Job Description

Purpose of this Position:

The Digital Planning Lead plays a pivotal role in driving excellence across digital media planning strategies for clients, focusing on the South African market. This role involves developing innovative solutions, ensuring campaign performance optimization, and fostering integration between digital planning and broader media strategies. The lead oversees a team of Digital Planners, providing expertise, training, and mentorship, while staying ahead of industry trends and digital platform updates. You will collaborate closely with agency opco's to deliver measurable business outcomes, aligning with client objectives. With a focus on efficiency, innovation, and commercial acumen, this role ensures GroupM remains at the forefront of digital planning excellence for SSA.

Areas of Accountability

People - 20%

Lead a team of high-functioning Digital Planning specialists. Be responsible for driving a culture that builds relationships on trust between Agencies and Nexus. Work with Practice Head to ensure resource management and workflow designation are running at optimal capacity across Digital Planning specialists. Run and manage training requirements for Digital Planning specialists, resource management, and certifications in alignment with the performance training program. Foster knowledge sharing, promote award entries, and continuous learning around points of view, industry trends, and relevant skills to continue nurturing high-performing teams. Empower Digital Planning specialists to adapt to fast-changing industry and group priorities. Manage constructive performance evaluation meetings quarterly with Digital Planning specialists in addition to setting clear KPIs as well as to monitor and measure achievements. The Digital Planning Lead will be responsible for interviewing, assessing, and providing feedback to HR ensuring that the Group attracts and secures top talent.

Process & Operations - 20%

Oversee daily operations for Digital Planning specialists, managing briefing processes, quality assurance, and campaign pacing to ensure efficient budget utilization and prevent write-offs. Act as a thought leader in the Digital Planning space to sense-check the viability of performance innovations and identify opportunities with our existing clients for greater digital media innovation. Automation - assist the Heads of Nexus Practices in rolling out tools and platforms for campaign governance, campaign creation, and campaign Quality Assurance (QA). Act as the leading point of contact between the Digital Planning activation specialists and Agencies when delivery or quality is compromised. Actively contribute to new business development and pitching when required. Educating and advocating partnerships between Agency x Digital Planning teams regarding service level agreements. Create best practices in processes to be used across the Digital Planning teams. Working closely with planning teams + other channel specialists to ensure digital planning activity complements and enhances the wider marketing mix. Drive excellence and quality within Digital. Development of best-practice. Standardisation of output and delivery per stream (templates, benchmarks, reporting). Assist with the adoption of Wrike for all planners.

Client - 50%

Develop and oversee the deployment of a vision and roadmap for encompassing Digital Planning operations, including effective measurement and reporting efficiencies. Identify new product and service opportunities (within Digital Planning) that would enhance clients' digital footprint and support on digital maturity. Provide technical perspective in client meetings when specific expertise (Digital Planning) is required. Fostering an environment that truly respects and truly understands the need to adhere to service level agreements across Agencies x Nexus. Managing internal and external stakeholders to ensure multiple campaigns/deliverables can be delivered simultaneously and to the required standard. Collaborate with agency strategists by providing strategic input on overall client account strategies. Manage assigned client accounts, ensuring alignment with synergy requirements. Create detailed digital media plans (schedules) across all digital channels that relate to the strategy by using all available resources and tools. Consistent monitoring running campaigns to make sure objectives are achieved. Optimise and change campaigns by analysing and reporting media progress to strategists and client. Supply post-campaign analysis to digital media strategist by the predetermined data to ensure that future strategies stay relevant and effective. Assist in the preparation of digital competitive analysis. Create digital campaign benchmark for future learning's. Attend client and internal status meetings when required.

Commercial - 10%

Assist the Nexus Investment & Solutions Partner to Identify commercial opportunities with the ability to make a compelling case for their inclusion. Responsible for building (Digital Planning services) business cases to grow the performance teams. Work collaboratively with Practice Heads to ensure (Digital Planning services) disciplines are profitable (FTE vs Delivery). Negotiate best possible deals with media partners in order to get the best value for the client's campaign.

Ensure 100% compliance with both GroupM and finance processes, policies, and procedures.

Support the Agency BUD and wider agency to provide accurate spend forecasts to the business. Own the overall billing process, working with nexus activation teams and continues to improve it to reduce the number of financial queries and issues.

Requirements

1.Strategic Expertise in Digital Planning: Proven ability to create and execute comprehensive strategies for digital media planning that align with client objectives and business outcomes.
2.Digital Channel Knowledge: Deep understanding of various digital channels, including but not limited to Search, Social, Programmatic, Display, Video, Mobile, and Email.
3.Proficiency in Planning Platforms: Extensive experience with industry-standard planning tools and platforms (e.g., Symphony, Nielsen, etc.)
4.Data-Driven Approach: Strong analytical skills to interpret performance metrics, derive insights, and optimize campaigns using platforms like Google Analytics, Google Data Studio, and Tableau.
5.Team Leadership: Demonstrated ability to manage, mentor, and inspire a team of digital planning specialists to deliver high-performance results while fostering professional growth.
6.Cross-Channel Collaboration: Experience working in multi-channel environments, integrating digital planning strategies with other media channels.
7.Client Relationship Management: Exceptional client management skills, including presenting strategies, results, and recommendations clearly and persuasively.
8.Adaptability and Innovation: Ability to stay ahead of trends in digital technology and algorithm updates while implementing innovative approaches to improve campaign performance.
9.Commercial Acumen: Strong understanding of commercial principles and the ability to identify and capitalize on commercial opportunities.
10.Results Orientation and ROI Focus: Track record of driving measurable improvements in KPIs such as CTR, conversion rates, revenue, and ROI through digital planning initiatives.