Hybrid Strategist Hybrid Remote , Johannesburg, South Africa

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:

1. 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.
2. Strive to deliver media solutions that drive key objectives to ensure budget efficacy and performance.
3. Work in collaboration with the client lead, planning, as well as implementation groups to develop budget allocations across media mix scenarios.
4. Use client data and technology architecture to provide strategy solutions to clients.
5. 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.
6. Provide insights on emerging media and new opportunities.
7. Build competitor / brand reviews to ensure execution of strategic actions.
8. Ensure regular media update presentations to client e.g., trends, landscapes, hot topics etc.
9. Collaborate across the Strategy Hub to drive continuous improvement.
10. Actively participate in client / vendor initiatives / workshops ensuring media strategies receive the benefit of continuous research.
11. 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.
12. Use agency research and implementation planning tools to set overall communication / channel objectives for the campaign e.g., ARs, GRPs, reach, freq, etc.
13. Utilize industry & Mindshare tools / methodology e.g., threshold analysis for setting reach curves & max / min buying points.
14. Coordinate & complete annual plans for all brands for the assigned categories.
15. Collaborate with the implementation team on reporting to deliver insights and optimization recommendations.

Relationship Management:

1. Be the key day-to-day contact for Clients and the Account Leadership team.
2. Develop strong relationships at all client levels.
3. Maintain and develop strong symbiotic relationships with media partners / vendors to contribute to best of business media strategy.
4. Ensure you update and maintain your knowledge of the client's organizational structure, planning process, marketing calendar and the needs of key stakeholders.
5. Ensure that client relationships continue to be strengthened by the quality of our deliverables and client satisfaction with our work.
6. Work with clients and agency partners to bring campaigns to life, including attending and contributing to regular work in progress meetings.

The Ideal Candidate:

1. Marketing / advertising degree with a focus on strategy.
2. 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.
3. Media agencies experience and working knowledge of media planning required.
4. Significant proven experience of working with multiple stakeholders, e.g., suppliers, advertising / marketing agencies, media owners.
5. Experience in campaign implementation and reporting is beneficial.
6. Understands business principles and good practice and perceives issues in both financial and commercial terms.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

1. Highly evolved presentation and facilitation skills.
2. Excellent communication.
3. Strong analytical and number skills.
4. Good understanding of media channels, both digital and traditional.
5. Problem-solver.
6. Proficiency in the use of computer programs for: Word processing, Databases, Spreadsheets, E-mail, Internet.

Personal Characteristics:

1. 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.
2. Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others both internally and externally to achieve the goals of the organization.
3. Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
4. 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.
5. Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
6. Lead: Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization.
7. Represent our Values: Live and represent our organizational culture by enacting our values: Empathy, Energy, Impact.