About You 

You want to lead, inspire and build a strong team. You have excellent verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly, effectively and appropriately with others at all levels. You have the ability to effectively juggle multiple projects at one time.  You want to create a better life for many individuals at their homes.

What’s more, we believe that you have the following knowledge, capabilities and motivation:

• Live and share the IKEA values every day
• Degree in BSc in Marketing, Business or relevant field is a strong advantage
• 3+ years digital marketing experience in a specialist role, ideally from retail marketing, communication or advertising industry in GCC region
• Extensive experience in digital marketing to drive & support digital marketing agenda, loyalty/crm marketing 
• Ability to undertake daily administrative tasks to ensure the functionality and coordination of the department’s activities.
• Support with creating PO’s, managing, and tracking Invoices.
• Strong experience in finance and budget management, knowledge of consumer behaviour to develop effective communication and media communication and marketing techniques
• Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly, effectively and appropriately with others at all levels
• Motivated, self-sufficient professional with great attention to details
• Proven digital passion, experience and success
• Team player with positive, constructive attitude.
• Customer-focused and commercial awareness 
• Excellent knowledge in MS Office – Excel and PowerPoint
• Exquisite communication and people skills

About The Role 

You are responsible to assist the GCC Marketing Manager to:

• Increase top of mind awareness and emotional attributes of IKEA brand through several advertising campaigns for the IKEA Brand & Concept.
• Reach the required visitor volumes for optimal sales targets by assisting on daily operations.
• Increase IKEA presence in target consumers’ daily life cycles thanks to PR and in store events.
• Territory coverage the GCC area: the UAE, Qatar and Oman.

Key Specific Accountabilities:

Strategy, Planning & Implementation

• Assist the marketing manager in creating the long-term marketing strategies as well as the opening strategies for the existing and new stores in the covered territories.

Vitality Calendar 

• Assist the marketing manager in executing the vitality calendar activities and ensure the strategic priorities are reflected in the campaigns.
• Liaise with range for product selections and pricing as well as co-ordinate day to day work with the agency. Inform the store about the marketing support before launching the activity

Market Research

• Assist and execute the briefs from the marketing manager for all covered territories for market research needs based on the regional long-term research strategy set by the Brand Communication Manager.
• Co-ordinate with contracted research companies, both locally commissioned and commissioned by our principles, to assess our realistic market position and to help us to place ourselves against the predefined IKEA positioning objectives.
• Conduct market analysing to help with understanding our target demographics, catchment areas, lifestyles and so forth that will assist the marketing manager in business planning and new territory penetration plans.
• Assist the marketing manager in analysing new territories or re-evaluating existing ones by being able to understand and utilise macroeconomic indicators.

Budgeting

• Assist the marketing manager in budgeting for all the covered territories by keeping an updated file on media costs, media effectiveness, and keeping track of all invoices to the department.
• Ensure cost consciousness in all activities, taking three quotes for all external work, negotiate better prices on on-going basis.
• Make sure to take part cost effectiveness initiatives and spend within the allocated budget to reach the agreed strategic objectives.

Projects

• Focus on giving maximum assistance to the marketing manager on all new store opening projects by executing the overall strategy, independently managing media and PR liaisons and agency work on all artwork.
• Actively contribute with ideas, and suggestions and liaise with all necessary departments (internal and external).

Annual PR and Events Execution

• Recommend and finalize the annual PR calendar for the IKEA Brand in order to reflect and promote IKEA’s long-term priorities, leadership businesses, as well as IKEA UAE’s own business needs (e.g. Increasing exposure of wider range, even lower prices, quality perception and specific business area needs).
• Liaise with the store management teams and necessary 3rd parties such as event companies to execute the planned events in  perfection in the planned time frame. Make sure the events are well communicated amongst the co-workers and ensure their full commitment. Be actively present during the event.
• In addition to the in-store events organize activities for press members and industry insiders (i.e. internal decorators) where they can actively engage with the IKEA brand and IKEA products. 
• Plan and execute press trips in line with IKEA Brand priorities.