Senior Marketing Manager

Role Overview

As Senior Marketing Manager, you will own and drive the full marketing function across event brands. This is a hands-on leadership role where you will be responsible for strategy, execution, and optimisation of all marketing channels - from social media and email to SMS, WhatsApp, and brand collaborations. You will manage a Junior Marketing Coordinator and work closely with our graphic design team and website developers to deliver cohesive, high-converting campaigns.

This role demands someone who is equally comfortable building a campaign strategy from scratch and writing a compelling email subject line. You must be detail-obsessed, commercially minded, and able to speak to diverse audiences - from adventurous women seeking a fun day out, to parents looking for a memorable family experience, to premium customers considering VIP packages.

Key Responsibilities

Campaign Strategy & Management

• Develop and execute end-to-end marketing campaigns for each event series across all brands.
• Own the full campaign lifecycle: concept development, copywriting, asset briefing, channel execution, and post-campaign analysis
• Create and manage pricing-phase marketing strategies, ensuring messaging is tailored to each event’s pricing tier (e.g. early bird at R299/$39 vs. later phases at higher price points)
• Coordinate weekly planning sessions (Mondays) to review event pricing updates and ensure all channels - website, social, email, SMS - are aligned and updated promptly

Email Marketing & Automation

• Strategise and oversee all email marketing campaigns across platforms (Klaviyo, Mailchimp, MailerLite, Brevo, or similar)
• Manage and optimise automated email flows including abandoned cart recovery, welcome sequences, post-purchase nurture, and re-engagement campaigns
• Monitor email revenue and flow performance; conduct A/B testing on subject lines, send times, content, and CTAs
• Ensure email deliverability - manage sender reputation, monitor spam/inbox placement, and maintain list hygiene
• Develop segmentation strategies to target different audience profiles (women, parents, premium customers)

Social Media Management

• Own and manage all social media channels across brands, including Facebook and Instagram (SA and USA accounts)
• Develop content calendars and ensure a minimum of 2–3 posts per week per brand, including Reels and Stories
• Write all social media copy, ensuring it is on-brand, engaging, grammatically flawless, and tailored to each market
• Manage and engage within event-specific Facebook groups to build community and drive ticket sales

SMS & WhatsApp Marketing

• Plan and execute SMS marketing campaigns aligned with event timelines and pricing phases
• Develop and manage WhatsApp marketing strategies for audience engagement, event reminders, and promotional pushes
• Ensure compliance with messaging regulations across SA, US, and German markets

Copywriting & Brand Voice

• Serve as the guardian of brand voice across all written communication - social posts, emails, SMS, website copy, and venue marketing materials
• Write compelling, conversion-focused copy that speaks authentically to each target audience
• Ensure impeccable grammar and spelling across all markets (South African English and American English)

Website & Pricing Coordination

• Coordinate with the web team to ensure event pages are updated promptly with correct pricing, imagery, and copy after each Monday planning session
• Review and approve all website content before it goes live

Venue Marketing & Sponsor Integration

• Work closely with venue partners to coordinate venue-specific marketing, ensuring each venue receives appropriate branded assets
• Brief the graphic design team on venue marketing requirements and review deliverables
• Ensure all sponsor branding is correctly integrated across marketing channels — social media, email, on-site signage, and promotional materials
• Collaborate with the sponsorship team to fulfil sponsor marketing commitments

Brand Collaborations & Partnerships

• Identify and pursue brand collaboration opportunities that align with the company’s values and audience
• Manage all partnership communications and co-marketing initiatives
• Develop and execute collaborative campaigns from concept through to delivery

Merchandise Marketing

• Support the promotion and marketing of event merchandise across all brands
• Develop upselling strategies for merchandise within email, social, and on-site marketing efforts

Volunteer Recruitment

• Create and manage marketing content for volunteer recruitment drives
• Promote volunteer opportunities through social media, email, and community channels

Leadership & Team Management

• Directly manage and mentor the Junior Marketing Coordinator, assigning tasks and reviewing output
• Set priorities, manage workflows, and ensure deadlines are met across all marketing activities
• Conduct regular check-ins and provide constructive feedback to support professional growth

