Available Vacancies at Wunderman Thompson

You will be responsible for a wide range of data management, revenue, scopes, pricing & client savings. You will be required to create timely, sometimes complex, detailed analysis, clearly presented to enable the Directors to make strategic decisions.

You will be working with a range of WT agencies in SA, clients, communicating with staff at a variety of levels, including commercial teams at WPP.

You may also be involved in liaising directly with clients, particularly client procurement departments, and will make complex data simple, compelling, and easy to understand. You will be able to integrate data into a commercial storyline, under the supervision of the Directors.

Key responsibilities

Data management

• Preparing, for example, sophisticated costing, pricing, and other commercial templates or files
• Preparing commercial files that are advanced, analyzed, and ready to be shared internally or externally
• Developing ad’hoc, flexible and smart templates that allow for changes and evolutions while keeping track of changes
• Preparing and contextualizing commercial analyses or any other analyses required
• Providing analyses, input, and interpretation of commercial or financial data in the context of Procurement category management initiatives or other commercial discussions

Client Engagement

• Supporting with, for example, scoping, resourcing/staffing, and fee negotiations
• Attending meetings with Procurement in a support capacity of the Directors
• Increasing credibility of commercial negotiations by deriving insights from data-based analyses
• Liaising and engaging with clients and procurement on coordination and day to day matters
• Coordinating projects with client procurement

Profile

• Attention to detail and a high level of accuracy is essential
• Able to ‘digest’ and articulate insights and data outcomes clearly and simply
• A good communicator who works well both independently and as part of a team
• Collaborative and collegiate. Working together is best.
• Calm under pressure
• Good with people and at creating rapport in a virtual world
• Understands the finance function, but is not only a “numbers” person

Skills

• Strong analytical and technical skills
• Excellent working knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint
• Industry knowledge and experience
• Bachelors in a Business or related degree required
• Client-facing – has some experience of liaising OR negotiating with clients
• Experience in a commercial or client finance role desired
• Understanding or some experience of contract management a plus

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Responsibilities include:

Customer Relationship Management

• Through close relationship with the clients, continuously develop the strategic direction of each client account and ensure communication of any directional changes to the team
• Develop and maintain positive client relationships
• Provide pro-active solutions to client needs
• Position and develop oneself as a respected partner in managing and growing the client’s business
• To ensure clear understanding of the client’s strategic and operational requirements and communicate this to the team
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the client’s business
• To understand the various clients and their consumer needs, to ensure a commitment to providing effective delivery that is mutually beneficial to client and the Agency profitability
• Provision of expertise and expert knowledge to client at a technical level
• Motivate the client service team to achieve objectives of client and Wunderman Thompson Technology ZA
• Present and sell work to client
• Assessment of client needs and drawing on professional Agency resources to fulfil them
• Co-ordination of internal resources to ensure effective client services delivery to clients
• Effective management of unforeseen incidents/escalations

Business Development

• Facilitate growth of existing client portfolio
• Work in collaboration with Growth team to achieve organic growth targets
• Participate in all relevant communication/conf calls with the client, WT SA, WT Global and WPP HQ or other Hubs

Client Service Management

• Deliver high standards of client satisfaction, measuring this through feedback, surveys
• Assess that the work meets or exceeds the client brief
• Checking all elements and action any revisions required prior to presentation to client
• Present a united stance on Agency recommendations (i.e. support and endorse Agency output)
• Rendering a professional advisory service
• Ensure that all deadlines are met in collaboration with Delivery Teams

Financial Management

• Forecasting client billing / income budgets
• Budget control
• Ensure that preparation and presentation of accounts are executed
• Ensure quotes for budgets are obtained and checked
• Drive the ethos of cost control and income growth all the way through the teams

Management Reporting

• Monthly Management Reporting
• Adhere to all Client Service Reporting requirements
• Oversee Departmental Reporting – internal and external
• Work in progress control and monthly reports
• Maintain contact, status, minutes, reports timeously
• Monthly activity reports
• Agency case study reporting

Business Processes

• Implementation of Client Services Strategies defined by EXCO and WTZA Leadership
• Develop, implement and maintain all Client Service Business Processes aligned to business strategy
• Ensure continuous business process improvement within Client Service Department

People Management

• Overall management, leadership, development, and motivation of Client Service employees
• Leadership and management development of direct reports
• Client Service Resource planning - ensure the right number of employees, with the right skills, in the right places, at the right time
• Manage Client Service team productivity, efficiency, and capacity to deliver to clients
• Recruitment & selection of employees
• Departmental induction and orientation of new employees
• Performance management of employees
• Achieve employment equity numerical goals set for the department
• Handle in conjunction with HR Department Disciplinary & Grievance matters
• Manage absenteeism and excessive staff turnover
• Responsible for overall well-being of Client Service employees
• Continuous skills development of employees
• Adhere to HR Policies & Procedures at all times

