Brand Manager

Innovata Pharmaceuticals is looking for a Brand Manager to join our team. This position is based in Ormonde Johannesburg.

A proudly South African company Innovata is a level 1 BBBEE company that manufactures a range of carefully selected essential medicines covering all major therapeutic classes.

Since our inception in 2000 Innovata has established a noteworthy relationship with the Public Health Sector where we hold numerous national tenders. Not only are we committed to delivering cost-effective products timeously; our team remains committed to forging long-term relationships with customers business partners suppliers and employees alike.

Driven by our mission to be the benchmark for excellence in healthcare the credibility we have attained in the Public Health Sector Innovata is well poised and eager to extend our footprint into the South African Private Health sector.

Job Overview:

Purpose of the job:

The Brand Manager leads the strategic commercial and operational execution of the assigned pharmaceutical brands within the South African market. This role drives brand equity revenue growth lifecycle management and expansion through business development new product development and launch excellence. The manager collaborates cross-functionally to ensure regulatory compliance operational readiness and strong customer engagement across private and public sectors.

Technical Competencies/Professional Expertise:

• Business Alignment: Aligns the strategic direction of the products services and performance of a business line with the rest of the organization.
• Driving business targets through the launching promotion and marketing of products.
• Business Development: Analysing gaps within the portfolio and identifying molecules that supports the business vision
• Customer Focus: Builds and maintains customer satisfaction with the products and services offered by the organization.
• Relationship Building: Builds constructive working relationships characterized by a high level of acceptance cooperation and mutual respect.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Accountability & Dependability: Takes personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work and achieves results with little oversight.
• Strong analytical mindset and market insight capabilities.
• Creative strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen.
• Excellent communication presentation and leadership skills.
• Project management and cross-functional coordination abilities.
• High attention to detail and regulatory awareness.
• Strong relationship building skills.

Organisational Competencies

• Work in a fast paced high-pressure and dynamic organizational environment making expeditious business decisions adapting to rapidly changing and sometimes unpredictable business situations
• Demonstrate versatility grasp and learn new concepts developments and technologies quickly and implement and mentor subordinates
• Adapt into a culturally diverse work environment
• Ability to multitask and shift priorities as and when required
• Possess honesty integrity passion for the work compassion

Key Responsibilities:

Brand strategy & Market Leadership:

• Develop brand strategies aligned with company goals.
• Build brand positioning frameworks value propositions segmentation models and competitive strategies.
• Conduct deep market research including IQVIA data analysis competitor intelligence KOL insights and market sizing.
• Drive lifecycle management strategies (line extensions reformulations pack optimisations).

Marketing Planning & Tactical Execution:

• Develop comprehensive annual marketing plans with clear objectives KPIs and tactical calendars.
• Oversee creative development for all promotional assets (detailing aids leave-behinds digital ads CPD material).
• Manage digital campaigns including SEO/SEM webinars email campaigns and social engagement. Track brand performance metrics and adjust tactics to maximise ROI.

Product Launch Excellence:

• Own end-to-end launch execution: pre-launch research pricing strategy demand forecasting KOL activation promotional strategy budgeting and sales training.
• Lead cross-functional launch teams to ensure regulatory approval supply readiness QA compliance and commercial alignment.
• Deliver launch materials including clinical summaries objection-handling guides and HCP insight reports.

New Product Development:

• Identify commercial opportunities based on market gaps tender forecasts and portfolio analysis.
• Conduct feasibility and profitability assessments for proposed products.
• Collaborate with RA R&D Supply Chain and Manufacturing to drive concept-to-commercialisation processes.

Business Development:

• Support in-licensing co-marketing and partnership evaluations.
• Perform commercial modelling sales projections and risk assessments.
• Engage with external partners KOLs distributors and international suppliers.

Tender &Government Marlet Engagement:

• Monitor all tenders and demand-based procurement trends.
• Prepare pricing strategies volume proposals and submission dossiers.
• Ensure excellent post-award performance through supply oversight stock allocation and depot engagement.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Leadership:

• Work closely with Sales Medical RA QA Supply Chain and Finance to deliver seamless brand execution.
• Provide sales training briefing sessions and field support tools.
• Lead brand meetings and provide regular reports to senior management.

Financial Management:

• Develop brand budgets and manage promotional spend effectively.
• Track P&L; performance and optimise contribution margins.
• Track stock expiry status to avert write-offs
• Conduct pricing analyses tender profitability reviews and cost optimisation exercises.

Desired skills experience and qualifications:

• Grade 12 Degree in Pharmacy Marketing Life Sciences or Business (BPharm advantageous).
• 58 years brand/marketing experience within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Demonstrated success in product launches NPD and business development.
• Experience in SAHPRA-regulated environments and NDoH tender processes.
• Software (MS Office IMS(IQVIA) SSD Order Dynamics Repwise Qlikview Medikredit Pastel SAGE) SEPA pricing applications
• Budgeting & Forecasting
• Hospital and Specialist focus processes and networking experience. Marketing knowledge at this level
• Medical Aid Courier Pharmacy process and networking experience. Marketing knowledge at this level
• Brand plan creation & development
• In field working experience
• Medical congress & CME activity Organization & management
• Good communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Accountability and dependability

Duration: Permanent

Closing date for Application: 06 February 2026

Location: Ormonde Johannesburg

If you are a highly motivated individual with a passion for marketing please apply with your resume and cover letter to We look forward to hearing from you!

Innovata Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd

Innovata Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd are committed to protecting your privacy and is an equal opportunity organization that prides itself on its diverse teams across the globe.

If you have not heard from us within one month of your application please regard your application as having been unsuccessful.

Required Experience:

Manager