Requirements & Qualifications

Essential

• 5+ years of experience in digital marketing, with at least 2 years in a senior or lead marketing role
• Proven experience managing multi-channel campaigns (social media, email, SMS, WhatsApp)
• Strong email marketing expertise, including automation, segmentation, A/B testing, and deliverability management
• Familiarity with email platforms such as Klaviyo, Mailchimp, MailerLite, or Brevo
• Exceptional copywriting skills with impeccable grammar in both South African and American English
• Experience managing social media accounts for multiple brands simultaneously
• Highly detail-oriented with an ability to manage complex pricing structures across multiple events
• Experience working across different markets (ideally SA, US, or international)
• Ability to write for diverse audiences
• Proficiency in Meta Business Suite, Facebook, and Instagram management
• Experience briefing and collaborating with graphic designers
• Strong project management skills with an ability to juggle multiple campaigns and deadlines

Preferred

• Experience in the events, lifestyle, fitness, or entertainment industry
• Experience with paid advertising (Meta Ads / media buying) is a strong advantage but not required
• Familiarity with Shopify, Google Forms, and website CMS platforms
• Experience in brand collaborations and partnership marketing
• Understanding of merchandise marketing and upselling strategies
• Experience with subscription or membership-based marketing

NB: Please note that all serious candidates will need to complete the below assessment and email the completed assessment answers to info@muddyprincess.co.za with subject line Completed Senior Marketing Manager Candidate Assessment

ASSESSMENT:

Thank you for your interest in the Senior Marketing Manager position at Muddy Princess Corporation. This assessment is designed to evaluate your strategic thinking, copywriting ability, platform knowledge, and understanding of our brand and audience.

Before completing this assessment, please review the following channels and platforms:

• Instagram: @muddyprincess_sa (23K followers) | @muddyprincess_usa (21K followers) | @muddykids_usa (2.4K followers)
• Facebook: facebook.com/MuddyPrincessSA | Search for Muddy Princess USA event pages
• Websites: muddyprincess.co.za | muddyprincess.com | muddykids.us
• LinkedIn: Muddy Princess Corporation | Muddy Princess SA

Time allowed: 24 hours. Estimated completion time: 3–4 hours.

SECTION 1: Brand & Audience Understanding

We want to see how well you can read and understand our brand, tone, and target audiences.

Q1. Brand Audit (15 mins)

After reviewing our Instagram accounts (@muddyprincess_sa and @muddyprincess_usa), identify three strengths and three areas for improvement across both accounts. Consider content mix, visual consistency, captions, engagement, use of Stories/Reels, and how well the content speaks to our audience.

Please be specific — reference actual posts or patterns you’ve observed.

Q2. Audience Personas (15 mins)

Muddy Princess Corporation markets to distinctly different audiences: (a) women looking for a fun, empowering day out (SA and USA), (b) parents seeking family-friendly outdoor activities (Muddy Kids, USA), and (c) VIP/premium ticket buyers. Write a 2–3 sentence description of each persona, including what motivates them, what messaging resonates, and what channels you’d prioritise to reach each one.

Q3. Market Differences (10 mins)

What key differences would you consider when marketing the same event concept to a South African audience vs. a US audience? Think about tone, cultural references, pricing psychology, and platform behaviour.

SECTION 2: Campaign Strategy

This section tests your ability to think end-to-end about a campaign.

Q4. Campaign Plan (30 mins)

A new Muddy Princess event has been confirmed in Durban, South Africa — it’s the first time the event will take place in KZN. The event is 10 weeks away. Early bird tickets are R299, increasing to R399 in Phase 2 and R499 in Phase 3. Outline a 10-week marketing campaign plan covering: key phases and messaging focus for each, channels you would use (social, email, SMS, WhatsApp, other), at least two creative campaign ideas to build hype for a new market, how you would leverage existing participants and community to drive word-of-mouth, and how you’d coordinate with the design team and web team.

A concise summary or table format is fine. We want to see strategic thinking, not a 20-page document.

Q5. Sponsor Integration (10 mins)

A new sponsor, a women’s activewear brand, has signed on for the Durban event. They want visibility across social media, email, and on-site. Briefly outline how you would integrate their brand into your marketing plan across at least three channels without it feeling like a forced advertisement.

