Careers at Publicis Groupe

Role Purpose

• We are looking for a Senior Programmatic Specialist to support Toyota’s digital media activity across Studio One. The role requires someone who is highly detail-oriented, confident in managing programmatic budgets, and experienced in delivering campaigns across PMPs, programmatic guaranteed deals, direct publisher deals, and broader DV360/programmatic environments.
• The ideal candidate should be comfortable working across automotive campaigns, performance requirements, audience planning, media owner relationships, campaign setup, optimisation, pacing, reporting, and post-campaign insights.

Responsibilities

What you can expect in an average week

• You will be involved with numerous points of contact managers, so it’s important to develop a good understanding and identify specific business needs for each one.

Your average week may include:

• Attend key client briefings, status meetings, integration meetings with agency partners 
• Be present and on time, to all required meetings.
• Work collaboratively with our colleagues, global teams and creative agency partners.
• Collaboratively work with and direct the digital campaign managers, DV360 and search specialists.
• Work collaboratively within the Digital Advertising Operations and Media Buying Team.
• Write and present internal briefs across all digital disciplines, monitor progress, direct optimization changes, avoid under / over-spends and add provide insight to post campaign reports.  
• Sign off digital media billing packs relevant to your portfolio, to ensure alignment and avoid under and overspends.
• Update monthly forecasting reports
• Ensure the planning platform is kept up to date and digital integrations are added and maintained.     
• Keep your Google, Facebook, Twitter and any other required media owner certifications up to date and participate in required training sessions.
• Ensure that your time sheets are maintained and timeously updated. 

Key Responsibilities

Programmatic campaign management

• Plan, set up, manage, optimise, and report on programmatic campaigns for Toyota.
• Manage PMPs, programmatic guaranteed deals, and direct publisher/programmatic partnerships.
• Ensure campaigns are built correctly, with audience and floodlight inclusion where required.
• Manage campaign pacing, delivery, budget tracking, performance checks, and optimisation recommendations.

Budget ownership

• Manage allocated programmatic budgets accurately and responsibly.
• Track spend, pacing, delivery, and campaign performance against approved plans.
• Ensure all budget movements, optimisations, and campaign changes are clearly documented.
• Flag risks early where campaigns are under-delivering, over-pacing, or require strategic adjustment.

Campaign implementation and workflow

• Work closely with digital planners, strategists, ad ops, account management, and media owners to ensure campaigns are implemented correctly.
• Review briefs, assets, audience requirements, Powerhub links, chase lists, landing pages, headers, character limits, and tracking requirements before launch. The internal workflow references planner-led briefing into Powerhub, ad ops vetting, tagging, campaign setup, and programmatic specialist review before approval.
• Ensure campaign setup supports Toyota’s audience, reach, frequency, and broader strategic objectives.

Optimisation and strategic input

• Provide optimisation recommendations that go beyond delivery metrics and consider who Toyota is targeting, how they are being reached, and why the selected channel or audience matters.
• Help push programmatic activity beyond basic reach delivery by identifying audience, platform, publisher, and format opportunities that are strategically relevant to Toyota campaigns.
• Use data and media owner insights to recommend audience refinements, inventory opportunities, frequency adjustments, and performance improvements.

Media owner and partner management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with media owners and platform partners. Strong media owner relationships are listed as an advantage in the vacancy briefing.
• Work with partners to identify relevant first-party audience opportunities, platform solutions, PMP opportunities, and direct deals.
• Ensure partner proposals are interrogated for strategic fit, audience relevance, cost efficiency, and campaign objective alignment.

Reporting and administration

• Maintain accurate campaign documentation, budget records, delivery updates, and reporting inputs.
• Support post-campaign reporting with clear insights, learnings, and recommendations.
• Ensure admin, timelines, and internal processes are followed consistently. Strong admin and time management skills are specifically highlighted in the vacancy briefing.

Qualifications

• Google Fundamentals of Digital Marketing
• Google Analytics
• Google Ads Video
• Google Shopping Ads
• Google Display Ads
• Google Ads Search
• Facebook Blueprint Planning

Experience:

• At least 3-5 years of digital media planning experience

Required experience and skills

• Senior-level programmatic media experience.
• Experience managing own budgets.
• Experience working with PMPs, programmatic guaranteed deals, and similar programmatic buying models.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Strong administration and time management skills.
• Ability to manage campaign setup, pacing, optimisation, and reporting.
• Ability to work across multiple campaigns and stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills and confidence dealing with media owners, planners, strategists, and internal teams.

