SAICA has embarked on an exciting transformation to become an insights-driven, technology-enabled, and AI-powered organisation. As part of our journey, we are streamlining processes, enhancing our digital capabilities, and strengthening our focus on sustainability in the accounting profession.

This transformation presents an opportunity for you to grow and contribute to SAICA’s vision in a redefined, future-fit role. We are looking for passionate, skilled professionals who are eager to innovate, embrace data-driven decision-making, and help shape the future of the profession.

If you are ready to be part of this next chapter, make a meaningful impact, and you are a suitably qualified and experienced Difference Maker wanting to go further on this exciting journey, you are encouraged to apply.

Purpose of the job

The Experiential Marketing Lead plays a pivotal role in translating the SAICA Brand Experience into tangible and memorable customer experiences, by conceiving, developing, and implementing a diverse range of innovative and highly engaging experiential marketing initiatives aimed at boosting member interaction, enhancing member satisfaction, and elevating SAICA’s brand presence in the industry. Working under the direct supervision of the Chief Experience Officer (CXO), the role oversees a dedicated team responsible for planning, managing, delivering, and monitoring a range of experiential initiatives -online and in-person. These include conference, seminars, webinars workshops, events, and other below-the-line activations. The role demands a strategic mindset to seamlessly integrate in-person and digital experiences, ensuring these efforts align with the organisation’s overarching objectives as well as SAICA’s Integrated- Go-To-Market (IGTM) strategies and plans.

Additionally, this role plays a critical role in ensuring strategic, operational, and tactical alignment in the delivery of SAICA experiences at international, national, and regional levels, ensuring a seamless and unified SAICA brand experience, irrespective of where these experiences are developed and implemented.

Furthermore, this position fosters a culture of innovation, efficiencies, agility, and continuous engagement by leveraging advanced data analytics, member feedback, and market trends to create impactful experiences that meet and exceed stakeholder expectations. By collaborating with cross-functional teams and external partners, the Experiential Marketing Lead ensures the successful execution of projects that not only strengthen SAICA’s position as an industry leader but also consistently contribute to its long-term vision of member-centric excellence.

Key/main outputs

Output 1: Experiential Marketing Strategy

• Develop, implement, and monitor a comprehensive experiential marketing strategy alignedwith SAICA’s overall goals and brand experience strategy ensuring a clear roadmap forenhancing member engagement at international, national and regional levels. This includes aclearly articulated, user-friendly SAICA experiential playbook – endorsed by Brand- digitisedand cascaded to all implementation levels
• Leverage data insights, member feedback, and industry best practices to design impactful,tailored experiences that address diverse member needs
• Innovate and continuously refine SAICA’s experiential offerings by staying ahead of industry trends, incorporating cutting-edge technologies, and adapting to market shifts
• Establish fit-for-purpose key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success and effectiveness of experiential marketing initiatives, ensuring fit into the overall Customer Experience success measures

Output 2: Event Planning and Execution

• Oversee the end-to-end planning, coordination, and execution of seminars, workshops,conferences, and other events, ensuring flawless delivery
• Empower, support, and oversee the Experiential Marketing Manager in the development,execution and monitoring of detailed project plans for each event, including timelines,governance and checklists, resource allocation, and contingency measures. Ensuring alignment to the overall IGTM plans
• With the support of Brand, ensure all events align with SAICA’s brand identity, values, and strategic objectives, fostering meaningful connections with members
• Monitor event success metrics such as attendance, participant satisfaction, and ROI, using findings to implement continuous improvements for future events
• Maintain strong relationships with vendors, venues, and service providers to ensure qualityand cost-efficiency

Output 3: Digital and Hybrid Experiences

• Lead the integration of advanced digital tools and platforms into SAICA’s experiential marketing initiatives, ensuring seamless member interactions
• Develop hybrid experiences that creatively blend in-person and digital engagement to cater to diverse member preferences
• Identify and implement innovative technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality(AR), and interactive content, to enhance the member experience
• Stay abreast of emerging trends in digital and experiential marketing, proactively adopting new approaches to keep SAICA at the forefront of innovation

Output 4: Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, partners, and sponsors toenhance the value and reach of SAICA’s experiential marketing initiatives
• Collaborate with internal teams, including marketing, operations, and member services, to deliver seamless and impactful experiences
• Negotiate and manage partnerships with external agencies, ensuring alignment with SAICA’s goals and maximising mutual benefits
• Engage with sponsors to secure funding and resources for experiential initiatives, while delivering value through effective sponsorship activation

Output 5: Budgeting and Financial Management

• Develop, monitor, and manage budgets for all experiential marketing activities, ensuring financial discipline and alignment with organisational priorities
• Ensure cost-effective delivery of high-quality events and experiences without compromising on member satisfaction
• Regularly review financial performance and implement cost-saving measures where necessary, while maintaining the integrity of the member experience
• Prepare detailed financial reports and forecasts for the CXO and other stakeholders, providing insights into budget utilisation and return on investment

Output 6: Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, mentor, and inspire the Seminars and Events team, fostering a high-performance cultureand encouraging innovation
• Develop and implement professional development plans for team members, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives and individual growth goals
• Facilitate regular team meetings and feedback sessions to ensure effective communication,collaboration, and alignment with SAICA’s vision
• Drive a culture of accountability, creativity, and continuous learning within the team, equipping them to deliver exceptional results

Output 7: Embrace And Drive Organisational Transformation

• Actively contribute to cost containment efforts by identifying opportunities for operational efficiencies, optimising resources, and ensuring value-driven decision-making in daily activities
• Support SAICA’s transformation into an insights-driven organisation by leveraging data and analytics to enhance decision-making, improve processes, and drive continuous improvement in your area of work
• Effectively utilise digital tools and technology to enhance productivity, streamline workflows,and improve service delivery. Stay informed about new and emerging technologies relevant to your role
• Adopt and embrace AI-driven tools and automation to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness in job-related tasks, while continuously seeking opportunities to improve processes through innovative technology solutions
• Identify and support SAICA’s management of risks related to sustainability, including environmental risks, regulatory changes and social risks and integrating them into businesscontinuity and risk management plans