Head of Marketing Innovation

Dis-Chem Pharmacies has an opportunity available for a Head of Marketing Innovation for their Head Office. The Disruptive marketing role is responsible for driving breakthrough, unconventional marketing initiatives that accelerate brand relevance and deliver commercial growth. This role leads the creation, testing, and execution of non-traditional marketing ideas—including experiential activations, cultural moments, and bold creative concepts—that cut through consumer noise and generate outsized attention. Acting as an internal catalyst for innovation, this role partners closely with Creative & content, Strategy, Integrated marketing campaigns, and Commercial teams to identify high-potential opportunities and rapidly activate them. The scope of this role may evolve based on business priorities and media maturity, with analysts potentially specialising in areas such as performance analytics (digital, conversion, and optimisation) or media effectiveness (reach, brand impact, and ROI), while maintaining alignment to standardised measurement frameworks.

Minimum Requirements…

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Innovation, Communications, or related discipline
• 8+ years’ experience in creative marketing, experiential marketing, brand innovation, or agency leadership
• Demonstrated success in delivering breakthrough ideas and measurable commercial results

Responsibilities

Creative strategy and ideation

• Develop disruptive, high-impact marketing ideas across physical, digital, and social environments
• Identify cultural trends, moments, and non-traditional channels that can unlock new audiences and brand relevance
• Build a pipeline of bold concepts that drive earned media, virality, and incremental revenue
• Lead creative brainstorming and rapid prototyping to test and evolve big ideas

Campaign development & activation

• Design and oversee execution of end-to-end disruptive campaigns that challenge traditional marketing norms
• Manage concept development, creative production, activation logistics, and cross-functional alignment
• Partner with Creative and content and Integrated marketing campaign teams to ensure cohesive execution and brand consistency
• Oversee relationships with external partners (e.g., experiential agencies, content creators, cultural influencers)

Innovation & experimentation

• Introduce new formats, technologies, and unconventional media approaches (e.g., AR, pop-ups, stunts)
• Run test-and-learn pilots to evaluate disruptive ideas before scaling
• Benchmark global best-in-class disruptive marketing and adapt relevant strategies
• Measure disruptive campaign impact and report back to the CMO

Competencies

Essential:

Key competencies

• Deep understanding of marketing, experiential activations, and cultural storytelling
• Proven track record of developing viral or high-impact creative ideas that drive commercial uplift
• Strong ability to identify cultural trends and translate them into brand-building opportunities
• Ability to influence stakeholders and inspire teams toward unconventional thinking
• Strong business orientation with understanding of ROI, brand equity, and revenue levers
• High collaboration skills to align creative, marketing, retail, and commercial teams

Key Performance Indicators

• Innovation delivery: Number of ideas piloted annually and speed-to-market
• Commercial and brand growth: Contribution to category or product growth through unconventional campaigns and brand awareness metrics
• Stakeholder satisfaction : Category, Commercial, and Retail Operations feedback on delivery and execution quality

Special Conditions of Employment

South African citizen

MIE, clear criminal and credit

Driver’s license and/or own reliable transport

Remuneration and benefits:

Market related salary

Medical aid

Provident fund

Staff account

ONLY SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED. IF YOU HAVEN`T BEEN CONTACTED WITHIN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE CLOSING DATE CONSIDER YOUR APPLICATION AS UNSUCCESSFUL.

Dis-Chem Pharmacies is an equal opportunity employer. Dis-Chem’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process aligned to Dis-Chem’s Employment Equity & Transformation Strategy. Dis-Chem actively supports the recruitment of People with Disabilities