At Keen, we don't just deliver services — we become an extension of our clients' businesses. From digital marketing and creative to customer experience, we help ambitious brands scale through exceptional execution, strategic thinking, and world-class talent. We're a fast-growing agency built on ownership, innovation, and collaboration, helping businesses create meaningful connections with their customers while delivering measurable results.
We're not just building campaigns — we're building long-term partnerships, and that's where you come in.
About the Role:We're looking for an experienced Head of Marketing to lead our creative operations while acting as the primary point of contact for our clients. This role combines team leadership, project delivery, client relationship management, and operational excellence to ensure our creative department consistently delivers outstanding work.
You'll be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the creative team, ensuring projects are delivered on time and to the highest standard, while building trusted client relationships that drive long-term growth. You'll also oversee our internal marketing initiatives, helping strengthen the Keen brand across our owned channels.
If you're someone who thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys building structure, and loves helping creative teams perform at their best, we'd love to meet you.
What You'll Do:- Lead the day-to-day operations of the creative department, ensuring projects are delivered on time and to a high standard.
- Manage team workload, resource planning, and project prioritisation across multiple client accounts.
- Coach, mentor, and support designers, marketers, copywriters, and creatives to deliver their best work.
- Build a culture of ownership, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned clients, building trusted long-term relationships.
- Lead regular client meetings, communicate project progress, and manage expectations throughout the creative process.
- Translate client objectives into clear, actionable briefs for internal teams.
- Identify opportunities to improve operational processes, workflows, and delivery efficiency.
- Monitor project health, team utilisation, and delivery performance using project management tools.
- Work closely with leadership to identify opportunities for client growth through upselling and cross-selling.
- Oversee the planning and execution of Keen's internal marketing initiatives, including website content, LinkedIn, social media, blogs, case studies, employer branding, and agency announcements.
- Collaborate with leadership on strategic planning, recruitment, onboarding, and scaling the creative department.
- Lead the day-to-day operations of the creative department, ensuring projects are delivered on time and to a high standard.
- Manage team workload, resource planning, and project prioritisation across multiple client accounts.
- Coach, mentor, and support designers, marketers, copywriters, and creatives to deliver their best work.
- Build a culture of ownership, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned clients, building trusted long-term relationships.
- Lead regular client meetings, communicate project progress, and manage expectations throughout the creative process.
- Translate client objectives into clear, actionable briefs for internal teams.
- Identify opportunities to improve operational processes, workflows, and delivery efficiency.
- Monitor project health, team utilisation, and delivery performance using project management tools.
- Work closely with leadership to identify opportunities for client growth through upselling and cross-selling.
- Oversee the planning and execution of Keen's internal marketing initiatives, including website content, LinkedIn, social media, blogs, case studies, employer branding, and agency announcements.
- Collaborate with leadership on strategic planning, recruitment, onboarding, and scaling the creative department.
RequirementsWhat We're Looking For:
- 5+ years of experience working within a creative, digital, marketing, or advertising agency.
- 3+ years of experience leading creative teams or managing creative operations.
- Proven experience managing multiple clients and projects simultaneously.
- Strong understanding of creative production, digital marketing, and agency workflows.
- Excellent client relationship management and stakeholder communication skills.
- Exceptional organisational, planning, and project management abilities.
- Experience improving operational processes and driving team performance.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to coach, mentor, and develop high-performing teams.
- Commercial awareness with a client-first mindset.
- Experience using project management and collaboration platforms.
- Bonus if you've worked in a fast-growing agency or start-up environment or have experience with SEO, content marketing, and website management.
Benefits
- Competitive salary based on experience.
- Opportunity to lead and shape a growing creative department.
- Work alongside talented creatives, marketers, and business leaders.
- Play a key role in building long-term client partnerships and delivering meaningful creative work.
- Leadership development and career growth opportunities.
- Collaborative, fast-paced, and supportive team culture.
- Modern offices in Salt River, Cape Town.
- Be part of a company that's building the future of creative and customer experience services.
This is a full-time, on-site position based in our Salt River offices in Cape Town. The successful candidate will work closely with both our creative team and leadership while supporting clients across multiple industries. Flexibility may occasionally be required to accommodate client and business needs.
Skills Required
- 5+ years experience within a creative, digital, marketing, or advertising agency
- 3+ years experience leading creative teams or managing creative operations
- Proven experience managing multiple clients and projects simultaneously
- Strong understanding of creative production, digital marketing, and agency workflows
- Excellent client relationship management and stakeholder communication skills
- Exceptional organisational, planning, and project management abilities
- Experience improving operational processes and driving team performance
- Strong leadership skills with ability to coach, mentor, and develop teams
- Commercial awareness with a client-first mindset
- Experience using project management and collaboration platforms
- Ability to work full-time on-site in Salt River, Cape Town
- Experience in a fast-growing agency or start-up environment
- Experience with SEO, content marketing, and website management
What We Do
KEEN is a values led, outdoor footwear brand with a mission to responsibly create original and versatile products, improve lives, and inspire outside adventure. Founded in 2003, KEEN ignited a revolution in the footwear industry with the introduction of the Newport sandal, launching the concept of Hybrid footwear into the market and setting KEEN on a path of driving consistent product innovation that exists today. As a company, we strive to live by our values, from the products we make to the actions we take, and by activating communities and individuals to protect and preserve the places where we work and play. We passionately endeavor to live fulfilling lives, challenge the status quo, do good, give back, and inspire others. Looking ahead, our vision is to be the most trusted outdoor footwear and lifestyle brand in the world. Discover more about KEEN at keenfootwear.com, facebook.com/keen and twitter.com/ke