Requirements

• At least 2-3 years management experience in a Client Service Director role.
• Have solid understanding of technology, project process flow and execution to ensure the ability to successfully measure and report on detailed technology projects
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills at all levels – people, team and management
• Knowledge of experience platforms and development process, with a technical background is a big plus
• Strong sense of initiative, ability to act as an independent leader and to demonstrate clear strategic thinking
• Proven leadership skills: several years of experience with managing teams and client relationships.
• Detailed oriented, efficient, dependable and a collaborative team player with a positive “can do” professional attitude
• Organizational skills to keep the work organized and well distributed among the team members
• Time management skills: ability to prioritize urgent and important tasks, and to accomplish them in time.
• Problem solving skills: Be able to deal with client relationship or internal team operations issues
• Decision making – understands how and when to make a choice, how and when to escalate issues to higher levels
• Able to analyze the risks and future impact of decisions
• Business development and client relationship skills
• Be able to work under stressful situations and manage stringent deadlines
• Excellent knowledge of computer fundaments, MS Office (Word, Excel, Visio, Project) and other process related systems
• Superior presentation skills
• Contract management and negotiation skills
• Overall business acumen

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What you'll need:

At Wunderman Thompson, we are committed to actively building a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued and heard, and is treated with dignity and respect.  As leaders and creative partners across industries, it is our responsibility to cultivate an environment reflective of our greatest asset; our people. We believe that this commitment inspires growth and delivers equitable outcomes for everyone as well as the clients and communities we serve.

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What you’ll be doing:

Lead Ideation

Take the reins and drive creative excellence by balancing business objectives, strategic direction, and a hefty dose of imagination. Our work ranges from social and digital to fully integrated campaigns, so your mind will be frequently stretched in Along with this, you’ll be expected to drive and deliver proactive thinking.

Create Experiences

We believe that the best work starts is built around an authentic understanding of the human for whom it’s created. As a senior writer, oversight of how different elements comprise cross-channel experiences is a key part of the job.

Craft Language

Yes, you’re a thinker. But you’re also a writer, right? Technical excellence, flexibility of voice and knowing how to write for different people and platforms are must-have characteristics.

Present Work

Getting clients to love the work as much as we do is a key part of how we operate. Senior writers often spearhead these conversations, so an ability to present with grace and gusto is something we’re looking out for.

Grow Greatness

We’ve got a lot of young talent in our business. For the senior writers, this presents an opportunity to transfer skills, foster growth and empower other writers to become the best versions of themselves. Reviewing work, managing others and mentoring are all commonly in a day’s work.

Keep Learning

A part of every WT creative’s responsibility is to continue learning. Whether it’s learning a coding language, sharpening your SEO skills, or diving into becoming better at strategy, part of your job will be growing your mind.

Who you are:

• 5+ years in creative writing positions
• Portfolio reflecting writing proficiencies, measurable effectiveness and creative flair (no points for scammy awards work)
• Experience bringing strategic direction into creative work to define creative strategy
• Mastery of the creative process
• Strong presentation skills (both writing and delivering)
• Ability to balance and adjust speed/quality balance according to briefs
• Experience working interdepartmentally (i.e. with strategy, data, tech, ops etc.) and interagency (local and global)
• Deep, actionable understanding of social, digital, and integrated marketing
• Ability or ambition to manage and grow other writers
• Strong grasp on technical requirements (platform best practice, design compatibility, online/offline etc.)
• Matric
• Tertiary qualification (degree or diploma) in related field (e.g., copywriting, communications, English, PR, copywriting, journalism) essential

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What we need from you

• Able to work with multidisciplinary teams on a range of products, designing experiences people want, need and love.
• Passion for people, with a proven ability to work across medium and large-scale engagements with several project tracks and teams from multiple organisations.
• Able to juggle multiple projects with a great attitude, prioritising work and resources – even when timelines, budgets and availabilities change.
• Make the case for what you believe in, always advocating for the people who use our products in front of clients and internal teams.
• Work well under pressure, keeping your cool when the deadlines change, mitigate risks an adjust accordingly.
• Get involved in workshops and presentations by leading and facilitating, developing relationships and working towards good outcomes.
• Be an expert, continually learning about people, design and technology, helping colleagues improve their design practice.
• Role model positive, progressive ways of working with all areas of the business – facilitating an environment to deliver quality at pace.
• Act as an ambassador for the experience design team; sell and evangelise the value of user centred experience design both internally and to clients in order to win more engagements.
• Stay stubbornly curious, constructive and open minded.

You’re likely to have knowledge and expertise in these areas

• You’ve been fundamental to the creation of digital products and services from end to end; foremostly sitemaps, wireframes and specifications, but also customer and stakeholder research, expert assessment of key user flows, usability testing and advising on content.
• Effectively managed time to facilitate the delivery of a digital product on budget and on time.
• Played a key role in creating, planning and facilitating research and user testing activities; from in-person ethnographic studies to one-on-one user testing.
• Created user journeys, information hierarchies and experience design approaches at different levels of fidelity to suit your audience, in support of campaigns, new products and destination launches and ongoing improvement initiatives.
• Where appropriate, briefed teams and ensured quality in all outputs and deliverables.
• Supported the pitch process with concepts and prototypes as necessary.
• Used analytics and other evaluation tools to help measure the impact of your strategies.
• Able to craft and deliver engaging presentations that inspire audiences and drive results.

Tools you’re likely to be confident in

• Figma
• Keynote & PowerPoint
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Atlassian project management tools e.g. Confluence and Jira
• Prototyping tools such as Protopie, Axure or Invision
• Analytics tools such as Google Analytics