Advantageous experience

• Automotive category experience.
• Existing relationships with media owners.
• Experience working on large-scale brand, launch, sponsorship, always-on, and performance-focused campaigns.
• Experience using audience insights and media owner data to inform campaign recommendations.

Hard Skills:

• Able to effectively manage projects
• Comfortable Presenting
• Numerically strong and analytically able
• Strong communicator with effective interpersonal relationships across team and clients
• Advanced IT skills including Microsoft Word, best-in-class Power Point, Excel, Outlook and web-based applications.
• The ability to synthesize and reduce different inputs to create a well-considered and accurate representative view.
• English fluency and language skills for effective business writing
• Strong presentation skills
• Solid data interpretation and analytics skills

Soft Skills

• Is open to constructive feedback and challenges accordingly.
• Is effective at building relationships and working as a team
• Shows leadership and decision-making ability
• Manages change well – adapts and remains flexible to business priorities
• Ability to collaborate without ego as well as work effectively independently
• Is willing to transfer skills and share knowledge openly
• Ability to self-start and self-manage

Ideal candidate profile

• The ideal candidate is detail-obsessed, organised, commercially responsible, and proactive. They should be able to manage multiple Toyota campaigns with accuracy, own budgets confidently, and provide meaningful optimisation recommendations that are grounded in audience relevance and campaign objectives.
• They should not just be a campaign operator, they should be able to challenge whether an audience, platform, deal, or placement makes strategic sense for Toyota, and help the team deliver smarter programmatic work across the portfolio.

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Overview

• We’re looking for a passionate Group Account Director to join our team.
• As an Group Account Director, you should be someone who views marketing and advertising as a career and not a job, driven by an innate entrepreneurial spirit. You are passionate about brands, strategy and memorable campaigns, while building long-lasted and trusted relationships with your client to ensure continual business growth both for the agency and the client brand.
• We are looking for someone with an entrepreneurial, growth mindset – always looking to understand what keeps your clients up at night to proactively propose creative solutions and build their business. We are looking for someone who is passionate about brands from various sectors, no matter how big or how small, with the ability to flex across multiple clients. You should be comfortable and proficient with varied communication scales, from ATL and BTL to digital and content marketing, with equal gusto across all.
• You will be reporting into the Business Lead across multiple clients and disciplines. You need to be able to hit the ground running from day 1, considering yourself to be a self-starter with a passionate drive for excellence.
• If you are curious, driven and hungry for ownership, then this role is for you!

Responsibilities

• Management of TTL campaigns and communication on a day-to-day basis  (experience on ATL – TV, OOH, Radio - and print production is preferable as well as digital campaign experience) across multiple client portfolios.
• Management of digital Content Marketing (editorial) content for multiple client portfolios
• Management of client expectations and service delivery by being a focal and trusted point for day-to-day interaction.
• Assisting your line manager / Business Lead in driving organic business growth within your portfolio as well as flexing into areas of new business / client wins that are acquired over time.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Master the clients’ business and relationships to be a true and valued client partner, being indispensable to their business, ensuring longevity and partnership
• Flex across multiple Clients and multiple communication disciplines
• Ensuring that you empower yourself with full knowledge and understanding of your client brands and with the technicalities of the deliverables so that you have smart and productive conversations
• Implement and drive efficient and effective processes that allow for consistent tracking and powerful conversations
• Full ownership of your accounts, taking accountability for all work presented and delivered
• Empower yourself to set up new Clients quickly and effectively
• Support your Business Lead in driving and meeting all financial targets
• Empower your seniors with the correct information to ensure that they correctly support you and the Client
• Have tough and honest conversations with your clients to enable your team to deliver excellence and you create trust through positive outcomes
• Have confident presentation skills with the ability to sell work effectively
• Be a strategic partner to your clients, enabling you to guide and drive better work, better business conversations, and build business
• Maintain the integrity of the creative strategy and work throughout the campaign
• Exceptional management of Client expectations
• Can manage all kinds of personalities and always strive to get the best out of each individual
• Have an excellent knowledge understanding of the Client, the agency, the strategy, and the process to deliver efficiently and to the highest quality
• Communicate with excellence, maturity and intent when writing or speaking
• Keep abreast of what is happening in the market (broad communication trends and Client competitor work) to add additional value to your client’s business
• Continuously have bigger business conversations with senior Clients to understand what’s keeping them up at night in order to proactively propose creative solutions
• Be prepared to work long hours as and when is necessary in order to deliver according to the deadline and to support the broader team
• Join in the agency culture to build strong relationships across the business

