Director Commercial

About Zambia Daily Mail Limited

Zambia Daily Mail Limited, a prominent publisher of daily newspapers in Zambia under the ownership of the Industrial Development Corporation, is seeking a Director Commercial to join its senior management team based in Lusaka. This key position will oversee and execute strategies to drive growth and profitability across the company’s commercial functions.

Purpose of the Role

The Director Commercial will be responsible for crafting and executing plans that support the company's commercial operations, ensuring smooth production, timely printing, and effective market distribution of newspapers. The position also involves managing the company’s marketing, advertising, courier, and commercial printing service delivery.

Key Duties

• Guarantee that all products and services are delivered punctually and meet established quality standards.
• Develop and implement robust sales, marketing, advertising, and courier strategies to retain and grow the client base and to strengthen the Zambia Daily Mail Limited brand and reach.
• Actively network and secure new clientele through meetings with marketing professionals and organizations.
• Plan, oversee, and optimize activities related to newspaper and commercial printing, marketing initiatives, courier services, and distribution.
• Ensure advertising content aligns with targeted market and customer specifications.
• Direct sales efforts for advertising services, collaborating with internal departments to maximize campaign impact and industry reach.
• Correspond with current and prospective customers to negotiate advertising rates, clarify policies, and solicit business.
• Supervise research efforts to gather valuable data for planning and campaign execution.
• Analyze sales statistics to shape policy and provide guidance for sales channels and partners.
• Monitor and regulate departmental spending to stay within budget constraints.
• Design and manage community outreach and social responsibility programs, ensuring compliance with selected criteria.
• Fulfill the role and responsibilities of a company director legally and ethically.
• Champion enhancements to product and service quality as part of the brand strategy.
• Oversee the performance of subordinate staff, conducting regular evaluations to meet departmental goals.
• Perform any additional tasks as assigned by the Managing Director.

Qualifications and Experience Requirements

• Grade 12 certificate with at least five credits, including English and Mathematics.
• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or a Professional Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing (CIM).
• Advanced qualifications such as an MBA and experience in the media sector are highly desirable.
• Minimum of ten years’ relevant experience, with at least five years in a senior management position in a challenging environment.
• Active membership with the Zambia Institute of Marketing is mandatory.
• Strong computer proficiency across business and marketing ICT applications.

Competencies and Attributes

• Demonstrated leadership across multidisciplinary teams, covering roles in courier, marketing, advertising, and production.
• Proven ability to perform effectively under tight deadlines without compromising on innovation or quality.
• Outstanding organizational, time management, and attention to detail skills.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal capabilities.
• Self-driven, highly motivated, and able to operate independently.

Additional Information

• Applicants must provide a comprehensive CV, certified copies of relevant certificates (noting that certification needs to be validated by the Zambia Qualifications Authority), and three references.
• Applications are open exclusively to qualified Zambians.