Manager, Marketing Operations & Activations

Kipling Global is looking for an exceptional Manager, Marketing Operations & Activations to join our Global Marketing team based in Antwerp, Belgium.

We’re a global bag and accessories brand on a mission to lighten your day and empower you to live your best life. Our iconic designs are built on more than 30 years of innovation and crafted from lightweight, durable nylon. We combine functionality with effortless style to create timeless and versatile on-the-go essentials that follow you everywhere, every day. From the city to the beach; the playground to the office – and everywhere in between!

Let’s talk about the role!

In this position you will be responsible for Kipling marketing activations direction and operations designed to elevate global brand activation and strategic messaging alignment, GTM & Key Global Initiatives including Sales Tools. This position, will require the ability to remain flexible to the changes, build strong relationships with the regional marketing teams, drive timelines and improve processes, while following Kipling Global northern star. This position will be pivotal in building lasting relationships that bridge our global aspirations with regional and local excellence.

How You Will Make a Difference

You will achieve this by:

Operations:

Develop, optimise and own Marketing Go-to-Market processes ensuring that key seasonal milestones at both a Global and Regional level are met.

Drive collaboration between regional Marketing, Sales, Product and incorporate feedback to continuously improve global marketing vision and strategy and overall Go-To-Market integration

Work with Packs marketing partners to drive alignment and consistency across the Marketing Go-to-Market where relevant

Drive processes to ensure Global Brand team has clear insight into regional marketing plans and investment strategies ensuring alignment with Global strategy and best practise

Manage and continually optimise key Marketing Tools such as the Kipling DAM, Brand Health Tracking tool, etc including contracts, user access and payment. Continually look for opportunities to leverage best-in-class tools and find efficiencies through Packs and VF organisations

Improve communication flow and processes among global, regional marketing teams. Find ways to drive improvement and efficiency through the integration of AI within Marketing workflows.

Identify ways to optimise costs, improve services, simplify ways of working for regional teams and reduce Global workload by collaborating with Packs Marketing organization and VF shared services on the identification of relevant vendors to support operational needs

Partner with Global Head of Marketing and Kipling Finance partners to ensure consistent reporting and classification of Marketing costs across the regions.

Work with Global Head of Marketing and Kipling Consumer Insights team on analysis of results and communications with the regions around Brand Health Tracking

Monitor and develop ways of improve Marketing ways of working with distributor and franchise partners

Activations:

Supporting the development of the omni-channel Global marketing activations plans across key seasonal campaigns with a focus on communications planning and Earned Media in partnership with Kipling Creative, Social and Retail teams, and in line with Brand strategy

Driving strategic and best practise activation of consumer channels across the regions, focusing on reach and awareness driving tactics, to ensure sustainable and profitable business growth as well as global consistency and local relevancy

Championing consumer insights best practise throughout the Kipling organization to ensure consumer-first and data-driven strategies to drive business growth

Partnering with Marketing Effectiveness team to ensure Kipling access and implementation of best practise marketing principles into planning processes and marketing strategy

Staying up to date on the latest innovations in marketing and paid media, especially in the digital space.

Sales Tools:

Own end-to-end project management of both physical and digital seasonal sales previews, in collaboration with VP Brand, x-functional Global team stakeholders, Global marketing team and teams and external agencies. Ensure impactful event execution and communications, clear roles and responsibilities and timelines management of the core project team, and an elevated, on budget delivery.

Deliver seasonal sales tools, working in close collaboration with Sales teams and driving season-on-season improvements to aid teams in their sell-in processes

Produce and share internal newsletters to communicate key marketing initiatives across the organisation.

Skills for Success

To succeed in this role you must proactively organize global content and projects, simplify processes and clearly communicate Global plans and processes to the internal marketing teams and external vendors. With your strong influencing skills, you will get the regional marketing, sales teams, and external vendors to onboard with the global direction. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional negotiation skills, a serene demeanour, and a receptiveness to change, while steadfastly advancing Kipling Global strategic objectives in all regions forging and sustaining robust relationships with regional teams, ensuring alignment and cohesive progress. You should have:

The ability to organize global projects fast and in precision.

Excellent planning and process setting skills

The capability to play the role of equalizer. Be solution driven.

Strong ability to understand how and when to leverage AI tools to streamline and simplify work

An understanding of the local and global nuances

An expertise in project - and people relationship management

A keen interest in digitalization, brand principles and content creation

An interest for different cultures, female consumers behaviours and fashion trends in order to stay up to date

The capacity to embrace different points of view and translate it within the Brand expression

Fostering an innovative test & learn mentality.

Creating an environment of respect & team development

Profile

Master’s or bachelor’s degree in marketing, Management or Business

5-7+ years of experience of which at least three in a global organization

Proven experience in:

Global marketing operations or a related role, strong in process Management (identify, design, and document scalable processes that enable the marketing team to be more effective in their daily work and drive alignment within the department)

GTM strategy & campaign planning

Use of AI to drive process and workflow improvements

Sales Tools development and working collaboratively with Sales Teams

The development of activation and communications strategies as part of Global campaigns

Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously

Analytical mindset with a focus on data-driven decision-making

Strong communication and collaboration skills

Experience in the fashion industry is a plus

What’s in it For You

We’re in the business of unleashing human potential, driven by the ideas, energy and commitment of our people. That’s why we offer comprehensive benefits that encourage mental, physical and financial well-being for all VF associates. When it comes to benefits, we’re the total package.

A supportive feedback-based culture where respect and integrity guide us in what we do

An inclusive international environment where people of diverse backgrounds, lifestyles and nationalities love working together

Be part of an iconic lifestyle brand in a multi brand, multi countries organization

On site gym offering health and well-being initiatives

A discount card with 50% on all VF brands

This post is not eligible for relocation support

About VF

VF is a global apparel company connecting people to the lifestyles they cherish through our family of iconic brands. At the heart of our journey lies our purpose: We power movements of sustainable and active lifestyles for the betterment of people and our planet. This is our purpose. It’s the reason we come to work every day. Our purpose unites us and leads us to pursue our goals, together. This is our calling. Learn more at vfc.com

Free to Be, Inclusion & Diversity

If you like what you have read and want to join our team then we would like to hear from you! Apply visit vfc.com, kipling.com or follow us on our LinkedIn and Instagram pages, see you there!

Hiring Range: €58,464.00 EUR - €73,080.00 EUR annually

Incentive Potential: This position is eligible for additional compensation awards that may include an annual incentive plan, sales incentive, or commission potential. Specific details of the additional compensation eligibility for this position will be provided during the recruiting and interview process.