The Martin Group Is Hiring: RFP/Proposal Writer, Senior Brand Manager, Brand Manager, Brand Coordinator.

In addition to our Front-End Web Developer and Designer opening, The Martin Group currently has four other job opportunities for candidates looking to join our growing team that is headquartered in Buffalo, N.Y., and also has a second office in Rochester, N.Y.

RFP/PROPOSAL WRITER
The Martin Group (TMG) is hiring an RFP/Proposal Writer. Our ideal candidate can write compelling content in a marketing voice, and is an adaptable writer who can write general proposals for new business opportunities, as well as specific, formal responses to Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Quotes (RFQs), and Requests for Information (RFIs). This position requires exceptional communication, organization and time management skills. An understanding of advertising, branding and marketing is a definite plus.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the completion of complex RFPs (writing content, managing the process, working across the organization to assimilate information, and adhering to tight deadlines)
• Establish timeline with target dates for information gathering, writing, review, and approval
• Write case studies to be used in marketing and business development
• Write, revise and edit drafts including executive summaries, conclusions, and organization overview
• Produce content for marketing-related efforts including promotional material, presentations, and collateral
• Improve proposal results by evaluating and re-designing process, approach, coordination, and boilerplate information, and then implement changes
• Communicate effectively in person, via email, and via the telephone with both the prospective client and the agency’s creative team on specific projects
• Collaborate with the agency’s traffic, creative and production teams to complete the RFP and ensure it is delivered on time and on budget
• Continually assess and update TMG’s new business content in response to changes in products, services and client feedback
• Maintain a proposal database and proposal tracking tools

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Exceptional writing skills
• Strong analytic, research, and interpersonal skills
• 2 – 3+ years experience, preferably in the fields of advertising, branding, marketing and/or public relations
• Ability to interact with colleagues at all levels

Email Resume to: Kelli Putney, Senior Vice President | Brand Strategist (kelli@martingroupmarketing.com)

 

SENIOR BRAND MANAGER
A Senior Brand Manager is responsible for managing clients, clients’ brands, and the projects and relationships the agency has with that client. The Senior Brand Manager is the liaison to the client and central to the development of ongoing business.

Responsibilities:

• The Senior Brand Manager (SBM) is the day-to-day client contact and is responsible for developing and strengthening the business relationship with the client

• The SBM counsels clients in marketing and spearheads efforts to develop strategies and goals; the SBM should periodically review the clients’ businesses with an eye toward identifying business needs of the client and opportunities for the agency; the SBM should have a long-range view of the account and be able to plan and manage activities on a quarterly and annual basis

• A key responsibility is ensuring the client’s needs and expectations are met with projects that are on strategy, on time and within budget; if clients are not pleased, the SBM should identify problems early; the SBM should also be in close enough contact with the client and his/her business to identify both issues and new growth opportunities

• The SBM is responsible for reviewing all project financials, including billing and reconciliations, and has a role in ensuring the agency’s profitability

• At the senior level, the SBM will demonstrate high-level strategic thinking, writing Creative/Brand/Project Briefs, Points of View (POVs) and agency recommendations to the client

• The SBM writes proposals, estimates and marketing plans for clients and prospective clients; the SBM also works with the rest of the agency team to write responses to RFPs, RFQs and pitch presentations as needed

• The SBM manages budgets, timelines, workflow, meetings, and status reports for projects from start to finish

• The SBM maintains accurate and timely customer, pipeline, and forecast data

• The SBM should possess a general understanding of pricing strategies, demographic and geographic trends, competitive analyses, and market conditions in order to craft a strategic approach and offer the client solutions and recommendations

• A key responsibility is communicating effectively in person, via email, and via the telephone with both the client and the agency’s creative team on specific projects

• The SBM should also be fluent in the Brand Fuel Process and be able to speak to the agency’s creative, digital and media expertise

Accountability/Results:

• The SBM is critical to ongoing business development and is accountable for the success of the client relationship

• The SBM should:
  • Demonstrate leadership, superior organization, exceptional communication skills, accuracy and efficiency
  • Work with the entire agency team to ensure excellence of the agency’s output – including strategy, account service and the final creative product

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, advertising, or other related field

• Master’s degree or MBA preferred

• At least five to seven (5 – 7) years of advertising agency experience (or equivalent) preferred

Email Resume to: Lisa Strock, Senior Vice President | Client Services (lisa@martingroupmarketing.com)

 

BRAND MANAGER
The Brand Manager (BM) is the liaison to the client and central to the development of on-going business.

Key Duties/Responsibilities:

• The Brand Manager (BM) should have a long-range view of the account and be able to plan and manage activities over a year.
• A key responsibility for the BM is ensuring that the clients are pleased and, if not, identifying problems early.  The BM should be in close enough contact with the client and his/her business to identify new growth opportunities.
• The BM counsels clients in marketing and spearheads efforts to develop strategies and goals.  The BM should periodically review the clients’ business with a view towards identifying business needs.
• The BM is the day-to-day client contact.  He/she is responsible for attending and conducting most client meetings and internal project status meeting; presentations; and reviewing all project financials including billing and reconciliations.

Accountability/Results:

• The BM is critical to business development and is accountable for the success of the client relationship.
• The BM is accountable for:
• Demonstrating leadership, superior organization and efficiency.
• Supervising, managing, and reporting on account financials.
• Creative excellence, accuracy of project documents.
• Adherence to timelines and agreed upon project and account milestones.
• Maintaining project records for efficiencies.

Qualifications:

A minimum of five years of agency or client experience.

Email Resume to: Lisa Strock, Senior Vice President | Client Services (lisa@martingroupmarketing.com)

 

BRAND COORDINATOR
A Brand Coordinator’s primary responsibility is to support the Brand Manager (BM) with the day-to-day tactical operation of the client account. The Brand Coordinator will be assigned to work with different Brand Managers and will also be a Brand Manager’s back up on various projects when he/she is out of the office. The Brand Coordinator will assist with special projects as needed, reporting back to a Brand Manager or others within the agency.

Once a Brand Coordinator has demonstrated a thorough understanding of our process and culture, he/she will also be given an opportunity to manage his or her own clients and/or projects with supervision from another member on the account service team.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Working with the BM to collect pertinent information to open a new job and make revisions to existing jobs to submit to the traffic department
• Reporting key project and client information back to the BM
• Client communication as directed by the BM
• Developing job estimates and contacting any necessary outside vendors for project quotes
• Developing workback schedules outlining key steps and due dates to complete a project on time
• Organizing client sample folders and monitoring traditional and online publications for category insight
• Creating meeting agendas, conference reports and updating status reports
• Assisting with monitoring hours on jobs and project billing

Skills/Requirements:

• Ability to effectively problem solve and communicate in writing and verbally
• Writing samples required
• Strong attention to detail as this position is detail-oriented
• Familiar with Microsoft Word and Excel
• Agency, client-related or internship experience preferred but not required

Email Resume to: Lisa Strock, Senior Vice President | Client Services (lisa@martingroupmarketing.com)