Hybrid Strategist

Mindshare Spain Sa; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 400 000 - 600 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading marketing agency in Johannesburg is seeking a Strategist to lead media campaign development and maintain strong client relationships. The ideal candidate will have a marketing or advertising degree, at least 5 years of experience in strategic planning, and strong analytical skills. This role involves creating effective media strategies, collaborating with clients, and ensuring successful campaign execution.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' work experience in business consultancy, market research / analytics or a strategic planning role.
• At least 3 years spent working on media / communications planning.
• Experience in campaign implementation and reporting is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Create strong, compelling and strategic media recommendations.
• Deliver media solutions that drive key objectives.
• Serve as the key day-to-day contact for clients.

Skills

Presentation and facilitation skills

Excellent communication

Strong analytical and number skills

Problem-solving

Education

Marketing / advertising degree with a focus on strategy

Tools

Word processing

Databases

Spreadsheets

E-mail

Internet

Job description

The Strategist, together with the internal team, works hand-in-hand with the clients' marketing department and creative agency to ensure the development of effective and unique media campaigns.

The strategist is to immerse themselves within the clients business gaining an acute understanding of the client's needs and goals, as well as the brands' customers, in order to provide clear and consistent input into the media strategy.

Based on given objectives, the strategist applies their knowledge of media and communication platforms to identify the most appropriate vehicles for building awareness of a client's brand.

The Strategist reports to the Client Lead.

Objectives – Strategy

Create strong, compelling and strategic media recommendations on how different channels can be used to integrate the consumer journey and define the role of media use to the consumer.

Strive to deliver media solutions that drive key objectives to ensure budget efficacy and performance.

Work in collaboration with the client lead, planing, as well as implementation groups to develop budget allocations across media mix scenarios.

Use client data and technology architecture to provide strategy solutions to clients.

Have a good understanding of Mindshare / GroupM trading / proprietary offerings and ensure that these offerings are considered in recommendations, where relevant, to delivering on client objectives.

Provide insights on emerging media and new opportunities

Build competitor / brand reviews to ensure execution of strategic actions.

Ensure regular media update presentations to client e.g. trends, landscapes, hot topics etc.

Collaborate across the Strategy Hub to drive continuous improvement.

Actively participates in client / vendor initiatives / workshops ensuring media strategies receive the benefit of continuous research.

Understand the competitive context within which brands operate (from SOV, SOM, pricing and distribution) providing insight into the competitive set that is beyond the required quantitative data.

Use agency research and implementation planning tools to set overall communication / channel objectives for the campaign e.g. ARs, GRPs, reach, freq, etc. utilising industry & Mindshare tools / methodology e.g. threshold analysis for setting reach curves & max / min buying points.

Coordinate & complete annual plans for all brands for the assigned categories

Collaborate with the implementation team on reporting to deliver insights and optimization recommendations.

Relationship Management

Be the key day-to-day contact for Clients and the Account Leadership team.

Develop strong relationships at all client levels.

Maintain and develop strong symbiotic relationships with media partners / vendors to contribute to best of business media strategy.

Ensure you update and maintain your knowledge of the client's organizational structure, planning process, marketing calendar and the needs of key stakeholders.

Ensure that client relationships continue to be strengthened by the quality of our deliverables and client satisfaction with our work.

Work with clients and agency partners to bring campaigns to life, including attending and contributing to regular work in progress meetings

The Ideal Candidate

Marketing / advertising degree with a focus on strategy

Minimum 5 years' work experience in business consultancy, market research / analytics or a strategic planning role, of which at least 3 years have been spent working on media / communications planning related business.

Media agencies experience and working knowledge of media planning required.

Significant proven experience of working with multiple stakeholders, e.g., suppliers, advertising / marketing agencies, media owners.

Experience in campaign implementation and reporting is beneficial

Understands business principles and good practice and perceives issues in both financial and commercial terms.

Knowledge, skills and abilities – commercial and compliance

• Highly evolved presentation and facilitation skills.
• Excellent communication
• Strong analytical and number skills
• Good understanding of media channels, both digital and traditional
• Problem-solver

Proficiency in the use of computer programs for :

• Word processing
• Databases
• Spreadsheets
• E-mail
• Internet

Personal characteristics

• Behave Ethically : Understand ethical behaviour and business practices and ensure own behaviour and the behaviour of others is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization
• Build Relationships : Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others both internally and externally to achieve the goals of the organization.
• Communicate Effectively : Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Focus on Client Needs : Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of internal and external clients to meet or exceed their expectations within the organizational parameters.
• Foster Teamwork : Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Lead : Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization.

Senior internal stakeholder collaboration etc i.e., Strong analytical skills and adept at connecting and combining disparate data sets

Represent our Values : Live and represent our organizational culture by enacting our values :

• Empathy
• Energy
• Impact