Brand Manager

About the Opportunity

Ernie Els Wines is seeking a commercially aware and creatively driven Brand Manager to protect, develop and strengthen the brand across consumer, trade, digital and estate touchpoints. With a strong focus on direct-to-consumer growth, the role translates approved brand strategy into integrated campaigns and experiences that build brand equity, attract qualified consumers, increase conversion and encourage long-term loyalty.

Key Responsibilities

• Brand custodianship: Protect and consistently apply the approved brand identity, positioning, tone of voice and visual standards.
• Brand plan execution: Implement annual brand plans, campaign calendars, vintage releases and launch activity.
• Content and digital marketing: Plan and coordinate social media, website, email and digital content calendars.
• Packaging and collateral: Coordinate labels, artwork, point-of-sale material and promotional collateral with internal and external partners.
• Campaigns, PR and events: Deliver media activity, influencer initiatives, tastings, competitions, events and consumer experiences.
• Trade and hospitality support: Equip sales, tasting room, restaurant, wine club and trade teams with appropriate brand material and activation support.
• Direct-to-consumer growth: Develop and coordinate integrated D2C initiatives across the tasting room, wine club, e-commerce, CRM and estate experiences to grow the customer database, increase conversion, encourage repeat purchases and strengthen customer lifetime value.
• Agency and supplier coordination: Prepare clear creative briefs and manage designers, photographers, content creators, agencies and event suppliers.
• Research and insights: Monitor consumer, competitor and channel information and use insights to improve implementation.
• Budget and performance tracking: Track campaign expenditure, assist with invoice reconciliation and monitor results against approved objectives.
• Brand asset management: Maintain current templates, image libraries, artwork and approved marketing material.

Candidate Profile

• Relevant diploma or degree in Marketing, Brand Management, Communications, Business, Design, Wine Business or a related field.
• Typically three to five years’ relevant experience in brand management, marketing, digital marketing, communications or wine and hospitality marketing.
• Practical experience in campaign delivery, social media, content planning, packaging, point-of-sale material and agency or supplier coordination.
• Demonstrated exposure to direct-to-consumer marketing, e-commerce, CRM, wine club or loyalty programmes, customer journey development and consumer database growth.
• Experience in wine, hospitality, tourism, alcoholic beverages or a premium hospitality environment is preferred.
• WSET Level 2 is recommended; WSET Level 3 or equivalent wine education would be advantageous.
• Additional training in digital marketing, CRM, email marketing, content or project coordination would be beneficial.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong brand stewardship and an understanding of premium wine consumers and channels.
• Excellent copywriting, briefing, presentation and stakeholder-management skills.
• Sound working knowledge of digital marketing, social media, websites, CRM and email marketing.
• Ability to use consumer, sales and campaign data to improve targeting, conversion, retention and the overall D2C customer journey.
• Confident project coordination, budget tracking and campaign measurement capability.
• Creative judgement balanced with commercial awareness and attention to detail.
• Initiative, accountability, adaptability and the ability to manage competing deadlines.
• Ability to build productive relationships with internal teams, agencies, media, influencers and suppliers.

Education:

• Bachelors (Preferred)

Location:

• Stellenbosch, Western Cape 7600 (Preferred)

Work Location: In person