Senior Marketing Specialist (Africa)

Location: Africa / Flexible

Scope: International

Employment Type: Full-Time

About ESS

ESS is an international environmental, social, health, and sustainability consultancy supporting clients across a range of sectors and markets. Our work includes mining, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, industrial development, ESG, sustainability, and environmental and social advisory services.

We are looking for a Senior Marketing Specialist to lead and develop ESS's marketing strategy and strengthen the company's positioning across its markets.

The successful candidate will be based in Africa, with a strong understanding of African markets and business environments, while having the ability to develop marketing strategies, campaigns, and communications for an international audience.

This is a strategic role for an experienced marketing professional who can combine marketing expertise, commercial thinking, strong communication skills, and an understanding of technical consulting services.

Key Responsibilities

Marketing Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement ESS's overall marketing strategy in alignment with the company's growth and business development objectives.
• Establish marketing priorities, KPIs, budgets, and performance measures.
• Develop targeted marketing strategies for different markets, sectors, services, and client audiences.
• Identify market trends, emerging opportunities, and areas for business growth.
• Strengthen ESS's positioning within the environmental, social, ESG, sustainability, and technical consulting markets.
• Provide strategic marketing advice to senior management and business development teams.

Brand & Market Positioning

• Lead and strengthen ESS's brand identity, messaging, and market positioning.
• Develop clear and compelling value propositions for different markets and client segments.
• Ensure consistency of ESS's brand across international communications and platforms.
• Lead the development of corporate profiles, capability statements, case studies, presentations, brochures, and other marketing materials.
• Position ESS as a credible and distinctive international consultancy within its target sectors.

Digital Marketing & Content

• Lead ESS's digital marketing and communications strategy.
• Develop and oversee content for LinkedIn, website, newsletters, campaigns, and other digital platforms.
• Develop thought leadership content around ESG, sustainability, environmental and social management, mining, energy, and infrastructure.
• Translate complex technical services and project experience into clear, engaging, and commercially relevant content.
• Monitor digital performance, audience engagement, and lead generation, and use analytics to improve results.

Business Development & Market Intelligence

• Work closely with senior management and business development teams to support lead generation and client acquisition.
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis across priority markets.
• Identify new sectors, markets, partnerships, and client opportunities.
• Develop targeted account-based marketing and sector-specific campaigns.
• Support conferences, industry events, webinars, and strategic networking activities.
• Contribute to proposals, tenders, prequalification submissions, and other business development materials.

Africa Market Knowledge

• Leverage a strong understanding of African markets, industries, institutions, and business environments to support ESS's regional growth.
• Identify market opportunities and emerging trends across African countries.
• Develop marketing approaches that are relevant to African clients while maintaining ESS's international positioning.
• Build relationships with relevant professional networks, industry associations, media, and strategic stakeholders.

Collaboration & Management

• Coordinate marketing activities across ESS teams and markets.
• Work closely with technical specialists to develop accurate and compelling marketing content.
• Manage external marketing agencies, designers, consultants, and other suppliers when required.
• Establish efficient marketing processes, standards, and reporting.
• Support and guide other marketing and communications resources within ESS.

Qualifications & Experience

• Master's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Public Relations, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive marketing experience, including significant experience in a strategic or leadership capacity.
• Proven experience developing and implementing multi-market or international marketing strategies.
• Experience in professional services, consulting, engineering, environmental services, ESG, sustainability, mining, energy, infrastructure, or another technical B2B environment is highly desirable.
• Experience within the environmental, ESG, sustainability, or social consulting sector is a strong advantage.
• Experience marketing technical or professional consultancy services is particularly desirable.
• Strong understanding of African markets and business environments.
• International exposure and experience working with international clients or organisations is an advantage.

Languages

• Fluent English and French required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both languages.
• Additional languages are an advantage.

Key Competencies

• Strong strategic and commercial mindset.
• Excellent understanding of B2B and professional-services marketing.
• Strong brand, digital marketing, content, and communications expertise.
• Ability to translate complex technical information into compelling commercial messaging.
• Strong market research and analytical skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing abilities.
• Data-driven approach to marketing performance.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Creative, proactive, and results-oriented.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with senior leadership and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of different cultural and business environments.

What ESS Offers

• A strategic marketing leadership position within an international consultancy.
• The opportunity to shape ESS's international brand, positioning, and growth strategy.
• Exposure to major sectors including environmental and social consulting, ESG, mining, energy, infrastructure, and sustainability.
• Collaboration with international technical, commercial, and business development teams.
• Significant autonomy to develop and implement new marketing initiatives.
• A dynamic, multicultural working environment with opportunities for professional growth.

Originally posted on Himalayas