About Us
Wasoko (“people of the market” in Swahili) is transforming communities across Africa by revolutionizing access to essential goods and services. We are East Africa’s biggest digitized retail distribution platform powered by our own in-house logistics network. Tens of thousands of informal retailers across seven countries (Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Zambia) use Wasoko to order everyday essential goods and receive working capital financing.

The informal retailers of Africa today are the primary if not the only channel used by consumers to purchase essential goods worth over $600 billion per year. The fragmented infrastructure across large land mass, distributed but diverse population and rather a smaller basket size spend does not yet lend themselves to big basket retail or mass consumer eCommerce. Instead, the informal retail ecosystem is THE channel for building the plumbing for digital and consumer
commerce across Africa.

This is Wasoko’s opportunity. Wasoko with its brand, scale and logistics network is best positioned to build the technology-leveraged rails to serve the 1+ billion African consumers through informal retailers. We are building a digital-first operating system for informal retailers, initially focusing on B2B distribution but quickly incorporating other tools and services to help communities across Africa get more for less.

Location: East Africa or West Africa Countries within our operations

About The Role
Manage and implement existing and new brands throughout the product life cycle including category review, onboarding new products, sales optimization and profits in line with Wasoko global sourcing strategy.

About You

Dynamic and team-focused brand manager with 4+ years experience in a fast-paced environment. Eager to support WASOKO with top-class organizational skills and in-depth knowledge of integrated brand management tactics. Agile comes naturally to you. You are comfortable with fast growth and shift of direction for better results.

Requirements:

• Develop for both new and existing products a market analysis, which involves understanding of the General Trade market. Identify and evaluate market opportunities and challenges and develop solution-oriented programs.
• Identify market opportunities by conducting market research supported by field visits.
• Conduct data analysis for the trends, market share, growth, etc., and discuss your action plans with the Sales function to further improve the performance in the marketplace.
• Prepare an annual trading calendar with specific goals and tactics. Monitor progress, and modify as appropriate.
• Coordinate integrated business plan across operations functions. Review the integrated programs and identify new programs to meet the goals and revenue objectives when necessary.
• Develop and Coordinate promotional activities along with the Buying, Marketing and Sales team. Track promotions performance and take corrective action accordingly.
• Train the field force in areas related to promotional claims, positioning, handling of promotional materials, and defining the strategy and tactics. Ensure to get feedback from the market through field force on promotional campaigns, competitor activities, and claims, etc.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business adminstration.
• Minimum of 4 years of brand management experience in FMCG industries
• Demonstrated ability to network, build and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and work cross-functionally
• Brand awareness - a clear understanding of brands, marketing mix, go to market strategies…
• Background managing several brands across several territories in the FMCG industry.. Ability to think local and Global.
• Exposure to New Product Development
• Good command of written and spoken English
• Strong expertise in market analysis, deep market research insights mining, forecast analysis, and business case development with scenario planning
• New Launch experience, market development, and expansion work (Pre & Post Launch)

• Financial business acumen and experience in working with various forecasting models with the ability to analyze data to formulate integrated business plans.
• Proven competency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint along with strong presentation skills
• Excellent Interpersonal, organizational, cross-functional cooperation and projects management skills
• Autonomy to initiate & execute responsibility under minimum guidance
• Stakeholders’ management to reach solutions and collaborate effectively with internal teams.
• Ability to work in fast paced environment, showing clear examples of resilience