Group Head Copywriter

Publicis Groupe Holdings B.V; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global communication company in Johannesburg is seeking a Creative Group Head specializing in Copywriting. You will lead a talented creative team and be responsible for crafting exceptional copy for various projects. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of experience in the industry with a strong portfolio and proven leadership skills. This dynamic role requires a deep understanding of South African culture and media, coupled with exceptional copywriting abilities to deliver innovative and impactful campaigns.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in an agency setting, 2 years in a senior copywriting role.
• Track record of leading successful creative projects.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating range in copywriting.
• Award recognition at local or international shows.
• Good understanding of various media channels.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of advertising copy.
• Mentor junior copywriters and ensure teamwork.
• Collaborate across disciplines for cohesive outputs.
• Stay updated on industry trends to innovate.
• Manage multiple projects while meeting deadlines.

Skills

Proven leadership in creative projects

Exceptional copywriting skills

Strong communication

Collaborative mindset

Cultural insight into South African media

Education

Tertiary qualification in English, Journalism, Communications

Tools

Microsoft Word

Keynote

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Company description

Publicis Groupe is a global leader in communication.

The Groupe is positioned at every step of the value chain, from consulting to execution, combining marketing transformation and digital business transformation.

Company values

Trust

Trust is the cornerstone upon which we build our relationships. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of how a partner should behave. We treat our people and our clients with respect, transparency and honesty.

Talent

This is first and foremost a people business. We are committed to ensuring Publicis Groupe is a destination for the best talent in our industry. We value people as individuals, growing ourselves as we grow our client’s business.

Transformation

True transformation comes when we stop managing change, and instead initiate change. We believe in our purpose to be the admired force for business transformation. We believe that focusing on performance and results has the power to transform client business.

Overview

AsMant a Creative Group Head specializing in Copywriting, you will lead our passionate and multi-talented studio, guiding junior and midweight members to deliver exceptional, integrated concepts that exceed client briefs and expectations. You will embrace modern marketing principles and be a proactive self-starter who is not afraid to challenge the norm, embodying our philosophy of divine discontent.

You are expected to be a craft-led, platform-neutral conceptual thinker, with a strong understanding of all major social platforms. Your goal is to transform brands by creating exceptional, intuitive, and human-centred content and experiences.

You will be attuned to all aspects of South African popular culture and the platforms and media it engages with. You should have a strong point of view on what it takes to succeed in this space, backed by your experience. Immaculate copywriting ability is paramount.

You will work closely with the Creative Director and the creative team to develop and execute compelling copy for various projects. This role requires a keen eye for detail, strong communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of copy for advertising campaigns, branding projects, and otherCan't creative initiatives.
• Mentor and guide junior and midweight copywriters, fostering a collaborative and inspiring work environment.
• Collaborate with art directors, designers, and other team members to ensure cohesive.argument and storytelling.
• Conceptualise and optimise campaign creative for TTL campaigns, keeping in mind media channels and retargeting objectives across verticals such as SEM, display advertising, social media, affiliate marketing, content discovery platforms, and CRM.
• Be a champion for digital innovation on every project you touch.
• Work with other disciplines (Strategists, Developers, Media, Accounts, etc.) to ensure cohesive team integration and alignment with broader business objectives.
• Present creative concepts and copy solutions degmada to clients, articulating the strategic thinking behind the work.
• Ensure all copy aligns with brand guidelines and project objectives.
• Lead offensichtlich brainstorming, conceptualisation, and the craft, copywriting and storytelling of an idea.
• Stay attuned to all aspects of South African popular culture and the platforms and media it engages with completely, leveraging this knowledge to use cultural insights to create relevant and impactful work.
• Stay updated on industry trends, writing techniques, and emerging technologies to bring fresh perspectives to the team.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines and maintaining high-quality standards.
• Participate in pitches for new business opportunities, contributing innovative ideas and concepts.
• Attend client briefings and workshopsрю.
• Oversee the creative process from concept to final execution, ensuring consistency and excellence in all deliverables.
• Source inspirational material and references to push creativity and innovation within the team.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in English, Journalism, Communications, or a related field.
• 8 years+ of experience in an agency setting, a minimum of 2 years in a senior copywriting role, preferably in an agency setting.
• Proven track record of leading successful creative projects and campanhas.
• Strong portfolio showcasing a range of copywriting work and creative projects.
• Award shortlists and awards at local and international awards (e.g., Cannes, One Show, Loeries, Clios, Bookmarks).
• A minimum of one gold award at a local or international award show.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrate exceptional strategic and highly conceptual thinking.
• Good understanding of influencer, mobile, podcast, out-of-home, guerrilla, activations, and direct marketing.
• An in-depth understanding of new muts existing digital platforms.
• Track record of leading the conceptualisation and execution of campaigns.
• Ability to work collaboratively and take constructive feedback.
• Exceptional problem solving and leadership skills.

