etc.)


• Plan and implement advertising in Agricultural publications, press releases, adverts, web placements, social media channels like for example Face Book, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram and others.


• Build strong relationships with Marketing Managers & Commercial managers in the regions


• Offer support to business, marketing managers, stewardship programmes and agents with their promotion requirements, for example sponsorships and Farmers’ Days clothing, handouts, banners, gifts etcetera by sourcing, required quotes, clarify with requesting party, get approval, receive order and process payments.


• Manage UPL Southern Africa Web communication, Websites, UPL/ZA and digital platform sites for the company and its relevant affiliates like for example Crop vision website, NPP, UPL Smart App and the like (by updating and uploading relevant contents and needs)


• Identify and discuss relevance of all events that can serve as promotional platforms.


• Manage, organize and attend all events including Farmers Days, annual Agents’ Conference, Expos and Trade Shows. Creating ideas and arrange the necessary promotional display units and materials. Request quotes from suppliers, get approval from management for procurement, receive orders distribute and process invoices and payments.


• Manage hospitality events as a customer service & promotion tool.


• Manage and create company newsletters as per requirement by the department.


• Be part of planning and providing creative ideas and campaigns.

Administration - 30% of time allocation

• Keep all marketing related administration up to date and in good record (purchase orders, invoices etc.)


• Make out purchase orders and submit to accounts.


• Ensure payments are processed.


• Compile and keep marketing budget up to date.


• Order all company business cards (now includes other UPL BU’s)


• Source suppliers and printers for all promotional items


• Maintain data libraries of all electronic collateral & content such as open designs files, stock image library and rendered files (print and multi-media)


• Ensure all contractual obligations are met in terms of hospitality, trade show agreements and other, in line with UPL’s legal requirements.


• Joining monthly marcom calls and giving feedback on the region

Branding (5%)

• Manage Trade name data base in coordination with global legal & registration department


• Ensure new product names are registered as per portfolio manager requests.


• Maintain Trade name summary


• Maintain alignment with AME Branding policy for all marketing as per global guidelines


• Stewardship Programmes (5%)


• Project Management – launch and ongoing operational requirements (promo items, branding etc.)


• Monitor Vehicle Tracker, Logbook, diesel/fuel and petty cash recons.

Internal Stakeholders

All UPL Southern Africa departments and business units to ensure that collateral and other communications accurately represent UPL and will require

External Stakeholders

Managing a number of external agencies and contractors ensuring that project timelines and budgets are managed.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required

• 3 years’ experience in running proactive media relations and social media and experience in running cross countries and cross-cultural projects


• Knowledge of media relations and Media


• Strong verbal and written skills


• High level capabilities in coordinating and planning


• Ability to recognize local needs and cultural differences


• Ability to motivate a team and run regional projects without direct reporting lines with team members


• Fluent in English & Afrikaans

Behavioural Skills Requirement

• Change management.


• Communication.


• Creativity.


• Customer focus.


• Individual development.


• People Leadership.


• Result orientation.


• Strategic thinking and forward planning


• Attention to detail.


• Motivated and driven.


• Collaborates effectively within a team while also working independently with strong self-discipline.


• High proficiency in administration and computer programmes.


• Bilingual – Fluent in English and Afrikaans.

UPL Competencies

Adaptability & Resilience

Recognizes and is open to changing circumstances and alters behavior and scales up as necessary; increases personal awareness and appreciation of individual and cultural differences to create an open, inclusive, and accepting workplace

Entrepreneurial Mindset 

Brings a creative and holistic approach to problem-solving, taking calculated risks to maximise opportunities

Results Orientations

Takes action, pursues goals with persistence and achieves results; communicates goals and vision to the team to drive enthusiasm and ambition

Execution Excellence

Enhances the speed of execution and builds efficiency in processes, systems, and people; has sharp focus on quality-orientation

Strategic Orientation

Demonstrates knowledge of the social, economic, and environmental factors and how they impact the business. Identifies key issues that could impact the business and develop strategy through an analytical lens / design thinking

Building Teams and Talent

Empowers colleagues through knowledge sharing and delegation, quickly establishing rapport; provides recognition for achievements and accomplishments

Customer Centricity

Understanding the customer’s needs and pain points, fulfills the needs and expectations by focusing on creating value for customers