Qualifications

• Marketing qualification essential, ideally educated to a Diploma level
• 6 - 8 years’ experience in Account Management in Communication/ Advertising Industry
• Seamless managing the expectations of multiple stakeholders (internally and externally) to deliver according to brief, strategy and to the highest standard
• You must have experience running jobs, projects, and campaigns from start to finish with minor senior support. You should have the drive to take ownership, and develop your portfolio
• Experience driving out the production of high-quality printed material is critical 
• ATL, TV and print production is preferred
• Experience in digital is preferrable
   

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Overview

• Machine_ is looking for an exceptional Senior Account Manager / Account Director to lead a portfolio of clients, including one of the agency's largest and most important accounts.
• This role requires a unique combination of strategic client leadership, operational excellence and a strong understanding of publication development and print production. The successful candidate will take ownership of complex projects, build trusted client relationships and ensure consistently high standards of delivery across multiple accounts.
• A significant portion of the portfolio includes large-scale print and digital publication projects that require meticulous planning, stakeholder management, quality control and deadline management. Alongside this, the role will oversee a range of through-the-line marketing and communication projects across additional clients and industries.
• We're looking for someone who thrives on ownership, enjoys solving complex challenges and can confidently manage multiple workstreams while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.

Responsibilities

Account Leadership & Ownership

• Take ownership of a portfolio of accounts, including one of Machine_'s most important client relationships.
• Build strong, trusted relationships with clients and become their day-to-day strategic partner.
• Lead client engagements with confidence, professionalism and commercial awareness.
• Ensure projects are delivered to the highest standard, on time and within budget.
• Anticipate client needs, identify risks early and proactively implement solutions.
• Drive account growth through exceptional service delivery and opportunity identification.
• Maintain a deep understanding of clients' businesses, objectives and challenges.

Publications & Print Management

• Lead the development and delivery of complex print and digital publications from briefing through to final production.
• Manage annual publications, newsletters, newspapers, reports, scorecards and other long-form communication projects.
• Develop and manage detailed production schedules and project plans.
• Coordinate internal teams, suppliers and stakeholders throughout the publication lifecycle.
• Manage copy development, version control, proofing, design, DTP and approval processes.
• Ensure accuracy, consistency and quality across all publication outputs.
• Maintain a strong understanding of print production, timelines and technical requirements.

Through-the-Line Campaign Management

• Manage integrated marketing and communication projects across a range of clients.
• Coordinate strategy, creative, digital, media, production and content teams to deliver campaign objectives.
• Ensure work is delivered against agreed scopes, timelines and budgets.
• Support the development of strategic solutions that address client challenges and opportunities.
• Drive collaboration across teams to ensure seamless project delivery.

Project Management & Operational Excellence

• Manage multiple projects and client workstreams simultaneously.
• Develop clear scopes of work, timelines, budgets and resource plans.
• Maintain strong project governance and administrative discipline.
• Drive accountability across internal teams, suppliers and stakeholders.
• Monitor project health and address issues before they impact delivery.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, efficiencies and ways of working.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Take ownership of account profitability and commercial performance.
• Manage estimates, purchase orders, invoicing and reconciliations.
• Ensure all work is delivered within approved scope and budget parameters.
• Contribute to forecasting, resource planning and revenue growth.
• Identify opportunities for organic account growth and additional business.

Team Leadership & Development

• Directly manage, mentor and develop a Junior Account Executive.
• Provide ongoing coaching, guidance and support to build confidence and capability.
• Create meaningful development opportunities and clear growth plans.
• Delegate effectively while maintaining overall accountability for delivery.
• Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, accountability and continuous learning.
• Lead by example through professionalism, resilience and strong client service practices.
• Contribute positively to the wider Client Service team and agency culture.

Qualifications

Essential

• 4–6 years' experience in account management, client service or project management within an agency environment.
• Experience managing multiple client accounts simultaneously.
• Strong experience managing print publications, annual reports, newsletters, newspapers, magazines or similar long-form content projects.
• Proven ability to manage complex stakeholder environments.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and budget management experience.
• High attention to detail and quality control.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and tight deadlines.
• Experience mentoring or supporting junior team members.

