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Company Description

About Machine_ 

Machine_ is a creative solutions agency represented across Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, and is home to over 75 adventurous minds. At Machine_ we don’t believe that intuition and gut feel are enough. That’s why everything we do starts with an insight. Our team of experts uses these insights to create impactful and accountable solutions that touch consumers at every point in their connected world. 

Machine_ is part of Publicis Groupe, one of the fastest-growing global networks. 

Machine’s mantra, Never Afraid, underpins our values of; doing the right thing, being curious, solution orientated and at its core ‘giving a s**t!’. Living this mantra daily helps grow our Clients’ businesses and these are the values we look for when recruiting new talent. The right personality is just as important as the right experience. We’re here to work hard and have fun while doing it. 

Job Description

We are looking for a through-the-line Group Account Director with a strong strategic eye, excellent people management and a love for digitally led creative campaigns to join our agency team in Johannesburg

The Group Account Director will be responsible for:

  • Driving client partnership with strategic influence and intent, whilst being the focal point for day to day client interaction, campaign planning and service delivery across a portfolio of clients.
  • Leading and directing campaigns and projects through-the-line (Including digital and social), instilling a solution orientated work-ethic from which the full Account Management team, agency and client can benefit.

Specific Responsibilities:

  • Translate the agency’s vision and business strategy into the day-to-day work, guiding direct reports to uphold the agency’s standards and values. 
  • Partner with the Business Unit Director and other senior agency leadership in the agency to build and deliver on client growth and relationship plans.
  • Act as agency lead across a portfolio of brands, partnering with the client and their media/partner agencies on day-to-day deliverables. 
  • Interpret the client’s business needs into clear creative/strategic briefs.
  • Lead all meetings, including client presentations, planning sessions and briefings (internally and externally) to the benefit of best-in-class creative work.
  • Manage direct reports, ensuring tasks are delegated clearly, appropriately and timeously.
  • Deliver high quality campaigns end-to-end, in line with agreed brand plans and objectives.
  • Ensure that campaign reverts are managed well, whether directly or through the Account Team, with specific emphasis on managing tight timings and deadlines.
  • Proactively manage campaign overlaps and/or resource challenges with Operations Director and Snr Traffic Manager; through strong big-picture planning.
  • Develop campaign project plans, with effective and timeous delivery from concept to execution.
  • Work alongside creative, strategy, media, digital development and data teams; managing multiple campaigns at the same time. 
  • Execute large scale TTL chase lists, on time and in line with client’s scope of work.
  • Interpret campaign performance to optimize creative work and improve current practices.
  • Interpret trends, unlocking new and relevant opportunities across digital and social platforms.
  • Manage client budgets in line with agreed briefs or scopes of work.
  • Reconcile jobs and complete financial administration in line with the agreed contractual requirements of the client and agency.
  • Meet financial KPI’s of the portfolio of clients.
  • Develop and manage client scopes of work, in line with contractual requirements.
  • Provide monthly short- and quarterly long-term financial forecasts and plan resources, alongside Financial Manager, Business Unit Director and MD.
  • Identify and execute on proactive business opportunities for organic growth.
  • Mentorship and management of direct reports, ensuring Career Planning, KPI’s, and growth plans are clear and continuously well supported. Implement training and execute performance improvement plans if required.
  • Manage individuals and team dynamics, in line with the agency values and high-performance standards, to create a cohesive and well-oiled team.
  • Ensure that all work is managed in line with the agency planning processes, to the benefit of the agency, client and creative work.

Business Skills:

  • Ability to lead clients and direct reports strategically, in line with the agency’s creative ambition.
  • Ability to lead campaigns end-to-end, pre-empting and resolving complex challenges.
  • Strong digital skills with a strong understanding of social and digital platforms and technical / production requirements.
  • Experience in producing work in ATL (Film, Audio, OOH).
  • Ability to think commercially and manage the financials of a client portfolio.
  • Strong focus on strategy & execution.
  • Strong project management skills.
  • Entrepreneurial mindset, with an ability to solve problems quickly and thoroughly.
  • Understanding of new technology and the application of it to the creative process.

Qualifications

Qualification / Experience / Skills:

The candidate must have a minimum of 7 years Account Management experience, with at least 3 years as an Account Director level. The following attributes are also essential:

  • Proven experience in managing a team.
  • Tertiary Marketing and/or Advertising qualification.
  • Digital agency experience and experience on large scale multinational brands and/or in FMCG would be advantageous.
  • Proven experience in working with external agency partners.

Additional Information

Personality Attributes:

  • Team player with the ability to work independently
  • Able to remain calm in a highly pressurized environment
  • Assertive
  • Proactive
  • Resilient
  • Approachable
  • Proactive
  • Energetic
  • Creative “out of the box” strategic thinker
  • Problem solver / solution driven
  • Meticulous with attention to detail
  • Other:

o Flexible to work beyond normal office hours (overtime if and when required)

o Comfortable to work from the Publicis Groupe office (on-site)

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Confirmed 2 hours ago. Posted 22 days ago.

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