Media Strategist x 5 at The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)

JOB PURPOSE

• The purpose of this role is to deliver data-driven, integrated media strategies across SABC’s TV, Radio/Audio, and Digital platforms that enable the Sales Division to maximise advertising revenue. The Media Strategist is responsible for designing and implementing media strategy packs, monitoring campaign performance, developing media plans and ensuring proposals are aligned to both client objectives and SABC’s commercial priorities.
• Working under the direction of the Integrated Media Strategy Lead, this role is execution-focused, converting research, competitor intelligence, and audience data into practical client solutions. The Media Strategist also plays a key role in developing and optimising SABC’s “media classic packages” by identifying gaps, monitoring package performance, and refining offerings to remain competitive.
• By ensuring the consistent delivery of strategic, high-quality, insight-led proposals, the Media Strategist enables the Sales team to position SABC as a trusted advertising partner and strengthen its share of market revenue.

MAIN OBJECTIVES (KEY PERFORMANCE AREA)

JOB OUTPUTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS POSITION

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR

INTEGRATED MEDIA STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT

• Develop comprehensive, data-driven omni-channel media packs that synthesise insights from various data sources on audience research, competitor intelligence, and sales priorities.
• Conduct client-specific gap analyses and opportunity assessments to tailor media solutions that maximise value and revenue.
• Tailor media strategies to client-specific needs, ensuring clear alignment with SABC’s commercial goals.
• Partner with Sales teams on pitches, presentations, and negotiations, translating complex insights into client-friendly recommendations.
• Build integrated, high quality, multi-platform media strategy packs tailored to client briefs.
• Analyse audience data (TV, Radio, Digital) to create compelling storylines for sales proposals.
• Support Sales teams with insight-driven strategies for pitches, proposals, and workshops.
• Translate competitor intelligence and market research into strategic, actionable recommendations.
• Contribute to proposal templates and maintain up-to-date collateral aligned to SABC priorities.
• Ensure proposals highlight cross-platform synergies (TV + Radio + Digital) and showcase SABC’s unique reach and impact.
• Conduct opportunity assessments to identify additional value-adds or cross-platform upsell opportunities.
• Ensure strategies highlight cross-platform synergies and position SABC’s inventory as unique in reach and impact.
• Collaborate with Sales to embed strategies into revenue planning cycles.
• Ensure proposals are accurate, data-backed, and delivered within required deadlines.
• Support the Integrated Media Strategy Lead and Senior Media Strategist in thought leadership projects by contributing specialist insights into future media trends.
• Deliver post-campaign analyses across TV, Radio, and digital channels validating SABC’s media plan effectiveness, measuring ROI, and informing continuous improvement.
• Continuously evaluate, innovate, and enhance media analysis and planning tools across TV, Radio, and digital channels, templates, and workflows to improve sales efficiency and effectiveness, accuracy, and client engagement outcomes ensuring seamless integration across platforms.
• Support the Integrated Media Strategy Lead to develop and implement media strategy solutions across TV, Radio, and digital channels, for use by Sales Teams in revenue generation, ensuring these media strategy solutions address identified gaps and client-specific needs.
• Keep abreast of sales product offerings and emerging opportunities to ensure the sales team is equipped with up-to-date, compelling integrated media solutions.
• Provide the necessary intelligence and insights to inform sales optimisation, commercial, revenue, pricing and other related strategies.
• Support all commercial and public service media focused teams, including Sales, Marketing, Innovation and Operations with the provision of relevant market related information and intelligence.
• Provide support, input and analysis that will inform the development and implementation of Sales Division strategy.
• Contribute to the development of thought leadership and innovative commercial models to support sustained success.

MARKET, COMPETITIVE & MACRO ENVIRONMENT INTELLIGENCE

• Monitor competitor advertising activity, pricing, media spend, and positioning.
• Conduct benchmarking of SABC’s media offering against market competitors.
• Track and analyse macro-environmental trends affecting media consumption.
• Maintain up-to-date competitor databases and dashboards for Sales reference.
• Assist in delivering market intelligence reports that highlight risks and opportunities.
• Conduct pre- and post-campaign evaluations to measure campaign effectiveness and ROI.
• Analyse campaign performance data, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.
• Incorporate client feedback into post-campaign reports for continuous improvement.
• Provide strategic insights into audience behaviour changes across TV, Radio, and Digital.
• Share findings with Sales, Marketing, Platforms and Innovation teams to align strategies.
• Conduct regular competitor analyses, monitoring share of voice, pricing models, media spend, and campaign positioning.
• Conduct regular comprehensive competitor analysis across media spend, campaign activity, and strategic positioning to uncover exploitable advantages and increase market share.
• Monitor and report on competitive media and spending activity, distilling key insights that shape responsive media strategies.
• Analyse local and international media trends, audience behaviours, and advertising technologies to identify risks and opportunities.
• Analyse and interpret local and international macroeconomic, market, and media data and trends including political, economic, social, business, and technological factors to identify emerging market opportunities and risks for sales growth.
• Deliver actionable market reports to Sales leadership highlighting threats, gaps, and opportunities.
• Compile post-campaign evaluations for accounts, measuring ROI, effectiveness, and lessons learned and future recommendations.
• Utilise post-campaign analytics and client feedback to continuously refine media strategies and sales enablement efforts.
• Provide recommendations for campaign optimisation based on analytics, client feedback, and audience data.
• Deliver forward-looking, actionable reports to Sales leadership and Sales teams that anticipate market shifts, identify revenue opportunities, and flag competitive risks.
• Gather market data and intelligence to inform benchmarking of the SABC against leading practice and competitors.
• Serve as the media strategy consultant and trusted advisor to frontline sales and leadership, empowering teams through tailored training, workshops, and one-on-one coaching to elevate media literacy and strategic selling capabilities.

