Connections Planning Manager at Diageo

About us:

With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, we’re the world’s leading premium drinks company. Bring your passion and use your curiosity as you explore, collaborate, and innovate to build brands consumers love. Together with passionate people from all over the world, you’ll test new ideas, learn and grow, and unlock a brighter, more exciting future.

Join us to create a career worth celebrating.

About the Function:

Our Marketing team are creators, helping to build and nurture some of the world’s most loved brands. We craft amazing connections with people around the world to celebrate our brands’ legacies and reimagine them for the world today, and into the future.

Everything we do is underpinned by a deep understanding of our consumers, behaviours, trends, and technologies. Using our genius and creativity, we unlock our brands’ uniqueness, understand their purpose, and put them at the heart of celebrations everywhere.

Together, we’re celebrating diversity and challenging stereotypes through our advertising and marketing. Wherever your talents lie, from Design to Consumer Planning, you’ll be celebrated and supported in our inclusive culture.

About the team:

Diageo is a global organisation with over 28,000 talented people and a presence in 180 countries. Across our 21 markets, our brand portfolio represents our biggest strength and passion.

Our African businesses account for over 10% of Global Diageo revenue, with more than 6,000 employees. We create wealth through our operations and broader value chains, supporting growth in partnership with businesses and communities.

We are committed to delivering sustainable performance and becoming the destination of choice for Diageo investment. Our focus areas include water, farming, and education.

Today, Africa is predominantly a beer region, but we are accelerating spirits growth through the SWC organisation.

Financial:

Double NSV by 2030.

About the role:

Southern, West and Central Africa (SWC) covers more than 14 countries with a statutory presence in 7 countries, including two listed companies and one joint venture. It manages manufacturing in four countries and partnerships across 35 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The region operates a full TBA portfolio: beer, RTDs, local spirits, international spirits, and luxury spirits. The market is diverse, highly competitive, and rapidly evolving.

SWC is critical for Diageo's success in Africa with significant scope for expansion in territories, categories, and routes to market.

Purpose of Role:

The Consumer Planning team identifies market growth opportunities and guides marketing interventions. This role transforms how our brands connect with consumers through data-driven connection plans and effective activation.

Role Responsibilities:

  • Provide leadership in connections planning and delivery of fully integrated connection plans.
  • Use data and insights to address local challenges and forecast trends.
  • Influence and build capability for effective media strategies.
  • Collaborate with senior stakeholders to influence media investment decisions.
  • Lead measurement and continuous improvement of connections plans with quarterly reviews.

Experience / Skills Required:

  • 4+ years of integrated media or connections planning experience with strong digital experience.
  • Strategic thinker aware of market activities and trends.
  • Effective relationship management with agency partners.
  • High drive, determination, and proven ability to optimize strategies.
  • Ability to lead through ambiguity and complexity.
  • Strong influencing skills across all organization levels.

Competencies:

  • Strategic thinking: Visionary leadership with short and long-term focus.
  • Commercial acumen: Deep understanding of business operations.
  • Performance driven: Focused on results and accountability.
  • Agile: Responds quickly to threats and opportunities.
  • Influencing: Builds strong relationships across the organization.
  • Personally resilient: Maintains balance under pressure.
  • Externally focused: Strong network awareness and market insight.
  • Invest in talent: Builds and nurtures high-performing teams.

Flexible Working Statement:

Flexibility is key to our success. From part-time and compressed hours to different locations, our people work flexibly in ways that suit them.

Rewards & Benefits Statement:

Details to be provided during the recruitment process.

Diversity Statement:

Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. We are committed to an inclusive culture where everyone feels valued and can belong.

We celebrate diversity across gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational background, and more.

Our ambition is to be the most trusted and respected consumer products company in the world. Join us and help shape the next generation of celebrations.

If you require reasonable adjustments, please include this information in your application.

Method of Application: Click on this link to apply