Digital Performance Director
Cape Town Based
Founded by ex‑Jellyfish, Dentsu, PHD and OMG Digital Marketing Directors. We combine enterprise‑level expertise with startup pace, ambition and accountability.
We are looking for an exceptional Digital Performance Director to lead the agency's performance marketing function from our Cape Town office. This role exists to ensure every campaign, client and team member consistently operates at the highest possible standard.
You will be the agency's authority on performance marketing, responsible for driving technical excellence, performance accountability, innovation and strategic growth across all client accounts.
You will lead a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring the agency's recommendations and delivery are driven by platform expertise, data‑led decision making and proven testing methodologies.
Key Objective
To maximise client performance and agency growth by establishing, validating and enforcing industry‑leading paid media best practices across all accounts and channels.
Responsibilities
Performance Leadership & Accountability
- Own performance standards across all agency‑managed accounts.
- Establish, document and continuously evolve agency best practices across Google Ads, Meta, TikTok, YouTube, Microsoft Ads and emerging channels.
- Conduct regular account audits to ensure compliance with agency standards.
- Develop and maintain an agency‑wide account quality scoring framework.
- Hold account teams accountable for campaign quality, optimisation cadence and performance outcomes.
- Provide strategic direction on account structure, bidding strategies, audience development, creative testing and measurement frameworks.
- Lead performance reviews across key client accounts and identify opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Act as the final escalation point for performance‑related challenges.
Testing, Innovation & Performance Validation
- Develop and own the agency‑wide testing framework.
- Ensure all client accounts operate with structured testing roadmaps aligned to business objectives.
- Lead regular experimentation across campaign structures, bidding strategies, audiences, creative approaches, landing pages and measurement frameworks.
- Ensure testing programmes are statistically robust and focused on commercial outcomes.
- Build a knowledge‑sharing culture where test outcomes are documented, shared and adopted across the agency.
- Challenge platform recommendations and industry assumptions through data‑driven validation.
- Create and maintain a centralised best‑practice library based on proven agency results.
- Produce quarterly performance and testing insights that inform agency strategy and client recommendations.
Technical Excellence
- Act as the agency's subject‑matter expert across paid media platforms and measurement solutions.
- Maintain expert knowledge of platform developments, algorithm updates and industry changes.
- Lead adoption of new platform features, automation opportunities and AI‑driven solutions.
- Define standards for attribution, tracking, reporting and measurement.
- Oversee implementation of advanced tracking solutions including GA4, Google Tag Manager, server‑side tracking and conversion APIs.
- Ensure reporting frameworks accurately measure business outcomes and campaign effectiveness.
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, mentor and develop Senior Digital Marketing Managers, Digital Marketing Managers and Executives.
- Create clear competency frameworks and career development plans.
- Deliver regular internal training sessions, workshops and best‑practice reviews.
- Conduct performance reviews and establish accountability measures across the team.
- Identify capability gaps and implement training programmes to address them.
- Support recruitment, onboarding and talent development initiatives.
Client & Commercial Leadership
- Act as strategic lead across the agency's most important client relationships.
- Lead Quarterly Business Reviews and strategic planning sessions.
- Translate business objectives into measurable media strategies.
- Support new business pitches, proposals and growth opportunities.
- Build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders.
- Support client retention through exceptional performance delivery and strategic guidance.
Agency Growth & Operational Excellence
- Develop scalable processes that improve efficiency, quality and consistency.
- Create agency playbooks, frameworks and operating procedures.
- Work closely with agency leadership to shape future service offerings and capabilities.
- Identify opportunities to improve profitability through operational efficiencies and improved delivery.
- Help position the agency as a recognised leader in performance marketing.
Skills & Experience Required
Essential
- 8+ years of hands‑on paid media experience.
- 4+ years managing and developing performance marketing teams.
- Expert‑level knowledge of Google Ads, Google Merchant Centre, GA4, Google Tag Manager, Meta Ads and Microsoft Ads.
- Deep understanding of attribution, measurement, incrementality and testing methodologies.
- Proven experience managing and scaling e‑commerce and lead generation accounts.
- Demonstrable experience developing performance frameworks and best‑practice standards.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities.
- Exceptional communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong leadership, coaching and mentoring experience.
Desirable But Not Essential
- Experience with server‑side tracking implementations.
- Experience with feed management platforms.
- Experience building agency capability frameworks.
- Experience contributing to agency growth and new business acquisition.
- Experience working with UK, European or international clients.
Benefits
- Cape Town‑based role with hybrid working.
- Flexible working hours.
- Ongoing training and development.
- Access to industry events and certifications.
- Competitive salary.
- Performance‑based bonus scheme.
- Clear progression opportunities.
- Opportunity to shape the future of a fast‑growing international agency.