Advantageous

• Experience working on integrated through-the-line campaigns.
• Experience within public sector, corporate or highly regulated environments.
• Knowledge of print production processes and supplier management.
• Experience managing large, multidisciplinary teams and projects.
• Formal project management training or certification.

Personal Attributes

We're looking for someone who:

• Takes ownership and accountability for outcomes.
• Is exceptionally organised and detail-oriented.
• Builds trust and credibility quickly.
• Thrives in a fast-paced agency environment.
• Balances strategic thinking with strong operational execution.
• Is proactive, resilient and solutions-focused.
• Communicates clearly, confidently and professionally.
• Enjoys mentoring and developing others.
• Maintains high standards while supporting team growth.
• Is comfortable managing both the detail and the bigger picture.

The successful candidate will:

• Build trusted, long-term client relationships.
• Take full ownership of their portfolio and operate as a true business partner to clients.
• Consistently deliver high-quality work on time and on budget.
• Successfully manage complex publication and campaign workflows.
• Drive strong commercial performance across accounts.
• Anticipate challenges and resolve issues proactively.
• Create a positive, accountable and high-performing team environment.
• Successfully develop and grow the Junior Account Executive.
• Be recognised internally and externally as a reliable, solutions-focused leader.

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Overview

• We’re looking for an experienced and passionate Account Manager to join our team. You will need to be able to hit the ground running from day one, be a self-starter and drive excellence.
• The Account Manager plays an essential role in servicing the Client by ensuring timeous and accurate execution of briefs, project management of all jobs and the management and tracking of all finances (processing CE’s, billing PO’s, weekly reporting).
• Attention to detail and strong administrative skills are therefore a critical success factor and requirement for this role.

Responsibilities

• Manage TTL campaigns (with a predominantly digital focus) and communication on a day-to-day basis (from start to finish with little minimal senior supervision)
• Manage client expectations and service delivery by being a focal point for day-to-day interaction
• Master client business and relationships to be a client partner, indispensable to their business, ensuring longevity and partnership
• Understand the client, strategy and agency process in order to deliver efficiently and to the highest quality
• Full ownership of your projects, taking accountability for all work presented and delivered
• Support your Account Director and Business Unit Director in driving and meeting all financial targets
• Empower your seniors with the correct information to ensure that they correctly support you and the client
• Honest conversations with your client to enable your team to deliver excellence and you create trust through positive outcomes
• Be a strategic partner to your clients, enabling you to guide and drive better work, better business conversations, and build business
• Maintain the integrity of the creative strategy and work throughout the campaign
• Ability to manage different personalities and always strive to get the best out of each individual
• Keep abreast of industry trends (broad communication trends and client competitor work) in order to add additional value to your client’s business

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Marketing / Business Communications
• Minimum 3 years working experience as an Account Executive or Account Manager with 1 year in an Advertising Agency (or in a similar environment i.e. Publishing)
• Proficient in MS Office (i.e. Word / Excel / PowerPoint etc.)
• TTL & Digital experience is essential (well versed in Digital)
• Experience working on Chase
• A good command of the English language (both verbal and written)
• Strong presentation skills
• Strong administrative and organisational skills
• Strong numerical skills (financial & budget management experience)
• Strong multitasking skills (ability to work on more than one brief at any given time)
• Managing the expectations of multiple stakeholders seamlessly to deliver according to brief, strategy and to the highest standard
   

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Overview

• The HR Manager at Publicis Groupe Africa is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Human Resources department, ensuring the effective and efficient delivery of HR services in alignment with business objectives and statutory requirements. This role plays a key part in fostering a positive workplace culture, managing employee relations, driving talent initiatives, and ensuring compliance with all relevant labour laws and company policies within the dynamic environment of the advertising and communications industry.
• This role will leverage support from various Centres of Excellence, including Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, HR Operations, and Employee Relations, to deliver comprehensive HR solutions.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic HR & Business Partnership:

• Translate business strategy into HR initiatives and practices, providing strategic HR advice to business leaders and employees within Publicis Groupe Africa.
• Act as a trusted advisor to management and employees on all HR-related matters, fostering strong relationships across the various agencies and departments.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of HR policies and procedures that support organisational goals and adapt to the evolving needs of the Groupe.

