Brand Director - North Africa, Levant & Pakistan

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Brand Director - North Africa, Levant & Pakistan

🔹 Company: Visa

🔹 Location: Cairo, Egypt

🔹 Job Type: Full-time, Hybrid

🔹 Category: Marketing

🔹 Date Posted: May 20, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 12+ years

🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (expectation of days in office confirmed by hiring manager)

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Leading strategic marketing plans across the NALP region
• Managing sponsorships and agency relationships
• Acting as a brand guardian and providing marketing consultancy to client banks
• Budget management and team development

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration to drive marketing effectiveness and business growth across multiple countries.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Lead development and implementation of strategic marketing and communication plans

✅ Ensure analysis of marketing initiatives from marketing and business effectiveness perspectives

✅ Activate Visa's sponsorship properties to amplify marketing investments

✅ Monitor market trends and competitor activities to identify opportunities or concerns

✅ Manage allocated budgets and ensure compliance with rules and policies

✅ Act as the Visa brand guardian and ensure compliance with brand strategies and guidelines

✅ Provide professional marketing advice and consultancy to clients

✅ Manage relationships with creative agencies and ensure efficient delivery of plans

✅ Contribute to the development of the NALP marketing team and maintain strong relationships with senior management

ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic planning, hands-on execution, and stakeholder management, requiring strong leadership, communication, and influencing skills.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Tertiary education (MBA preferable)

Experience: 12+ years of senior marketing experience in blue-chip fast-moving consumer goods, banking/financial services, or high-tech industries

Required Skills:

• Global and/or regional senior marketing responsibility across MENA & Pakistan
• Strong track record in managing external agencies and developing effective campaigns

Preferred Skills:

• Strong business acumen and P&L management experience
• Strong leadership skills and ability to inspire and motivate teams
• Demonstrated depth of experience across all marketing channels, including social/digital
• Good creative instincts and proven ability to translate insights into ideas
• Ability to manage by influence across matrixed organizations
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Multi-culturally sensitive and comfortable working across different cultures
• Negotiation skills and great relationship management skills
• Agility and flexibility to work in a fast-changing environment

ASSUMPTION: Given the regional scope and seniority of this role, candidates should have extensive marketing experience, strong leadership skills, and a proven track record in managing cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $200,000 USD (estimated based on industry standards for a senior marketing role in the region)

Benefits:

• Competitive benefits package
• Opportunities for professional development and career growth
• Dynamic and inclusive work environment

Working Hours: Full-time, Hybrid (expectation of days in office confirmed by hiring manager)

ASSUMPTION: The salary range is estimated based on industry standards for a senior marketing role in the region. Actual compensation may vary based on experience, skills, and other factors.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Visa is a global leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories.

Company Size: Visa has 10,001+ employees, providing a large and diverse work environment with ample opportunities for growth and collaboration.

Founded: Visa was founded in 1958 and has since grown into a publicly-traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: V).

Company Description:

• Visa's purpose is to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.
• The company facilitates transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories.
• Visa offers a wide range of payment products and services, including credit, debit, prepaid, and commercial payments.

Company Specialties:

• Global payments technology
• Digital payments innovation
• Cybersecurity and fraud management

Company Website: Visa Careers

ASSUMPTION: Visa's large size and global presence offer applicants extensive career growth opportunities and exposure to diverse markets and cultures.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Senior Management

Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Senior Director, Marketing, NALP, and has matrixed relationships with various stakeholders across the region.

Work Arrangement: Hybrid (expectation of days in office confirmed by hiring manager)

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to expand the role's scope or take on additional responsibilities based on performance and business needs.
• Opportunities to work on high-profile sponsorships and marketing campaigns.
• Access to professional development resources and training programs.

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential, both in terms of career progression and skill development, given Visa's large size and global presence.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid (expectation of days in office confirmed by hiring manager)

Office Location(s): Cairo, Egypt

Geographic Context:

• Cairo is the capital and largest city of Egypt, with a population of over 20 million people.
• The city is a major economic and cultural hub in the Middle East and North Africa region.
• Cairo offers a mix of modern and traditional experiences, with historical sites, vibrant markets, and contemporary attractions.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with a flexible work arrangement that allows for remote work and in-office collaboration.

ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement provides a balance between remote flexibility and in-office collaboration, allowing employees to optimize their productivity and work-life balance.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
• In-depth interviews with cross-functional stakeholders
• Final interview with the Senior Director, Marketing, NALP

Key Assessment Areas:

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Leadership and team management capabilities
• Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant marketing experience, leadership skills, and cultural sensitivity.
• Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, leadership style, and ability to work effectively in a matrixed organization.
• Research Visa's company culture and values to demonstrate your fit and enthusiasm for the role.

ATS Keywords: Strategic Marketing, Data Analysis, Brand Management, Sponsorship Activation, Client Consultancy, Budget Management, Agency Management, Leadership, Communication, Negotiation, Cultural Sensitivity, Relationship Management, Creative Development, Market Analysis, P&L Management, Digital Marketing

ASSUMPTION: Visa's application process is designed to assess candidates' strategic thinking, leadership, and cultural fit, with a focus on identifying strong performers who can drive marketing effectiveness and business growth in the region.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Marketing automation platforms (e.g., Marketo, Adobe Campaign)
• Social media management tools (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout Social)
• Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
• Project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello)

ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies used may vary depending on the region and the marketing channels employed.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Customer-centric
• Inclusive
• Innovative
• Collaborative
• Integrity

Work Style:

• Data-driven and analytical
• Collaborative and cross-functional
• Adaptable and responsive to change
• Results-oriented and focused on driving business impact

Self-Assessment Questions:

• How have you leveraged data and insights to drive marketing strategy and improve business outcomes in previous roles?
• Can you provide an example of a time when you successfully managed a cross-functional team to deliver a complex marketing campaign or project?
• How do you approach working with diverse stakeholders and navigating matrixed organizations?

ASSUMPTION: Visa values candidates who align with their customer-centric, inclusive, and collaborative work culture, and who can demonstrate strong analytical skills, adaptability, and a results-driven approach.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing multiple stakeholders across a large and diverse region
• Balancing strategic planning with hands-on execution and day-to-day management
• Adapting to a hybrid work environment and managing remote team members
• Navigating cultural differences and language barriers across the NALP region

ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be mitigated through strong leadership, effective communication, and a commitment to building strong relationships with stakeholders across the region.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role is unique in its regional scope and matrixed reporting structure, offering a high level of responsibility and autonomy.
• Compared to other marketing roles, this position requires a strong balance of strategic thinking, leadership, and hands-on execution.
• Career progression opportunities may include taking on additional responsibilities or moving into a global marketing role within Visa.

ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique blend of regional marketing experience, leadership development, and exposure to a large and diverse organization.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and executing a regional marketing strategy to drive brand awareness and consideration among Visa's target audience
• Managing a high-profile sponsorship activation, such as the Olympics or FIFA World Cup, to maximize marketing investments and generate business impact
• Conducting a market analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and threats in the NALP region, and developing data-driven recommendations to inform marketing strategy

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic, cross-functional, and hands-on nature of the Brand Director role within Visa.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• How does this role fit into Visa's global marketing strategy, and what are the key priorities for the first 90 days?
• Can you describe the team structure and dynamics within the NALP marketing team, and how this role will contribute to its development and growth?
• How does Visa support the professional development and career growth of its marketing team members, and what opportunities exist for growth within this role?
• What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this role, and how will success be measured and evaluated?
• How does Visa foster a culture of inclusion and diversity, and what initiatives are in place to support employees from various backgrounds and experiences?

ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to provide insight into the role's strategic context, team dynamics, growth opportunities, performance expectations, and company culture.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through the Visa Careers portal
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant marketing experience, leadership skills, and cultural sensitivity
• Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, leadership style, and ability to work effectively in a matrixed organization
• Research Visa's company culture and values to demonstrate your fit and enthusiasm for the role
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and express your interest in the opportunity

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.