SECTION 3: Email Marketing

Email is a core revenue driver. We need to know you can do this at a high level.

Q6. Abandoned Cart Strategy (15 mins)

A potential participant adds a Muddy Princess ticket to their cart but doesn’t complete the purchase. Design a 3-email abandoned cart sequence. For each email, provide: the timing (hours/days after abandonment), the subject line, a brief description of the email body and tone, and the CTA.

Write the actual subject lines — we’re assessing your copywriting.

Q7. Email Deliverability (10 mins)

You notice that the open rate on the Muddy Princess SA email list has dropped from 38% to 21% over the past three months. What are the first five things you would investigate or do to diagnose and fix this? Be specific.

Q8. Segmentation (10 mins)

You have one combined email list for Muddy Princess SA with the following data: past event location, number of events attended, ticket type (standard vs. VIP), last purchase date, and whether they opened the last 5 emails. Describe three distinct segments you would create and what type of email campaign you’d send to each.

SECTION 4: Social Media & Copywriting

Show us you can write in our voice and sell to our audience.

Q9. Instagram Captions (20 mins)

Write three Instagram captions for Muddy Princess SA — one for each of the following scenarios: (a) An early bird pricing announcement for the upcoming Stellenbosch event (R299, limited time). (b) A post featuring a photo of a group of women covered in mud at the finish line, arms around each other. (c) A Reel promoting the VIP ticket experience (unlimited runs, fast-pass registration, exclusive bandana, shower coupon, VIP parking).

Include hashtags where appropriate. Write as if these are going live — we’re assessing tone, grammar, and ability to drive action.

Q10. US vs. SA Copy (10 mins)

Rewrite caption (a) from Q9 as if it were for Muddy Princess USA (@muddyprincess_usa) for an event in Nashville, TN with early bird tickets at $39. We want to see how you adapt your tone, spelling, and cultural references for the American market.

Q11. Facebook Group Engagement (10 mins)

You manage the Facebook group for an upcoming Muddy Princess event in Johannesburg. The event is 3 weeks away and engagement in the group has slowed down. Suggest three specific post ideas you would publish in the group over the next week to re-energise the community and drive last-minute ticket sales. Briefly describe each post’s format and copy angle.

SECTION 5: Platform & Tools Knowledge

Quick-fire questions to gauge your working knowledge.

Q12. Platform Experience (10 mins)

For each platform below, rate your proficiency (None / Basic / Intermediate / Advanced) and add one sentence about how you’ve used it: Klaviyo, Mailchimp, MailerLite, Brevo (formerly Sendinblue), Meta Business Suite, Shopify, Google Forms, Canva, WhatsApp Business / WhatsApp Marketing tools.

Q13. A/B Testing (5 mins)

You’re sending a promotional email to 15,000 subscribers announcing Phase 2 pricing for an event. Describe how you would set up an A/B test, what variable you’d test first, and how you’d determine the winner.

Q14. SMS Compliance (5 mins)

What are two key regulatory considerations you need to keep in mind when running SMS marketing campaigns in South Africa vs. the United States?

SECTION 6: Leadership & Scenario

We need someone who can lead and problem-solve under pressure.

Q15. Team Management (10 mins)

You have a Junior Marketing Coordinator reporting to you. It’s a Monday, and you need to brief them on the week’s priorities after the pricing review meeting. Three events have pricing updates, two email campaigns need to go out, and there’s a sponsor deliverable due Friday. How would you structure their week? What tasks would you delegate vs. handle yourself?

Q16. Crisis Scenario (10 mins)

It’s Tuesday evening. An email campaign went out with the wrong pricing for the Muddy Princess Joburg event — it advertised R199 instead of R399. The email went to 8,000 subscribers and has already been opened by 2,400 people. What do you do? Walk us through your immediate response plan, step by step.

Submission Instructions

Please email this completed assessment within 24 hours of receiving it. Save your document as a PDF or Word file and email it to info@muddyprincess.co.za. If any task requires you to create separate files (e.g. a content calendar or email draft), please attach those alongside this document.

We’re not looking for perfection — we want to see how you think, how you write, and how well you understand our brand and audience. Take your time to review our social media and website before completing this assessment.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: R30 000,00 - R35 000,00 per month

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Claremont, Western Cape