Marketing Manager (Ftc, Maternity Cover)

Overall Purpose of the Role

Plan and execute long term and fiscal year strategies and be responsible for the marketing management of a series of UK key accounts/retailers.

Using key trends and consumer insights, develop and drive succinct marketing strategies across key UK retail channels and accounts, whilst being agile to capitalise on the moment and support commercial team on white space opportunities and new accounts.

Responsible for driving marketing specific retail execution (in-store POS, windows, digital, Influencers, events, screenings, synergy opportunities) with key accounts, across all The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) franchises, on both cross-category and individual category initiatives (hardlines/softlines/FMCG), with a particular focus on Toy Specialists.

Relationships are key to the success of this role, both internally and externally. You will be required to actively manage and cultivate the engagement, partnership and joint business planning with each account, new and existing, to ultimately support the commercial team to drive and deliver strategic growth in licensing sales on behalf of the EMEA business.

This role is an FTC and will require you to be onsite 4 days a week.

Areas of Responsibility

• Implement the long term regional marketing strategy for the relevant category and accounts in conjunction with commercial, category and franchise marketing teams

• Manage day-to-day marketing relationship with key accounts and provide commercial teams with support as and when needed across other growth accounts and tactical new business opportunities

• Leverage macro and micro trends along with audience, category and retailer insights to shape more effective marketing campaigns for DCP, with an aim to achieve maximum ROI

• Ensure all marketing activity in-scope is strategically aligned with the regional franchise marketing campaigns and category, franchise and global strategies

• Support Senior Retail Sales Manager and commercial retail team to pitch and secure new retailers that enhance the channel growth in a substantial manner maximising the ‘white space’ opportunities

• Collaborate and develop strong relationships with regional DCP teams, providing local market information and regular updates to help inform regional campaigns and strategies

• Work appropriately with the other managers within the UK and regional teams to ensure points of differentiation for key accounts

• Help effectively control allocated marketing budget secured through AOP

• Work with the integrated TWDC marketing community, regional partnerships team, licensees and retailers to ensure marketing budget and licensee promotional commitment is invested in the most effective manner possible

• Share best practice and campaign analysis across regional, local and global teams

Training and Professional Development

• Operate with integrity, champion change and be a good ambassador for DCP and the wider Walt Disney Company

• Operate as part of an effective team, demonstrating an awareness of others, offering support, sharing knowledge and best practises and contributing to the overall achievement of departmental commitments

• Take ownership of your professional development through regular career conversations with your line manager and utilising available resources such as D Learn, instructor led courses and on the job learning

• Proactively suggest ways to improve departmental performance and processes

• Build links with other TWDC functions to develop broader knowledge of the business

• Manage the training and development of all direct reports ensuring commitments are set, regularly reviewed and feedback given using the D Achieve philosophy (if applicable)

• Contribute to maintaining and enhancing the standard of training and development being given and encouraging participation so that everyone has the tools and resources to do their role effectively and efficiently

Areas of Accountability

• Accountable to Senior Retail Sales Manager

• Accountable for delivering against annually agreed performance commitments

• Accountable for delivering marketing strategy and campaigns that help deliver our commercial targets and brand equity goals, within allocated budget

• Accountable for cultivating and maintaining productive relationships and collaborating across departments internally and externally

• Accountable for operating within legal parameters and undertaking necessary legal training as provided by the legal department

• Accountable for contributing to the success of the team

• Accountable for operating with an appropriate sense of urgency

• Accountable for the effective management of team (if applicable)

Experience and Professional Qualifications Required

• Degree level education in a related field or equivalent work experience with a background in grocery and retail marketing, essential. Experience working on toys marketing, beneficial

• A strong understanding of digital/social marketing and experience working with influencers

• Experience planning, executing and evaluating innovative marketing campaigns

• Experience within consumer products commercialisation and/or retail

• Proven experience of building effective relationships, leading and managing change and collaboration across departments to achieve financial targets and joint goals

Skills Required

• Ability to give both internal and agency creative teams clear direction and briefs, and manage feedback and approval process within relevant brand guidelines

• Ability to analyse data and consumer insights, construct practical conclusions and implement recommendations to achieve business targets

• Financial acumen – an ability to understand a P&L and quarterly forecasting process

• Ability to understand and work within the legal guidelines provided by the legal department

• An ability to be agile in order to capitalise on the moment and identify new opportunities and target partners

• Resilient and nimble in an ever changing landscape

• Computer literate including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Keynote

• Written and spoken English for business use, essential; professional proficiency in other European languages, beneficial

• A good eye for creative and digital, social and brick and mortar marketing

• Excellent strategic approach to problem solving and innovation

• Exceptional planning and organisation skills

• Strong influencing skills with the ability to achieve buy-in at all levels

• Strategic thinking with the ability to take industry trends and translate them into something that drives growth for TWDC

• Cultural sensitivity and an understanding of local markets across EMEA

Additional Information

• This role will require flexibility for UK travel

• To contribute to ad-hoc projects as the business requires

• Flexible hours may be required to meet business needs

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. We are committed to building a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.