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.
