Background

The Malawi-Liverpool Wellcome Programme (MLW) is a world-class health research institution committed to improving health through research, capacity building, and strong partnerships.

The Malawi–Liverpool–Wellcome Programme (MLW) is seeking to hire a Marketing Manager who shall be based within the Communications department and reporting to the Head of the Department.

The position is tenable at MLW head offices in Blantyre.

POSITION FUNCTION (PURPOSE)

The Marketing Manager provides strategic leadership for MLW’s branding and marketing function, positioning the organization as a trusted partner-of-choice in health research, training, and innovation. The role leads strategic outreach and institutional marketing initiatives that enhance MLW’s visibility, reputation, and stakeholder engagement.

Working collaboratively with the Internal and External Communications team, the Marketing Manager ensures marketing objectives are translated into coherent, high-quality communications and promotional activities. The role also supports partner-related engagement and strengthens marketing capacity across departments to ensure consistent representation of MLW’s value, impact, and institutional strengths.

Responsibilities

Marketing Strategy and Planning

• Lead the development, implementation and review of MLW’s institutional marketing strategy
• Develop annual marketing plans and budgets aligned to organisational priorities.
• Apply clearly defined marketing principles adapted to a research and non-commercial environment, including:
• Define and articulate MLW’s institutional offerings, including research excellence, training programmes, platforms, and health impact.
• Identify and prioritise key audiences such as funders, partners, policymakers, communities, alumni, and collaborators. Identifying potential new markets and creating a plan to enter those markets.
• Strengthen MLW’s reputation as a credible, trusted, and collaborative partner-of-choice in health research.
• Select appropriate platforms and channels (digital, events, publications, media, partnerships) to reach each audience effectively.
• Ensure all marketing activities are evidence-based, scientifically accurate, and compliant with governance and funder requirements. Additionally, protect and enhance MLW’s reputation for integrity, credibility, and scientific excellence.

Brand Management and Campaigns

• Design and implement comprehensive marketing campaigns in line with the institutional strategy.
• Strengthen outreach to funders and partners by developing strategic products in collaboration with the Partnerships Office, Community Engagement teams.
• Provide strategic oversight of MLW’s brand positioning and ensure consistent brand application across all channels through developing, maintaining, and enforcing brand guidelines, templates, and tools.
• Plan and implement integrated rebranding marketing campaigns (digital, print, media, events) to increase awareness of research outcomes, programs, and institutional initiatives.
• Lead Institutional rebranding initiatives.
• Work with research and technical teams to translate complex health research into accessible and impactful marketing assets.

Marketing Content & Editorial Direction

• In collaboration with the Internal and External Communications Team, manage the production of corporate products, including the Illustrated Annual Report, brochures, and digital materials.
• Provide editorial support through professional writing, editing, and translation services.
• Maintain a comprehensive database of external vendors, including writers, designers, and translators.

Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Lead and manage the marketing team, including recruitment, performance management, coaching, and development.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and professional growth opportunities for marketing team.
• Identify marketing training needs across the organization and develop tools to enhance marketing skills for various groups.

Events & Promotional Support

• Provide strategic marketing support for institutional events, including press conferences, launches, fundraisers, community outreach, and exhibits etc.
• Ensure events and promotional materials align with MLW’s brand and messaging.

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships

• Support funder and partner engagement in collaboration with the Resource Mobilisation and Partnerships Office.
• Contribute marketing inputs to partnership proposals and collaboration briefs.
• Build and maintain relationships with media, partners, government agencies, donors, community groups, and other key stakeholders, closely working with the Resource Mobilisation and Partnerships Office , Policy Unit, Public Engagement Office, Internal and External Communications Team, Innovation Hub, and other research/Operations teams
• Represent MLW at public events, conferences, and promotional platforms.

Marketing Research, Analytics & Reporting

• Conduct regular market and audience research to inform strategy refinement, understand competitors, and stay updated on industry trends.
• Develop metrics and KPIs to evaluate marketing performance and brand visibility.
• Produce regular marketing performance reports to inform leadership decision making

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, social science, or any related field, with 5 years of relevant experience. A master’s is desirable.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years in marketing, including 2–3 years in a management role. A proven track record in project management and personnel leadership is essential.

