Brand Manager: Brand & Innovation

At KFC, we pride ourselves on being original. We even named our recipe after it. But for us, the answer to the question is simple. Be You. Everyone at KFC is different. Unique. It’s what makes us special - Our people, The Originals. And we welcome you to join us. Bring your individuality to the table. Bring your grit and energy. Bring your spirit. Your story. Your drive and your passion. Bring it. Every piece of you. Even the parts you don’t like. Because we value our people no matter what. We’ll feed your potential and we’ll support you; to be your best self, to make a difference, and have fun. Together, we can be part of something truly extraordinary. All you have to do, is Bring it.
This role requires you to manage the delivery of the brand and product innovation strategy, by translating the strategy together with consumer, cultural, digital and commercial insights into distinctive strategies, connected customer journeys and plans that grow brand equity, relevance and sales. The role manages the delivery of the brand and innovation agenda across all physical and digital touchpoints, from proposition development through to campaign delivery and marketplace execution, partnering cross-functionally with key internal and external stakeholders to deliver high-quality campaigns and activities to meet agreed brand, innovation and commercial targets. Through data-led decision-making and strong execution, the role balances long-term brand building with short-term commercial delivery to achieve measurable outcomes.

Education:
Bachelors Degree in in Marketing, Business Management or related fields
Post Graduate Qualification or MBA Preferred

Experience:
•Approximately 4 to 6 years of progressive marketing or brand management experience, preferably within FMCG, QSR, retail or another fast-paced consumer environment.
•Experience independently leading significant brand, innovation and product initiatives or campaigns from brief through to execution and performance review.
•Experience translating consumer insight and commercial performance into clear marketing recommendations.
•Experience translating brand strategy, positioning and stewardship across campaigns, customer propositions and physical and digital touchpoints.
•Experience identifying, evaluating and activating sponsorships, strategic partnerships and brand or product collaborations that delivered measurable brand and commercial value.
•Experience supporting or leading brand, product innovation, promotional activity or customer proposition development.
•Strong commercial understanding, including experience managing marketing budgets and interpreting sales, transaction, mix, margin and brand performance.
•Experience managing creative and other agency partners.
•Experience leading cross-functional projects involving multiple stakeholders and dependencies.
•Good understanding of digital, social, media and CRM and how these disciplines contribute to integrated marketing.
•Experience within a franchise or operationally complex consumer business advantageous.

Capabilities:
•Brand management: Ability to translate portfolio strategy into compelling propositions, campaigns and growth plans.
•Brand strategy and stewardship: Able to shape and protect brand positioning, portfolio architecture, corporate identity and distinctive brand assets, and translate them into compelling brand campaigns and activities across physical and digital touchpoints.
•Customer understanding: Strong ability to use consumer insight and customer behaviour to inform decisions.
•Commercial acumen: Understands the relationship between marketing choices, pricing, product mix, sales, transactions, ticket and margin.
•Creative judgement: Able to write strong briefs, evaluate creative work and guide agencies toward distinctive, effective solutions.
•Innovation: Able to identify opportunities and lead approved propositions through development, testing and launch.
•Analytical thinking: Able to diagnose performance, distinguish symptoms from underlying issues and recommend practical actions.
•Integrated marketing: Strong understanding of how brand, media, digital, CRM, social, restaurant and delivery touchpoints work together.
•Agency leadership: Able to provide clear direction, challenge constructively and hold partners accountable.
•Cross-functional influence: Able to align and mobilise stakeholders without relying on formal authority.
•Project leadership: Strong ability to manage complexity, dependencies, timelines and multiple workstreams.
•Cultural intelligence: Strong understanding of South African customers, culture, food and emerging trends.
•Digital, data & AI fluency: Comfortable using modern marketing tools and partnering effectively with specialist teams.
•Learning agility & ownership: Curious, accountable and comfortable operating at pace while knowing when to make a decision and when to escalate.