Brand Specialist career path
Brand Specialists are the Amazonians who make business happen. Working closely with our key vendors, it's their job to help promote particular brands and products, enable them to reach new customers and, ultimately, boost their sales performance. Every day, they're searching for opportunities, solving problems and offering recommendations. All in a bid to ensure those vendors are making the most of the Amazon marketplace. And when they're faced with a new problem or a new opportunity, they never hesitate to jump right in.
It's a complex challenge that involves immersing yourself fully in the brands you work with, developing a deep understanding of the people and products behind them, their customers and how Amazon can help them succeed. It's technical. It's commercial. It's analytical. It's creative. And if you want to get under the skin of some big-name brands while gaining maximum exposure to the wider world of Amazon, it's an experience you won't want to miss out on.
It could be that you're looking to join us straight from university. Or that you've already launched your career and you're ready to take the next step up. Either way, with all the opportunities available, there's a good chance we have a role that's right for you. Apply as a graduate Apply as a business professional
A series of online events that explores what being a Brand Specialist at Amazon is all about. You'll get to hear from current Brand Specialists, ask them any questions you like and more. Check out a day of life as a Brand Specialist at Amazon. Find out about the role and opportunity for you as a graduate or experienced hire. Hear more about the recruitment process from an Amazon Vendor Services team recruiter. Check out our headline video from the point of view of actual Brand Specialists at Amazon
What’s in a brand? It’s more than a name, a logo or a slogan – it’s the reputation that precedes your product or service before anyone has even had the opportunity to interact with it. A brand can make or break your business. At the centre of any successful brand is a Brand Manager, responsible for the perceptions your customers hold about your brand. They develop brand management strategies that serve to create an instantly recognisable product associated with favourable sentiments and messaging. With 92% of people relying on the recommendations they read online,1 the business need for skilled brand management professionals is more pressing than ever before. Effective Brand Managers need to be a combination of creative, logical, perceptive and tech-savvy, blending the ability to think out of the box with natural business acumen. On top of this they need to be able to lead: Brand Managers who are able to inspire enthusiasm in their organisation’s brand, both internally and externally, will have more success in producing a brand voice people want to hear from. What are the key responsibilities of a Brand Manager?Brand Managers are responsible for an array of brand-related tasks and duties. The success of the image of the brand is ultimately up to their planning and execution. As such, the three key areas of responsibility include:
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Entry-Level | R196,961 |
Mid-Career | R332, 158 |
15 Years Experience | R561,617 |
Entry-Level | £23,974 |
Mid-Career | £33,657 |
15 Years Experience | £48,424 |
Entry-Level | $40,142 |
Mid-Career | $67,353 |
15 Years Experience | $112,022 |
What are the education and training requirements for a Brand Manager?
Brand Management doesn’t require a specific degree or diploma, favouring experience above anything else, but there are different avenues if you’re interested in a job in the field.
Experience in strategy and leadership, regardless of industry:
Often organisations want a Brand Manager who can exhibit strategic thinking and who has led a team before. Demonstrating good team work abilities, creativity and analytical skills are valuable attributes for prospective Brand Managers.
A diploma in brand or a related field:
Advertising schools offer Brand Management or brand-relevant diplomas which give candidates direct exposure to the kinds of work a Brand Manager would be required to execute on.
A degree in marketing or sales:
Because it forms part of the marketing function of an organisation, a Bachelor’s degree in marketing or a marketing-related function is a logical route for someone interested in becoming a Brand Manager.
An online course:
Selecting the right online short course that will provide you with the recognition and skills your career path deserves, is how The Kartal Distribution Brand Manager, RJ, got to develop his marketing and brand management strategies and knowledge.
“I had heard about GetSmarter from some friends and shortly after getting the promotion I was excited to discover there was a course specifically designed for my new role – the UCT Brand Management online short course. I pitched this idea to management and they offered to pay for my studies.”
Brand management is always evolving as new techniques and tools emerge in the industry. As a result, one of the most important ways of staying relevant in the field is to continue learning. Discussing his experience on the course, RJ mentioned “The platform was fantastic. It was easy to use, the UCT Brand Management modules were well-structured and with the range of relevant skills I gained each week, I was able to immediately implement them in my new role on a daily basis.”
Which skills do you need next?
Download a course prospectus to find out how one of these online short courses can help you become a Brand Manager.
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