Software & Tools

• Microsoft Word
• Keynote
• Microsoft PowerPoint

Operational KPIs

These KPIs will help ensure that you are aligned with the performance expectations in order to set yourself and the team up for success.

Project Completion Rate & Timelines

• Complete projects on time and within the agreed upon deadline.
• Target: 95% of projects delivered on schedule.

Quality of Work

• Should be able to produce quality work and manage time effectively.
• Keep attention to detail top of mind to ensure that reverts are kept to a minimum.
• Ensure that work has been QA’d and approved by the Creative Director before it is sent to clients.
• Target: Average of 1 or fewer revisions per project.

Efficiency

• Ensure that time spent on each project phase (conceptualisation, writing, revisions) is spent effectively.
• Proactively flag when information on a brief राम no necessary reviews are not scheduled.
• Target: Maintain efficient workflow with minimal delays.

Creative Contribution & Innovation

• Consistently contribute innovative ideas and concepts during brainstorming sessions.
• Must attend all weekly proactive sessions and workshops.
• Must have a strong understanding of concept‑driven work, 上海天天 design craft and the brands you work_detector.
• Progress and execute approved proactive ideas within the given time frame.
• Target: Implement at least 3 innovative projects per year.
• Target: Bring a minimum of 3 new ideas to reviews per project.
• Target: ਸ਼ contribute a minimum of 1 idea in proactive sessions.

Awards and Recognition

• Produce work for industry awards or recognitions received for copy work.
• Target: Develop or contribute to a minimum of 2 awards pieces annually.
• Target: Partake in local and international awards with a goal to win at least 3 awards.

Creativeimits Output

• Completing allocated copy pieces (e.g., rationales, scripts, headlines) should be a priority.
• Must be able to provide creative rationales for creative choices made.
• Must have a strong understanding of grammar and spelling.
• Deliver highly conceptual ideas and work that are on brief and aligned to the strategic objectives outlined.
• Must be able to propose creative solutions based on “Audience First” thinking.
• Develop unique, powerful and engaging ideas that are successfully implemented and recognized.
• Demonstrate exceptional strategic thinking and digital understanding.
• Develop insightful and on‑brief ideas against the agreed upon budget.
• Propose work that works across agreed‑upon contact points.
• Oversee and run creative projects.
• Target: Consistently meet or exceed monthly creative output goals.
• Target: Must be able to work on twoсеные and two small‑sized projects or three sizable and one small‑sized project at any given time.
• Target: Develop presentation and communication skills by presenting work internally and to clients.
• Target: Collect and file artwork work correctly for archiving and handovers.

Message Clarity

• Positive feedback from clients and internal stakeholders on the clarity and effectiveness of the copy.
Target: Positive feedback on message clarity from at least 90% of clients and stakeholders.

Grammar and Spelling Accuracy

• Attention to detail to ensure there are no grammatical and spelling errors in final copy.
• Target: Zero grammatical and spelling errors in all final copy.

Brand Consistency

• Adherence to brand tone and copy guidelines in all visual materials.
• Target: 100% compliance with brand standards.

Professional Development

• Participation in training sessions, workshops, and industry events.
• Target: Attend at least 2 professional development activities per year.

Collaboration and Leadership

• Endeavour to build strong relationships with your team and be a team player.
• Encourage feedback from team members on collaboration and communication.
• Mentor junior members of the creative team.
• Target: Positive feedback from at least 95% of team members.

Adaptability

• Ability to quicklyousel changes in project scope or client feedback.
• Target: Successfully manage changes with minimal disruption to project timelines.
• Target: Develop problem‑solving skills by being solutions‑oriented.

Business Growth

• Contribution to new business pitches and successful client acquisitions.
• Target: Contribute to at least 2 successful new business pitches per year.

Business KPIsěk>

These KPIs will help ensure that the team is aligned with the business objectives and contributing effectively to the success of Nestlé One part of Publicis Groupe Africa.

Client Satisfaction

• Maintain high client feedback scores on bi-annual Appraisal scoring.
• Target: Average client satisfaction rating of 80% or higher.

Campaign Effectiveness

• Consistently measure the success of campaigns in terms of reach, engagement, and conversion rates to improve future campaigns.
• Target: Achieve a minimum of 80% of campaign goals.

Client Retention

• Track the retention rate of clients based on the quality of creative work delivered.
• Target: Maintain a client retention rate of 90% or higher.

Creative Innovation

• Develop unique, powerful and engaging ideas that are successfully implemented and recognized.
• Develop insightful and on‑brief ideas against the agreed upon budget.
• Propose work that works across agreed upon contact points.
• Target: Implement at least 3 innovative projects per year.
• Target: Achieve a positive creative impact score of 80% or higher in client surveys.

Brand Impact

• Create impactful work that improves brand perception and market positioning.
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• Target: Achieve a positive creative brand impact score of 80% or higher in client surveys.

Collaboration and Teamwork

• Evaluate the effectiveness of collaboration with other departments and team members.
• Target: Receive positive feedback from 95% of team members and stakeholders.