Trade Marketing and Brand Activation Specialist

Trade Marketing and Brand Activation Specialist | Sports Distribution | Somerset West

Our client is a distributor of leading international sports, running, performance, lifestyle, and nutrition brands across South Africa. Founded in 2011, they operate in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, non-corporate environment built on strong retail execution and authentic brand ecosystems. They're looking for a Trade Marketing and Brand Activation Specialist to drive national trade marketing strategy, retail execution, brand activations, and community engagement across their multi-brand portfolio.

What you'll be doing:

• Developing and executing national trade marketing and activation strategies across all SBR brands
• Planning and running brand activations, events, exhibitions, and experiential marketing initiatives
• Building relationships within the running, fitness, and sports community — including parkrun strategies, club partnerships, and grassroots activations
• Driving retail visibility, merchandising standards, and POS/display execution nationally
• Managing the Brand Ambassador Programme and influencer/athlete engagement
• Overseeing asset tracking, audits, and governance of trade marketing materials
• Reporting on activation performance, ROI, and campaign effectiveness

What you'll need:

• 3– 5 years' experience in trade marketing, activations, events, or experiential marketing
• Background in sports, FMCG, retail, lifestyle, fitness, or performance brands
• Experience within retail and distribution environments
• Strong organisational and execution skills, with the ability to build systems from scratch
• Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel nationally
• A genuine passion for sport, running, and consumer engagement

Advantageous: experience with multinational sports/lifestyle brands, exposure to running/endurance/fitness industries, and experience working with field teams, promoters, or brand ambassadors.

Package: R25,000 – R40,000 per month (base), plus performance-based incentives and business mileage covered. Salary is dependent on experience.

Note: This is a national, field-based role requiring regular travel to retailers, events, and activations, including weekend work for events and community initiatives.