KEY COMPETENCIES / SKILLS

• Proven experience in brand development, managing external advertising agencies, and creating products for diverse audiences (donors, policymakers, and the public).
• Fluency in English (excellent writing/editing) is required. Fluency in Chichewa is highly preferred for local audience engagement.
• Professional Membership to a local or international marketing body, desirable
• Ability to implement new ideas and persuade others to follow.
• Aligning decisions with organizational strategy, vision and mission.
• Creating content for media outlets and the public.
• Organizing resources and protocols to achieve specific goals.

• Lead the development, implementation and review of MLW’s institutional marketing strategy
• Develop annual marketing plans and budgets aligned to organisational priorities.
• Apply clearly defined marketing principles adapted to a research and non-commercial environment, including:
• Define and articulate MLW’s institutional offerings, including research excellence, training programmes, platforms, and health impact.
• Identify and prioritise key audiences such as funders, partners, policymakers, communities, alumni, and collaborators. Identifying potential new markets and creating a plan to enter those markets.
• Strengthen MLW’s reputation as a credible, trusted, and collaborative partner-of-choice in health research.
• Select appropriate platforms and channels (digital, events, publications, media, partnerships) to reach each audience effectively.
• Ensure all marketing activities are evidence-based, scientifically accurate, and compliant with governance and funder requirements. Additionally, protect and enhance MLW’s reputation for integrity, credibility, and scientific excellence.
• Design and implement comprehensive marketing campaigns in line with the institutional strategy.
• Strengthen outreach to funders and partners by developing strategic products in collaboration with the Partnerships Office, Community Engagement teams.
• Provide strategic oversight of MLW’s brand positioning and ensure consistent brand application across all channels through developing, maintaining, and enforcing brand guidelines, templates, and tools.
• Plan and implement integrated rebranding marketing campaigns (digital, print, media, events) to increase awareness of research outcomes, programs, and institutional initiatives.
• Lead Institutional rebranding initiatives.
• Work with research and technical teams to translate complex health research into accessible and impactful marketing assets.
• In collaboration with the Internal and External Communications Team, manage the production of corporate products, including the Illustrated Annual Report, brochures, and digital materials.
• Provide editorial support through professional writing, editing, and translation services.
• Maintain a comprehensive database of external vendors, including writers, designers, and translators.
• Lead and manage the marketing team, including recruitment, performance management, coaching, and development.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and professional growth opportunities for marketing team.
• Identify marketing training needs across the organization and develop tools to enhance marketing skills for various groups.
• Provide strategic marketing support for institutional events, including press conferences, launches, fundraisers, community outreach, and exhibits etc.
• Ensure events and promotional materials align with MLW’s brand and messaging.
• Support funder and partner engagement in collaboration with the Resource Mobilisation and Partnerships Office.
• Contribute marketing inputs to partnership proposals and collaboration briefs.
• Build and maintain relationships with media, partners, government agencies, donors, community groups, and other key stakeholders, closely working with the Resource Mobilisation and Partnerships Office , Policy Unit, Public Engagement Office, Internal and External Communications Team, Innovation Hub, and other research/Operations teams
• Represent MLW at public events, conferences, and promotional platforms.
• Conduct regular market and audience research to inform strategy refinement, understand competitors, and stay updated on industry trends.
• Develop metrics and KPIs to evaluate marketing performance and brand visibility.
• Produce regular marketing performance reports to inform leadership decision making

• Proven experience in brand development, managing external advertising agencies, and creating products for diverse audiences (donors, policymakers, and the public).
• Fluency in English (excellent writing/editing) is required. Fluency in Chichewa is highly preferred for local audience engagement.
• Professional Membership to a local or international marketing body, desirable
• Ability to implement new ideas and persuade others to follow.
• Aligning decisions with organizational strategy, vision and mission.
• Creating content for media outlets and the public.
• Organizing resources and protocols to achieve specific goals.

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, social science, or any related field, with 5 years of relevant experience. A master’s is desirable.
• Minimum of 5 years in marketing, including 2–3 years in a management role. A proven track record in project management and personnel leadership is essential.