Commercial Manager and Copy Coordination Assistant

The Standard Group comprises, The Standard Newspapers, Game Yetu, The County Weekly, KTN, Radio Maisha, PDS, Standard Digital and Think Outdoor Services.

The Group is in the process of strengthening its commercial function by recruiting highly motivated, qualified, experienced and competent individuals to the following positions:
 

Commercial Manager
 

The Commercial Manager work closely with the Commercial Director and will be responsible for optimizing the Group’s profitability by achieving commercial revenue objectives. 

Overall responsibility will be to formulate and coordinate advertising plans and implement them to ensure achievement of the revenue objectives for the Group, by providing advertising solutions to our customers.
 

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Plan and coordinate advertising sales strategies for the Group, while keeping in mind the brand profiles and products, to meet the Group’s business objectives;
• Grow revenue market share for the various brands and products, plan for the delivery of agreed targets and closely monitor performance by holding regular meetings with the team to review and plan performance and provide guidance;
• Negotiate annual advertising contracts with representatives o( major advertising clients I companies, build relationships and facilitate client engagements;
• Identify manpower requirements and liaise with HR for recruitment, manage performance of team members, develop and orient the team to ensure understanding of brands & products;
• Develop innovative ideas for existing and new products in close liaison with Commercial Director and team members;
• Provide regular reports as required by senior management on sales performance, market intelligence as well as review debt status of the client’s accounts to determine credit worthiness.

Qualification, Skills & Competencies:

• Graduate in a business related degree. An MBA will be an added advantage;
• Expert knowledge with over 5 years, experience in a commercial environment, sales & marketing preferably in a media setting;
• Strong customer service orientation and interpersonal skills;
• Proven record in managing profit targets in a commercially-oriented environment and experience in leading change management initiatives;
• Understanding of the dynamics and complexity of media and advertising competitiveness;
• Demonstrable ability to grow a profitable business with drive and commercial acumen in an organization embracing change; and
• Leadership, strategy, analytical and commercial skills.

The Business Manager will work closely with the Commercial Manager and will be charged with the responsibility of planning, controlling and supervising the work of Business Executives to generate and meet agreed individual and team’s volume against set advertising sales annual revenue targets.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Planning, coordinating and managing a team of Business Executives who are expected to deliver agreed sales volumes and revenue;
• Motivating the sales team to deliver departmental objectives;
• Maintaining good client service and relations;
• Developing and implementing sales strategies and campaigns;
• Maintaining and fostering business relationships with all clients of the company.

Qualification, Skills & Competencies:

• Basic University Degree; an MBA will be an added advantage
• At least 3 years’ working experience in a sales and marketing environment;
• Experience in a leadership and/or people management role;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and customer service skills.

Copy Co-ordination Assistant I

The Copy Co-ordination Assistant will work closely with the Copy Desk Manager to coordinate advertising copy flow, space requirements and maximize on the utilization of advertising space in the Group’s publications.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• To record advertisements received from agencies, direct clients, Business Executives and from the HR Department;
• To check and enter bookings for advertisements ensuring that the rates applied are as per Company rules and regulations and to liaise with the respective Section Business Manager as necessary;
• To guide the sales team on deadlines for advertising placements;
• To review pagination on the basis of the flow of advertising orders and to draw the attention of the Team leader for any requirement for up-paging;
• To insert all advertisements to the positions, pages and in the format requested by clients in order to minimize client complaints and ‘make-goods’; and
• To work with and to liaise with the consult the Copy desk manager in the preparation of the dummy to ensure the right editorial-advertising balance and pagination ratio per Company policy.

Qualification, Skills & Competencies:

• University degree and training in Graphic design;
• Minimum of 2 years in newspaper lay out;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a team player;
• Attentive to detail;
• Energy and ability to work irregular hours;
• Excellent communication at all staff levels;
• Organization skills and a high degree of integrity.

If you possess the above qualifications and the drive to meet the challenges, visit our websitewww.standardmedia.co.ke/recruitment to browse through the current openings/vacancies and apply not later than 2.id January 2013.
 

The Standard Group is an equal opportunity employer and as such, canvassing of any form will lead to automatic disqualification