📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Marketing Manager - Hawthorn East
🔹 Company: Coles Group
🔹 Location: Hawthorn East, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-07-28
🔹 Experience Level: 8+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site (Hybrid)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and executing cause and community-focused marketing initiatives
- Managing reputation strategy and crisis communication
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams and stakeholders
- Translating insights into action and continuously optimizing campaigns
- Championing ideas that make a genuine difference
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a balance of strategic thinking and hands-on execution, with a focus on community engagement and brand reputation.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead the development and execution of cause and community-focused marketing initiatives
✅ Own and evolve our brand reputation and community marketing strategy
✅ Lead marketing campaigns that build customer trust and engagement
✅ Navigate shifting priorities, especially in business continuity situations
✅ Partner across teams including marketing agencies, Category teams, Corporate Affairs, Legal and Ops
✅ Translate insight into action, continuously optimising
✅ Champion ideas that make a genuine difference
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic planning, campaign management, and stakeholder communication, with a focus on community engagement and brand reputation.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field
Experience: 8+ years of experience across marketing with integrated campaign exposure
Required Skills:
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
- Strategic nous with the ability to pivot quickly when needed
- Cool-headedness in reactive or high-pressure situations
- An interest in building brand trust, reputation and social impact
- A test-and-learn mindset with the ability to prioritise what matters most
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in cause-driven or community-focused marketing
- Familiarity with crisis communication and business continuity planning
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in cause-driven marketing and crisis communication will be particularly well-suited to this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Based on industry standards for a Marketing Manager role in Melbourne, the estimated salary range is AU$120,000 - AU$160,000 per annum. This is inclusive of superannuation and is subject to change based on experience and qualifications.
Benefits:
- Flexible working options
- Office perks (e.g., gym facility, fitness classes, free parking, BBQ area, mini-Coles supermarket, fooderie hub, school holiday program)
- Discounts (5% discount all year round on Supermarket and Liquor online and in-store purchases, additional periods of double discount, hotdeals exclusive to team members)
- Reward through recognition (digital recognition platform 'mythanks' with points redeemable for exciting gifts and electronic gift cards)
- Opportunities for learning and development (variety of career development programs and job-specific training)
- Paid parental leave
- Investment in your future (annual team member share plan offer allowing eligible team members to make regular pre-tax salary sacrifice deductions to purchase Coles Group shares)
Working Hours: Full-time position with standard business hours, potentially requiring flexibility during critical situations
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Retail (Supermarkets)
Company Size: 10,001+ employees
Founded: 1914
Company Description:
- Coles Group is home to some of Australia’s iconic and most trusted brands
- Employing over 111,500 team members in every state and territory
- Vision: Become the most trusted retailer in Australia and grow long-term shareholder value
- Purpose: Help Australians eat and live better every day
Company Specialties:
- Retail
- Customer Service
- Buying
- Merchandise
- Retail Marketing
- Supply Chain Logistics
- Store Development
- Retail Operations
- Multichannel Retail
- Customer Insights and Loyalty
- Retail Technology
- Financial Services
- Supermarkets
- Food & Beverage
- Technology
- Digital
- and Convenience
Company Website: colescareers.com.au
ASSUMPTION: Coles Group is a large, established retailer with a diverse range of brands and a significant workforce. They prioritize community engagement and customer trust.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-Senior level
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Marketing Director and may oversee junior marketing team members or agency partners
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (on-site with flexible working options)
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression to a senior marketing role or management position
- Expansion of responsibilities based on performance and business needs
- Learning and development opportunities through Coles Group's programs and training
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for career growth and professional development within the Coles Group.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Corporate office with hybrid work arrangement
Office Location(s): 800-838 Toorak Rd, Hawthorn East, Melbourne, VIC 3123, AU
Geographic Context:
- Hawthorn East is an inner-eastern suburb of Melbourne, located approximately 10km east of the Melbourne CBD
- The suburb is well-connected by public transportation, with easy access to trams, trains, and buses
- Hawthorn East offers a mix of residential, commercial, and retail spaces, with nearby amenities including parks, cafes, and shopping centers
Work Schedule: Standard business hours with flexibility required during critical situations
ASSUMPTION: The Hawthorn East location offers a convenient and well-connected work environment, with easy access to public transportation and nearby amenities.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screening
- In-depth behavioral and skills-based interview
- Final interview with the hiring manager
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Campaign management and execution
- Stakeholder communication and management
- Cultural fit and alignment with Coles Group values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills
- Prepare examples of cause-driven marketing campaigns and crisis communication strategies
- Research Coles Group's values and mission to demonstrate your alignment with their culture
ATS Keywords: Marketing Manager, Marketing Strategy, Community Marketing, Brand Reputation, Crisis Communication, Stakeholder Management, Integrated Campaigns, Cause-Driven Marketing, Test-and-Learn Mindset
ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role is likely to be competitive, with a focus on strategic thinking, campaign management, and stakeholder communication skills.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Marketing automation platforms (e.g., Marketo, Adobe Campaign)
- Social media management tools (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout Social)
- Project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello)
- Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Tableau)
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with marketing automation, social media management, project management, and data analysis tools is beneficial for this role.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer Obsessed
- Integrity
- Respect
- Courage
- Accountability
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and responsive to changing priorities
- Data-driven and insight-focused
- Customer-centric and empathetic
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How have you demonstrated our company values in your previous roles?
- Can you describe a time when you had to pivot quickly in response to a changing situation? How did you handle it?
- How do you approach building relationships with stakeholders, and how have you managed difficult conversations in the past?
ASSUMPTION: Coles Group values a customer-obsessed, collaborative, and adaptable work environment, with a focus on integrity, respect, courage, and accountability.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple priorities and shifting deadlines, especially during critical situations
- Balancing strategic thinking with day-to-day execution
- Navigating a large, complex organization with diverse stakeholders
- Adapting to a hybrid work environment and maintaining productivity
ASSUMPTION: This role may present challenges related to time management, prioritization, and adaptability in a dynamic work environment.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other marketing manager roles, this position places a stronger emphasis on cause-driven marketing and community engagement
- In the retail industry, Coles Group is a large, established organization with a diverse range of brands, offering opportunities for career growth and professional development
- Career progression in this role may involve expanding responsibilities or moving into a senior marketing or management position
ASSUMPTION: This role offers unique opportunities for community-focused marketing and career growth within the retail industry.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a community-focused marketing campaign to raise awareness and funds for a local charity
- Managing Coles Group's response to a natural disaster or crisis, ensuring effective communication and community support
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to launch a new product line or service, with a focus on community engagement and brand reputation
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of responsibilities and stakeholders involved in this marketing manager role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics within the marketing department?
- How does the company support work-life balance, particularly for hybrid workers?
- What are the most pressing challenges facing the marketing team, and how can this role contribute to addressing them?
- How does Coles Group measure the success of marketing campaigns, particularly those focused on community engagement and brand reputation?
- What opportunities are there for professional development and career growth within the Coles Group?
ASSUMPTION: These interview questions help applicants better understand the role, team dynamics, and career growth opportunities within Coles Group.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through the Coles Group careers website
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills, with a focus on cause-driven marketing, campaign management, and stakeholder communication
- Prepare examples of cause-driven marketing campaigns and crisis communication strategies to discuss during the interview
- Research Coles Group's values and mission to demonstrate your alignment with their culture
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