SALES ENABLEMENT & CLIENT ENGAGEMENT

• Act as a strategic partner to Sales in contributing to compelling, insight-led client proposals, Sales packs, workshop decks or any other critical pieces of work.
• Provide quick-turnaround media strategy support for pitches, management and client requests.
• Participate in client meetings or workshops, representing the Media Strategy function when needed.
• Ensure that sales collateral (packages, decks, case studies) are aligned with strategic insights.
• Provide timeous responses to requests for integrated media strategy related information from other functions and business units.
• Communicate with external and internal stakeholders, in order to ensure optimal delivery of commercial / Sales objectives.
• Collaborate and engage in effective cross functional communication and co-operation with other Divisions.
• Advance SABC’s interest in all negotiations with external stakeholders to maximise value creation and revenue optimisation.

DEVELOPMENT, MONITORING & OPTIMISATION OF MEDIA PACKAGES

• Assist Senior Media Strategist in designing, testing, and implementing standardised “media classic packages” across TV, Radio, and Digital that Sales teams can take to market.
• Identify package gaps by benchmarking against competitor offerings, market needs, and client feedback.
• Recommend new packages that reflect market demand and maximise SABC’s inventory utilisation.
• Monitor the sales and revenue performance of packages on a monthly/quarterly basis.
• Analyse package uptake and profitability, recommending adjustments or discontinuation of underperforming packages.
• Collaborate with Pricing, Sales, and Marketing to ensure packages are competitively positioned.
• Produce regular performance dashboards on package uptake, value contribution, and client adoption.

GOVERNANCE, RISK AND COMPLIANCE

• Ensure compliance with SABC policies, PFMA, and relevant Treasury regulations.
• Maintain confidentiality of commercially sensitive and client information.
• Adhere to internal SOPs and ensure outputs are audit-ready.
• Flag risks and compliance gaps to the Senior Strategist or Integrated Media Strategy Lead.
• Participate in internal audits by providing requested data and documentation.

INHERENT REQUIREMENT

FORMAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Relevant Marketing, Media, or related field qualification (Diploma or Degree / Marketing / Digital Marketing / Media)

EXPERIENCE:

• 4-5 years experience in experience in integrated media strategy, planning, and advertising sales.
• Proven experience in omni-channel advertising, media sales, media strategy and planning
• Strong knowledge of media planning systems, audience measurement systems (e.g., Telmar, AdIntel, Mediahost, BRC, IAB etc), digital analytics, and emerging media technologies
• Advanced technical knowledge of media metrics pertaining to TAMS, RAMS, Digital
• Advanced PowerPoint user with proven ability to build high-impact client presentations.
• Proficiency in Canva (or similar design tools) to develop visually compelling sales decks, proposals, and collateral.
• Experience working with BI and data visualization tools, and a clear understanding of AI applications in media intelligence is a plus.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, adhering to briefs and deadlines.
• Understanding of media sales processes and disciplines

KNOWLEDGE:

• Proven experience in integrated media strategy.
• Deep understanding of brand and performance media and the synergy required for effective cross-channel campaigns.
• Strong understanding of digital, social, and traditional media platforms.
• Expertise in data analysis, performance metrics, and reporting tools.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and collaboration skills.
• A data-driven mindset with a bias toward action.
• The ability to build trust, inspire collaboration, and navigate complex internal and client dynamics.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data, translate findings into actionable strategies, and creatively solve problems.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and storytelling abilities to articulate complex concepts and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Strategic media planning and omni-channel advertising ecosystems
• Market, competitor, and audience research methodologies, including competitive benchmarking and macro environment analysis.
• Sales process understanding and sales enablement best practices.
• Business intelligence platforms and reporting frameworks (Power BI, Tableau)
• Innovation in media analytics, including AI and machine learning applications.
• Leadership, coaching, and talent development
• Industry regulations, governance, and compliance relevant to broadcasting and advertising.
• PFMA and relevant national treasury regulations
• Strategy and scenario planning