Brand Manager

Our purpose is to give everyone real confidence to put their money to work. With a heritage dating back more than 175 years, we have a long history of innovation in savings and investments, combining asset management and insurance expertise to offer a wide range of solutions. Our two distinct operating segments, Asset Management and Life, work together to provide access to balanced, long-term investment and savings solutions.

The role holder is responsible for supporting key stakeholders in using brand guidelines, including training, clinics, and rollout of any new guidance. The brand manager will work across multiple teams to provide direction on the brand strategy and guidelines, to support alignment to the brand positioning and identity and prevent potential clashes in timing or messaging. They’ll be responsible for internal engagement on the use of all brand elements – including developing and rolling out education and training content to enable and empower key teams in the business to be knowledgeable brand representatives, with the emphasis on self-regulation rather than central governance. In addition, they’ll provide key central brand planning support for the annual brand plan, as well as a view of external events or competitor activities that may disrupt, dilute or provide an opportunity for M&G brand activity or communications.

Key accountabilities and responsibilities

• Has responsibility for the creation of brand message houses aligned to the brand positioning and overarching brand strategy.
• Help oversee the rollout and maintenance of any new brand guidelines and assets.
• Support the Senior Managers in providing strategic brand expertise and guidance for the business in terms of the correct delivery and usage of the brand assets, the visual identity and tone of voice requirements.
• Support the creation and management of brand education, training and internal engagement on the long-term strategy and branding elements.
• Responsible for developing content to support internal brand communications in support of brand strategy developments and initiatives, and of monitoring its effectiveness.
• In conjunction with their Senior Manager, work to help the independent brands in the portfolio to ensure the correct level of support required between Marketing and Brand.
• Has responsibility to provide budget forecasting and spend reporting across the Group Brand Team.
• In conjunction with their Senior Manager provides an annual strategic brand plan for the Group Head of Brand and Director of Corporate Affairs and Branding to assist with brand oversight and management, including status on brand health, governance and campaign metrics working across the team and collaboratively with Marketing colleagues.
• Team admin support and mailbox management (shared with two other brand managers).

Required experience

• Significant experience in a brand management role within a major brand or marketing function.
• A proven track record in initiating, developing and nurturing cross-team relationships and explaining long-term brand and activation strategy to help others understand the importance of integrated planning and to encourage cross team contribution and involvement.
• A persuasive communicator and writer, with an ability to relay activity detail to multiple audiences of all levels.
• Comfortable with having the responsibility of being key brand support, with deep subject matter expertise and an ability to effectively delegate to other members of the Brand Team.
• The ability to cut through complexity.
• Knowledge of both brand, performance and channel media strategies and their applications.
• A calm and patient individual with an ability to flex communication style to suit varying levels of experience and knowledge.
• An ability to retain focus on longer term objectives but have an understanding and appropriately react to challenge from those who are responsible for shorter term delivery and commercial pressures.
• Can act as a natural brand champion on all elements of the brand and the application of it across the business.
• Strong resilience and ability to act under pressure.
• A collaborative worker with an ability to work with others, including suppliers and strategic partners.
• A pragmatic and practical team member who can think creatively and support activities that may not obviously be part of their actual remit.

What we offer

At M&G, we’re committed to helping you thrive and supporting your wellbeing, both at work and beyond. Our benefits are designed to help you balance your professional and personal life, while planning confidently for your future. Our UK benefits include:

• A valuable pension scheme of 18%, with 13% made up of Employer Contributions and 5% Employee Contributions.
• 38 days annual leave including bank holidays, with the opportunity to purchase up to 5 extra days.
• Market leading Inspiring Families policy includes comprehensive support and paid parental leave covering maternity, adoption, surrogacy, and paternity leave.
• Health & Protection cover including Private Healthcare, Critical Illness cover and Life Assurance for you, with family options.

We have a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture at M&G, underpinned by our policies and our employee-led networks who provide networking opportunities, advice and support for the diverse communities our colleagues represent. Regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, nationality, disability or long term condition, we are looking to attract, promote and retain exceptional people. We also welcome those who take part in military service and those returning from career breaks.

M&G is also proud to be a Disability Confident Leader, and we welcome applications from candidates with long-term health conditions, disabilities, or neuro-divergent conditions.