Brand Manager- OTC

A leading Pharmaceutical Company is looking for a results-driven OTC Brand Manager to own and grow our consumer health brands in the UAE and wider GCC. You will lead brand strategy, consumer and pharmacist engagement, and commercial execution, with full accountability for sell-out growth, market share, and brand P&L. Position Summary • Owns the P&L, strategy, and growth of one or more OTC brands from portfolio planning through in-market execution • Reports to the Marketing Director / Head of Consumer Health; works cross-functionally with Sales, Trade Marketing, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Finance, and Medical • Success is measured by sell-out growth, market share, brand health, and marketing ROI, not activity volume 1. Brand Strategy & Planning • Develop the annual brand plan and 3-year strategic roadmap with clear objectives, KPIs, and budget • Define target consumer segments, positioning, value proposition, and brand architecture • Conduct market, competitor, and category analysis (IQVIA, Nielsen, retail audits, consumer research) to identify growth opportunities • Build the brand P&L, forecast sales, and manage gross margin and A&P as a percentage of sales • Identify white spaces: new indications, line extensions, new pack sizes, and channel expansion 2. Consumer & Shopper Marketing • Lead consumer insight work (U&A studies, brand tracking, focus groups) and translate findings into campaigns • Develop integrated 360° campaigns across TV, digital, social, influencers, OOH, and in-pharmacy activation • Own the digital strategy: e-commerce (Noon, Amazon, Talabat, pharmacy apps), SEO, paid media, CRM, and content • Design shopper marketing programs: in-store visibility, shelf share, promotions, and pack-price architecture • Manage agency partners (creative, media, digital, PR) including briefing, budgets, and performance review 3. Pharmacist & HCP Influence • Build pharmacist recommendation programs, since pharmacists often drive the final purchase decision • Develop detailing material, training modules, and incentive schemes for pharmacy staff and chains • Engage key HCPs (GPs, pediatricians, dermatologists, etc.) for endorsement and scientific credibility where relevant • Partner with Medical to develop claims, scientific dossiers, and congress or CME activities 4. Commercial Execution & Sales Alignment • Align with the Sales Director on targets, pharmacy coverage, call frequency, and priority accounts • Brief and train the sales force and key account managers on brand messages, promotions, and tools • Negotiate and track trade terms and promotional plans with pharmacy chains and distributors (e.g., Aster, Life, Al Ain) • Monitor sell-in vs. sell-out and stock levels to prevent over-stocking or stockouts • Review brand performance monthly and course-correct quickly 5. Pricing & Financial Management • Define pricing strategy and manage price positioning versus competitors and parallel imports • Own the A&P budget: allocation, tracking, and ROI measurement by channel • Report on variance versus plan and present corrective actions to senior leadership 6. Compliance & Governance • Ensure all promotional activity complies with local regulations, the company code of conduct, and industry codes • Obtain Medical/Regulatory/Legal approvals before material release • Maintain pharmacovigilance awareness and report adverse events per SOPs Key KPIs • Net sales and growth versus plan, and market share (value and volume) • Gross margin and A&P to sales ratio • Brand awareness, consideration, and penetration (brand tracker) • Pharmacy numeric and weighted distribution, share of shelf • Pharmacist recommendation share • Digital and e-commerce sales contribution; campaign ROI • Launch performance versus forecast Qualifications & Experience • Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy, Life Sciences • 2-3 years in FMCG, OTC, or consumer healthcare. • Proven track record of managing brands with measurable P&L impact • Strong understanding of the UAE/GCC pharmacy landscape, regulations, and consumer behavior • Experience managing agencies and cross-functional teams