Digital & Social Strategist

Publicis Groupe Holdings B.V; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Publicis Groupe Africa is seeking a Senior Digital Strategist to shape digital strategy for a leading telecommunications client. You will turn research, audience insights and performance data into clear strategic recommendations that guide campaigns and always-on activity.

You will lead cross-functional collaboration with Creative, Content, Media and Technology teams, apply AI responsibly in research and planning, and develop measurable KPIs to drive client outcomes and business growth.

Qualifications

• Five to seven years of experience as a Digital Strategist or Digital Marketing Manager.
• Experience with search advertising, SEO and major social platforms, with strong analytical and presentation skills.
• Relevant tertiary qualification in Digital Marketing or Digital Advertising.
• Demonstrated application of AI to research or strategy.

Responsibilities

• Define how digital channels and content deliver client objectives.
• Lead recommendations across the digital ecosystem and counsel clients.
• Collaborate with Creative, Content, Media and Technology to translate strategy.
• Lead AI-enabled research and strategic exploration with evidence.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Analytics

Presentation skills

AI in strategy

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification in Digital Marketing or Digital Advertising

Tools

Search advertising

SEO

Social platforms

Job description

Company description

Publicis Groupe Africa is a leading marketing, communications, and business transformation network operating across 36 African countries, combining creativity, technology, and local insight to deliver integrated client solutions.

Publicis Groupe Africa is part of Publicis Groupe, the second-largest communications group globally, founded in 1926. The African network operates as a partnership of 44 communications agencies with offices spanning 36 countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, and many others.

Its headquarters are in Johannesburg and Cape Town, providing a central hub for continental operations.

Overview

SENIOR DIGITAL STRATEGIST

Digital Strategy | Audience Insight | Customer Journeys | Effectiveness

THE OPPORTUNITY

Telecommunications is one of the most dynamic categories in the market, sitting at the intersection of technology, culture, connectivity, customer experience and everyday life. This role offers the opportunity to work with a leading telecommunications client and help shape the next generation of its agency partnership.

We are building a connected, future-fit model that brings together creativity, intelligence, data, technology, AI and world-class execution around the customer. It is an opportunity to influence the work and the capabilities we build, creating a partnership designed for today’s challenges and what comes next.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Senior Digital Strategist defines how digital channels, content and customer experiences work together to deliver the client’s business and brand objectives. The role turns research, audience behaviour and performance evidence into clear strategic choices for campaigns and always-on activity.

The strategist leads recommendations across the digital ecosystem, helping Creative, Content, Media and Technology translate strategy into effective work. The role provides senior client counsel, connects brand building with customer action and develops responsible applications of AI in research and strategic planning.

Responsibilities

AUDIENCE AND BUSINESS UNDERSTANDING

• Interrogate briefs, business objectives, customer needs and competitive activity to identify the problem digital must help solve.
• Analyse research, search behaviour, channel performance and cross-device journeys to reveal barriers and opportunities.
• Conduct content and experience gap analyses and turn findings into prioritised strategic recommendations.

DIGITAL STRATEGY AND CHANNEL PLANNING

• Define the role of digital channels across awareness, engagement, consideration and conversion, with clear audience and communication priorities.
• Develop strategic briefs, content direction and campaign frameworks that connect paid, owned and earned activity.
• Partner with Content on editorial calendars and tone, with Media on distribution, and with UX and Technology on the customer experience.

CREATIVE PARTNERSHIP AND EXECUTION

• Translate strategic thinking into useful creative territories and platform guidance; contribute copy or content direction where required.
• Present and defend recommendations, explaining the evidence and trade-offs behind channel, format and messaging choices.
• Guide delivery teams through development and reviews so execution remains aligned to the agreed strategy and customer journey.

MEASUREMENT AND STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

• Define meaningful KPIs and measurement approaches with analytics and media specialists, linked to the client’s objectives.
• Interpret campaign and always-on results, recommend tests and use learning to improve future strategy.
• Build trusted client relationships, contribute to pitches and share research methods, digital insight and emerging practices with colleagues.

AI CAPABILITY AND FUTURE WAYS OF WORKING

• Use approved AI to accelerate research synthesis, scenario development and strategic exploration; test assumptions against reliable evidence and coach colleagues to distinguish generated hypotheses from verified insight.
• Demonstrate effective prompting, iteration and critical evaluation. Use only approved tools and data, protect client information and intellectual property, and retain human accountability for final work.
• Share practical learning, recognise tool limitations and measure improvements in quality, speed or effectiveness; elevate uncertain or inappropriate outputs.

MEASURES OF SUCCESS

• Clear digital strategies grounded in audience and business understanding.
• Integrated briefs and channel choices that guide effective creative and execution.
• Useful measurement and optimisation linked to agreed outcomes.
• AI-enabled strategic work that improves research efficiency without compromising evidence quality.

CRITICAL CAPABILITIES

• Digital ecosystem knowledge, journey planning and strategic judgement.
• Research synthesis, analysis, persuasive writing and presentation.
• AI research workflows, prompt design and evidence validation.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Digital Marketing or Digital Advertising.
• Five to seven years of experience as a Digital Strategist or Digital Marketing Manager.
• Experience with search advertising, SEO and major social platforms, with strong analytical and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated application of AI to research or strategy, including source verification, critical evaluation and practical outcomes.

Additional information

PUBLICIS VALUES

Trust through respect, transparency and accountability. Talent through collaboration, development and high standards. Transformation through curiosity, continuous learning and improvements that create value for clients.