Marketing Manager

Kearsney College is a leading independent boarding and day school for approximately 650 boys from Grades 8 to 12.
The 125-acre estate is in a beautiful country setting on the edge of the Valley of a Thousand Hills, just outside Durban. Kearsney has an outstanding record of academic achievement in the IEB Matriculation Examinations and provides a dynamic sporting and cultural offering.
Kearsney College invites suitably qualified and experienced candidates to apply for the position of

Marketing Manager

Kearsney College is seeking an exceptional Marketing Manager to lead the marketing, communications and admissions functions.

Reporting to the Head of Advancement, the successful candidate will drive the development and execution of integrated strategies that support the College’s strategic objectives and strengthen Kearsney’s position as a leading independent boys’ school. The role has responsibility for the leadership and performance of the Communications Manager, Digital Content Creator, Marketing Assistant and Admissions Officer, ensuring the effective delivery of communication, brand, marketing and admissions initiatives across the College.

Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Marketing and Brand Management

• Develop and implement integrated marketing, communications and admissions plans aligned to the College’s strategic objectives;
• Develop and implement marketing initiatives that support the College’s enrolment, engagement and brand objectives;
• Ensure consistent and professional brand management across all platforms, publications and communications;
• Act as the custodian of the brand of the College. Ensure all communications, campus signage and apparel issued from the College adhere to the corporate identity standards and support the brand identity;
• Monitor trends and developments within the education sector and identify opportunities to strengthen marketing effectiveness and stakeholder engagement;
• Conduct and interpret market research and provide insights to support institutional decision-making.

Communications and Content
Working closely with the Communications Manager, the incumbent will:

• Oversee the creation and distribution of compelling content across print, digital and social media platforms;
• Manage the College website, app and other online communication channels;
• Lead the production of publications, newsletters, prospectuses, advertisements and promotional materials;
• Develop and implement internal and external communication plans that reflect the College’s strategic priorities.

Media and Public Relations

• Build and maintain strong relationships with local, regional and national media;
• Identify and promote opportunities to showcase the achievements, programmes and successes of the College;
• Prepare media statements, press releases and key messaging;
• Foster positive relationships with stakeholders and support initiatives that strengthen awareness of and engagement with the College.

Admissions and Stakeholder Engagement

• Support the achievement of admissions targets through effective marketing and communication initiatives;
• Develop and deliver communications and engagement initiatives for prospective families, current parents, alumni and other key stakeholders;
• Collaborate with academic, sporting, cultural and operational departments to promote the full Kearsney experience;
• Manage the scholarship and bursary process;
• Provide specialist marketing and communications advice and support across the College.

Leadership and Team Management

• Lead, develop and manage the performance of the Communications Manager, Digital Content Creator, Marketing Assistant and Admissions Officer;
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing and service-oriented team culture aligned with the values and strategic objectives of the College;
• Set clear goals, performance expectations and development plans for team members;
• Ensure effective workload planning, prioritisation and resource allocation across marketing, communications, digital content and admissions functions;
• Provide coaching, mentoring and ongoing professional development to team members;
• Drive accountability for the delivery of departmental objectives, projects and service standards.

Project and Budget Management

• Lead and coordinate marketing and admissions projects and campaigns;
• Manage the marketing campaigns around Kearsney sports and other events;
• Manage external service providers and agency relationships;
• Work with the Advancement Director to develop and manage departmental budgets;
• Establish appropriate metrics and reporting mechanisms to evaluate effectiveness, impact and return on investment.

Preferred Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• A relevant qualification in Marketing, Communications, Journalism or a related field;
• At least five years’ experience in marketing, communications, brand management or stakeholder engagement, including management experience;
• Proven experience leading and developing multidisciplinary teams;
• Demonstrated ability to manage performance, build capability and create a culture of accountability and continuous improvement;
• Experience developing and implementing integrated marketing strategies;
• Strong digital marketing expertise, including social media, website management, SEO and content marketing;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Experience engaging with media and managing public relations activities;
• Proven project management and organisational skills;
• Experience using data, analytics and insights to inform decision-making and measure performance;
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively across diverse stakeholder groups;
• Well-developed analytical, creative and strategic thinking capabilities.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to build and maintain meaningful relationships;
• Professionalism, initiative and sound judgement;
• Creativity coupled with strategic thinking;
• Exceptional attention to detail;
• Resilience and adaptability;
• Integrity and a commitment to high professional standards;
• A collaborative and service-oriented approach;

Interested candidates should apply in writing by submitting their curriculum vitae to vacancies@kearsney.com, with the position title clearly stated in the subject line. Names and contact details of three referees should be included.

Closing date: 22 November 2026

Kearsney College reserves the right not to make an appointment. An application does not entitle the applicant to an interview. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. If applicants are not contacted within 21 days of submitting their application, they may accept that their application has been unsuccessful. In terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013, section 11(1)(a), by applying for this vacancy, you grant Kearsney College consent to use your CV and personal details to apply for this specific role. The personal information of unsuccessful applicants will be destroyed once the purpose for which the personal information was collected ceases to exist.