Senior Manager: Marketing & Brand & Public Relations (P6) (University Relations Division: Marketing & Brand )
Position Summary
Introduction
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is a vibrant and cosmopolitan institution, guided by its bold UJ Strategy 2035, which emphasises Societal Impact and Sustainability, Global Footprint and Partnerships, and Technology for the Future. Committed to transformative change, UJ’s mission is “To transform and serve humanity through innovation and the collective and collaborative pursuit of knowledge.” The University is guided by the vision of building “An international university of choice, anchored in Africa and the global south, dynamically shaping a sustainable future".
Job description
“Please note that the University is obligated, in terms of recent amendments to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 2021 (Act 13 of 2021), to assess all prospective employees (including applicants) against the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO). The outcome of such an assessment may have an impact upon possible employment with the University.
Job Description:
The University Relations Division plays a vital strategic and operational role in shaping the public perception, reputation, and stakeholder engagement of the university. This division functions as the central hub for all institutional communications, external engagement, brand positioning, and public interface, ensuring the university maintains a consistent, compelling, and credible voice across all platforms.
Job Purpose:
This role is responsible for managing and enhancing the university’s reputation and brand visibility through strategic brand marketing, public relations and communication initiatives.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Brand & Marketing Leadership:
- Develop and manage the implementation of an integrated marketing brand strategy and public relations aligned with the university's overarching goals.
- Craft and disseminate key brand messages and positioning statements that reflect the university’s vision and values.
- Translate institutional goals into actionable marketing campaigns, ensuring that messaging reflects the university’s academic excellence, student experience, innovation, and societal impact.
- Serve as the brand custodian, ensuring consistent messaging, tone, and visual identity across all faculties, departments, and touchpoints.
- Oversee the university’s corporate identity and ensure internal and external stakeholders align with brand standards.
- Ensure that all university activities relating to the University have public relations activities linked to it.
- Manage both above-the-line and below-the-line, marketing activities, from conception to execution.
- Lead the preparation and roll-out of annual marketing plans for diverse stakeholder groups.
- Guide targeted student marketing strategies, including outreach to schools, teachers, parents, and prospective students.
- Oversee the planning, design, execution, and performance analysis of marketing campaigns targeted at key stakeholder groups, including prospective students, alumni, parents, academics, and corporate partners.
- Develop and deploy multichannel campaigns using traditional media, digital platforms, public relations, events, and experiential activations.
- Evaluate campaign ROI and optimize strategies based on data and feedback.
- Develop and implement a forward-thinking social media strategy to increase engagement and enhance digital visibility.
- Oversee digital content creation and campaign management across all major social media platforms.
- Supervise digital content calendars, platform-specific strategies, and ensure effective use of social listening tools and analytics.
- Lead online reputation management by monitoring sentiment and responding to digital engagement in real-time.
- Foster digital innovation by exploring new platforms and technologies (e.g., video content, influencer partnerships, paid media strategies).
- Direct the university’s corporate events calendar, including open days, graduations, community engagements, and institutional milestones.
- Ensure that all events are strategically aligned with the brand and enhance stakeholder engagement.
- Develop event guidelines and best practices for use across faculties and support services.
Creative Direction & Design Oversight:
- Supervise graphic design and content production teams to ensure all collateral is on-brand, visually appealing, and impactful.
- Work closely with advertising agencies, designers, printers, and media partners.
- Lead the university’s visual and creative expression across marketing materials, print, digital, and environmental design.
- Manage in-house design teams to produce compelling, brand-aligned visuals that elevate campaign impact.
- Guide the development of design briefs, review creative output, and ensure timely delivery of high-quality marketing materials.
- Manage marketing resources and budget, ensuring effective allocation and value-for-money procurement.
- Supervise marketing and Public Relations personnel including Coordinators, Managers, and project staff.
- Ensure adherence to marketing procedures, financial planning, and optimal allocation of personnel and operational resources.
- Oversee service provider relationships including advertising agencies, print houses, media platforms, and events companies.
- Drive student-focused marketing initiatives to attract top talent locally and internationally.
- Coordinate outreach strategies to schools, teachers, parents, and education partners, integrating messaging that showcases academic offerings, facilities, support services, and campus life.
- Ensure student marketing campaigns align with the enrolment targets and student recruitment objectives of the university.
- Design and implement effective Public Relations strategy aimed at increased brand visibility and improved reputation.
- Ensure all campaigns have an effective Public Relations element linked to them.
- Design and implement stand-alone Public Relations campaigns.
- Create partnership with reputable industry partners which will enhance the reputation of the University.
Minimum requirements
- An Honours' degree (NQF 8) in Marketing, Brand Management, Communications, Public Relations or a related field.
- Five (5) to seven (7) years' experience in senior marketing, public relations and brand roles, preferably in a corporate or tertiary education environment.
- Proven leadership in developing and implementing large-scale marketing and public relations strategies.
- Strong track record in brand development, public relations, digital media management, and stakeholder communication.
- Strategic thinking and brand visioning.
- Leadership, team development, and collaboration.
- Excellent written and verbal communication.
- High proficiency in MS Office and design collaboration tools.
- Creativity, innovation, and attention to detail.
- Planning, budgeting, and organizational skills.
- Relationship-building and stakeholder management.
- Understanding of marketing law and new media trends.
- High competency in Public Relations strategies and tactics.
- Master’s degree in Marketing, Brand Management, Communications, Public Relations or a related field.
Your application, comprising of a detailed Curriculum Vitae as well as the names and full contact details (including telephone numbers and e-mail addresses) of at least three traceable and credible referees must be uploaded before or on the closing date of the advertised post. Please also attach the following: a copy of your highest academic qualification, proof of registration with professional bodies you might belong to and if applying for an academic position, a list of accredited research output and/ or a portfolio of your creative output.
If you require technical support / assistance on the UJ e-recruitment website, please contact our service provider PNET on the following contact details: 0861 227337/010 140 3099 or email ujsupport@pnet.co.za.
Candidates may be subjected to appropriate psychometric testing and other selection instruments.
In conjunction to merit on the basis of qualifications, experience and proven achievements the University of Johannesburg is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and those individuals from the historically disadvantaged groups. As necessitated by operational requirements the University reserves the right not to make an appointment to positions advertised. If you have not received a response from the University within 8 weeks of the closing date, you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful.
Please note that the University is obligated, in terms of recent amendments to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 2021 (Act 13 of 2021), to assess all prospective employees (including applicants) against the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO). The outcome of such an assessment may have an impact upon possible employment with the University.
