Media Buyer

WPP Media Limited; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 420,000 - 660,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Retirement plans

Mental health days

Job summary

WPP Media South Africa is seeking a Media Buyer to manage negotiations, bookings, and administration for client media investments. You will work across print, digital and broadcast, ensuring on-time delivery and cost efficiency.

The role requires strong negotiation, budgeting and cross-stakeholder communication, with a four-day-per-week hybrid office pattern and close collaboration with the Client Lead.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years’ work experience in a Buying role.
• Experience working at a Media Agency preferable.
• Strong understanding of the media landscape.
• Significant proven experience of working with multiple stakeholders, e.g., suppliers, advertising/marketing agencies, media owners.

Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for administration related to transactions with media owners, including providing relevant documentation i.e. applications/booking instructions, contracts, and confirmation instructions.
• Provide accurate and detailed information on the CI to the media owner and advise the various media owners of the creative agency supplying the material.
• Notify the team of unavailable spots/positions and suitable alternatives.
• Issue accurate and detailed material chase lists for all mediums to creative agencies.
• Digitally file bookings and related correspondence to be accurate, timeous, and logical.
• Create IO’s in Symphony to buy/bill Digital media.
• Negotiate over and above the Planners’ schedule for best deals possible.
• This includes negotiation of additional discounts at time of booking or placing of advertising in a better position.
• Every media placement booked should carry a discount or added value.
• Input data into the media administrative system for billing and budget control purposes.
• Balance flow plans with actual monthly expenditure.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Budget management

Communication skills

Vendor management

Analytical skills

Tools

Symphony

Job description

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships – all united by ourpioneeringagentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth.

WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working.

Job Title: Media Buyer

Company: WPP Media South Africa

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Reports To: Client Lead

Purpose: The Media Buyer is responsible for effective negotiating, purchasing/booking and administration of time or space that is acquired across all media touch points on behalf of the client. The Buyer is responsible for ensuring the media appears on-time at the best cost whilst being accountable for managing all investment.

Buying/Booking

• Take responsibility for administration related to transactions with media owners, including providing relevant documentation i.e. applications/booking instructions, contracts, and confirmation instructions.
• Provide accurate and detailed information on the CI to the media owner and advise the various media owners of the creative agency supplying the material.
• Notify the team of unavailable spots/positions and suitable alternatives.
• Issue accurate and detailed material chase lists for all mediums to creative agencies.
• Digitally file bookings and related correspondence to be accurate, timeous, and logical.
• Create IO’s in Symphony to buy/bill Digital media.

Negotiation

• Negotiate over and above the Planners’ schedule for best deals possible. This includes negotiation of additional discounts at time of booking or placing of advertising in a better position.
• Negotiate compensation for non-placement and incorrect media placement.
• Every media placement booked should carry a discount or added value.

Billings

• Input data into the media administrative system for billing and budget control purposes.
• Ensure all rate stages, dates and positions are correct and loaded onto the billing system accordingly i.e., rate card rate, discount, net, AV, special loading, etc.
• Continuously inform the relevant stakeholder of any rate, position, or date changes.
• All media to be loaded and checked against media contracts and schedules.
• Balance flow plans with actual monthly expenditure.
• Co-ordinate with the finance department to ensure billing ensues correctly and timeously.
• Update flowplans to accompany the client’s monthly statements & invoices.
• Run monthly reports to assist Planners with updating flow plans, Schedules & PO Trackers.

Other

• Supply tear sheets to clients on any print bookings.
• Supply site bibles to client for OOH.
• Supply media costs on request.
• Maintain good media owner relationships.
• Assist on financial queries and the timeous resolution thereof.
• Assist in new vendor onboarding through ME-Suite

The Ideal Candidate

• Minimum 4 years’ work experience in a Buying role.
• Experience working at a Media Agency preferable.
• Strong understanding of the media landscape.
• Significant proven experience of working with multiple stakeholders, e.g., suppliers, advertising/marketing agencies, media owners.
• Good understanding of financial systems - commercial and budget awareness.
• Good administration skills, planning and organising skills.
• Sound negotiation skills.
• Problem Solver
• Good communication skills both written and verbal.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events.

• Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans and employee mental health awareness days.

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week.

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