Brand and strategy advisor (f/m) for the region of Middle East and north africa

SOS Children’s Villages International is the umbrella organisation for over 130 SOS Children’s Villages associations worldwide. As a non-governmental social development organisation we help children without parental care and families in difficult living conditions through services in care, education and health. In order to further satisfy this responsibility, we are seeking a committed

Brand and strategy advisor (f/m) for the region of Middle East and north africa

Location: Casablanca/Morocco

The mission of the Brand and Strategy Advisor is split in two areas: Drive the brand strengthening process and support implementation of the strategic planning methodology.

As a Brand advisor, s/he is called to foster proactive touch point management across the region. He / she facilitates and supports the integration of brand contents and the implementation of brand related key documents (e.g. brand book, etc.) as guided and supported by Brand Leadership Consulting. He / she enables line managers and co-workers to make sure our brand is consistently and effectively communicated and adapted to local requirements whenever necessary.

As a Strategy Advisor, s/he supports the International Office Region and the Member Associations (MAs) in cascading the global strategy.

S/he coordinates the strategic planning processes and acts as the one focal person for coordinating and supporting the work of strategic and annual planning in the region.

S/he develops and leads strategic and annual planning methodology and maintains an overview of a federation policy implementation practises at a strategic level.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Brand Key performance areas and main responsibilities:

• Support Member Associations (MAs) in establishing an adequate structure to ensure a successful national brand strengthening process and to contribute to further develop a common brand meaning
• Monitor and evaluate the brand strengthening process in the region and report to the International Director Region on progresses and challenges
• Support MAs to monitor and evaluate the regional brand key touch point analyses / monitoring and support the implementation of brand related key documents
• Support brand network in international consulting activities and international brand strengthening actions / brand-related actions in ONE child, ONE friend / ONE movement
• Build the capacity of national Brand Advisors through regular knowledge sharing activities and on-going coaching and support
• Give inputs to regional & General Secretariat (GSC) support plan (brand part) as well as into the international brand planning process, ensure brand thinking in strategic planning
• Represent the region in the GSC brand network (attend meetings and phone conferences) and share best practices, progresses and challenges
• Run and facilitate the brand trainings across the region and support the brand key touch point projects in MAs, using project management tools
• Ensure links to other functions and networks / act as a bridge-builder within the organisation in order to make best use of synergies between processes (e.g. Children´s Villages Programme Policy implementation process, identification, positioning, etc.)

Strategy Key performance areas and main responsibilities:

• Coordinate, support and ensure the consistency of MA strategic and annual planning processes across the region. This includes specific support to International Director Region and SOS Children´s Villages International Representatives (CVI Representatives) and ensuring aligned steps and timelines across the region
• Coordinate regional inputs on global strategic planning topics and core policy processes
• Coordinate and facilitate General Secretariat (GSC) support planning processes across CVI Representatives and functions
• Support and consult International Director Region and Regional Management Team on strategy relevant topics in order to develop strategy topics in alignment with MAs
• Responsible for strategic monitoring, strategy review, consolidation of strategic information based on information provided by Member Support Advisors
• Responsible for overall strategy roll-out and the development of MA capacity in strategic annual planning, review, monitoring and reporting. This includes also analysing regional strategic information and preparing regional management reports
• Responsible for maintaining an overview of the country cluster approach, priorities and supporting tools. This includes also building capacity in the region on this approach.
• Collect learning regarding strategic planning approaches and methods and participate in the global strategy network.
• Lead and coordinate regional strategic planning facilitator pool and ensure their allocation in other regions to stimulate exchange and neutral facilitation (this includes leading and / or ensuring the participation of facilitators in annual refresher workshops)
• Consult to internal and external communications as necessary on management reporting and strategic planning information and ensure strategic issues are linked to internal and line communications in region.

Minimum Requirements, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Master Degree in business administration with a major in marketing, communication and strategy or any related field.
• Record of service more than (5) years in the field of Marketing and strategy.
• Proven track record of strong stakeholder management and implementation skills.
• Strong strategic awareness, integrating environmental developments, future orientation and a pragmatic view into operational planning and day to day work.
• Understanding of and interest in local and global development issues.
• Business awareness, good understanding of numbers, ability to conduct critical analysis and integrate information.
• Ability to show leadership and convince also in non-hierarchical relationship.
• Tireless and highly effective communicator of Brand and Strategy Advisor’s mission and finding the right tone and nuances to get relevant messages across.
• Ability to build strong relationships/networks and to work and cooperate effectively and in a spirit of partnership with peers, partners, stakeholders and others who are not in the line of command.
• Fluent oral/written Arabic, English and French.
• Willingness to travel

We offer:

• The opportunity to shape a new position within a global established organisation
• Diverse and challenging tasks in an in international working environment
• Opportunities for further training

If you are interested in this position, please send your detailed e-mail application in English together with your salary expectations by 30th of May 2014 at the latest to HR.MENA@sos-kd.org , SOS Children’s Villages International, www.sos-childrensvillages.org