Merchant Marketing Manager

Job description / Role

The Merchant Business manages all aspects of our vitally important merchant relationships, along with developing products and services that add value to our merchants. Actively working to broaden and deepen our merchant relationships and expand reach in new market segments.

The position is responsible for supporting strategic relationship with service establishments and preferred merchant partners

• Assist in the conceptualization of creative merchant marketing strategies and partnership campaigns working closely with the merchant teams in the markets, Consumer & Corporate Marketing Team and external agencies as appropriate
• Demonstrate strategic thought leadership to drive results and maintain the integrity of the brand
• Increase profitability and success of business through effective, targeted marketing strategies
• Identify new and under-served market segments to drive business growth
• Manage analytics associated with evaluating Cost/Benefit and profitability of merchant marketing initiatives, establishing appropriate metrics for success and demonstrating results
• Work with cross-functional teams and multi-industry partners to leverage organizational synergies to execute programs from concept through launch.

PRINCIPLE ACCOUNTABILITIES
• Lead & drive merchant marketing programs / projects effectively leveraging different channels especially digital marketing channels (microsite/e-dms, mobile apps, social media, etc) that enhance value to merchants and widen perception of coverage, driving discount business volume and activation goals
• Keep abreast of industry trends, digital marketing, new technologies, competitive landscape etc
• Provide guidance and support to the markets to optimize local merchant marketing opportunities and perception of coverage in new industry segments, and develop tailored value proposition, covering key financial and marketing activities and tool kits (including presentation templates, point of purchase material, etc)
• Develop Merchant Core Communication & fulfillment (including onboarding communications, loyalty and engagement communications to be delivered through digital channels)
• Manage merchant marketing deliverables with online team, marketing team and/or outside vendors/ agency
• Provide support to the merchants, marketing team and the markets throughout the development, delivery and implementation cycles
• Maintain merchant marketing program records, conduct and share post campaign evaluations on a timely basis
• Track online programs to ensure they are meeting expectations and optimize as needed; manage program budgets, assess opportunities to improve current processes and reduce cost
• Assist the Business Development Manager & the Relationship Manager with special projects as needed, e.g., customized programs, merchant and/or signature brand events, added-value fulfillment, etc.
• Manage the Merchant Marketing Advertising & Promotions (A&P) Budget: including drafting of MAPs; raise and submit Purchase Orders as required in line with approved A&P spend in compliance with the A&P policy
• Manage deadline driven merchant marketing projects and be able to work both independently and within a team
• Collaborate with merchant business teams across all markets to understand client and/or market objectives by translating ideas into business level requirements
• Participate in regional client review meetings when needed to understand their business objectives, goals and challenges
• Support the portfolio management of key merchant clients across industries, developing and strengthening relationships with clients to secure loyalty and build volume growth, while delivering on the Marketing Funds Plans as applicable (from conceptualization through to results monitoring and evaluation)
• Develop data driven merchant marketing strategies and campaigns that will optimize volume yield and local spend across: Everyday offers, online/e-commerce campaigns, default card/recurring billings, travel, and seasonal activations
• Manage the Regional Merchant Offers & Benefits Programme for Premium and Non-Premium Segments (from development of new strategies and communication channels to promote the programme, agreement signings & renewal, through to evaluation)
• Reporting of the Regional Offers & Benefits programme per market, followed by discussion with market to effectively filter and qualify offers and ensure build of a pipeline to ensure targets are met). Coordinating with the Product Teams to ensure the Offers and Benefits are communicated to the costumers, offer fulfillment tested, and trained to the relevant front line teams for maximum performance
• Develop and manage the inbound strategy working in close coordination with the counterparts, and teams to support inbound spend into the region
• Merchant Business Product development as part of the long terms strategic plan to ensure we can maintain our competitive position and deliver premium value to the merchants.

Communication
• Regular dialogue and discussions with merchant marketing, GCG Marketing, Consumer & Corporate Marketing and the merchant teams in markets to identify new opportunities and support business objectives
• Ability to work independently in a dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities in a timely manner. Strong interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal)
• High motivation and willingness to assume accountability for providing high-touch partner performance evaluation & support.
• Commitment to ongoing learning and development
• Ability to act with diplomacy and integrity with handling of confidential and sensitive partnership issues in an appropriate manner.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree, Marketing concentration preferred
• Experience in one of our target industries (charge/credit card, finance, retail, travel, lifestyle services, interactive) which can be utilized in the development of strategy
• Demonstrate account development/ customer service experience
• Strong customer/ merchant partner focus and project management skills preferred
• Ability to conceptualize and sell ideas
• Strong negotiation, communication and presentation skills
• Detail and deadline oriented
• Team player/individual contributor with a desire to function in a flexible, changing, sometimes ambiguous environment
• Strong analytics skills
• Demonstrated ability to drive results
• Systems (PWC, BI, Oracle, Selects, PSPi, Salesforce, etc)

About the Company

Robert Walters is one of the world's largest specialist professional recruitment consultancies with 53 offices spanning 24 countries.

We've helped thousands of professionals find permanent, contract and interim roles with leading global corporations, small to medium sized companies and innovative start ups. Our specialist recruitment focus includes: accountancy and finance, banking, engineering, operations, legal, IT, sales, marketing, procurement & logistics, HR and support/administration.