Talent Management & Development:

• Oversee the end-to-end talent acquisition process, working closely with the dedicated Talent Acquisition team to ensure timely and effective recruitment of top talent that aligns with Publicis Groupe's diverse needs and culture.
• Support the design and implementation of robust performance management systems, including goal setting, performance reviews, and continuous feedback mechanisms, to drive individual and team performance.
• Collaborate closely with the Learning & Development team to identify training needs and coordinate relevant development programs that enhance employee capabilities, support career progression, and foster a culture of continuous learning.
• Support succession planning initiatives for key roles within the organisation to ensure future leadership readiness.

Employee Relations & Engagement:

• Manage and resolve complex employee relations issues, including grievances, disciplinary actions, and conflict resolution, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant application of policies and procedures.
• Promote a positive, inclusive, and engaging work environment through effective communication, employee recognition programs, and proactive engagement initiatives that align with Publicis Groupe's values.
• Provide guidance and support to managers on employee relations matters, ensuring strict compliance with South African labour legislation (e.g., Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act).

HR Operations & Compliance:

• Ensure accurate and compliant administration of all HR processes across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, offboarding, leave management, benefits administration, and meticulous employee data maintenance within the HRIS.
• Oversee payroll inputs and collaborate with relevant finance or HR operations teams to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of all relevant South African labour laws, B-BBEE codes, and industry best practices to ensure continuous legal and ethical compliance for Publicis Groupe
• Prepare and analyse HR reports and metrics to inform strategic decision-making, identify trends, and highlight areas for continuous improvement in HR operations.
• Contribute to the effective management and optimisation of the HR Information System (HRIS) to enhance operational efficiency and data integrity.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Assist in the design, review, and implementation of competitive compensation and benefits structures that attract, motivate, and retain top talent within the Publicis Groupe Africa
• Participate in salary benchmarking activities and ensure internal equity and external competitiveness of remuneration packages.

Employment Equity

• The employment Equity Manager is responsible for promoting and managing the implementation of employment equity policies and practices in the organization to create a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace.
• Plan Implementation: Oversee the day-to-day execution of the formal employment equity plan.
•  Monitoring & Control: Track progress, measure numeric targets, and evaluate affirmative action measures.
• Stakeholder Consultation: Work directly with employee forums, trade unions, and consultative committees
• Barrier Identification: Help spot and remove workplace barriers preventing fair treatment and advancement.
• Internal Reporting: Report directly to top company leadership on compliance status and roadblocks.
• Resource Management: Ensure the employment equity Committee is functional, and there is administrative support, and tools are allocated for equity tasks and budgets (through the support of top management).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources management, Industrial Psychology, Business Administration, or a related A relevant postgraduate qualification (e.g., Honours, Master's) is highly advantageous.
• Certification from a recognised HR professional body (e.g., SABPP) is

Experience:

• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive HR experience, with at least 2-3 years in an HR Manager or senior HR Generalist role, preferably within a complex, multinational, or agency
• Proven track record in successfully managing various aspects of the employee lifecycle, including talent acquisition, performance management, employee relations, and HR
• Demonstrable in-depth knowledge and practical application of South African labour legislation (e.g., LRA, BCEA, EE Act, SDA, POPIA).
• Extensive experience working with HR Information Systems (HRIS) and leveraging technology for HR efficiency.
• Proven experience in driving Employment Equity initiatives and B-BBEE compliance (at least 2 -3 years).
   

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Overview

• As a Junior In-House Designer you will work with our passionate, multi-talented team to deliver on exceptional design work for Toyota South Africa.
• This is an in-house design opportunity where you will be working directly with the client team, at Toyota’s Head office, to deliver high quality graphic design. The role is client-facing where you will be working independently onsite with client stakeholders. What’s more, you will receive mentorship and support from Studio One Toyota in growing your portfolio and furthering your career.
• The successful candidate will be tuned into all aspects of South African motoring culture and the platforms and media it plays in, as well as have a strong point of view on what it takes to win in this space through impactful design.

Responsibilities

What you’ll do everyday

• Manage your creative process on projects
• Foster strong client relationships
• Define and apply the aesthetic of the Toyota brand
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Generate ideas and sell them into clients or other members of the team
• Mock up creative ideas
• Design across multiple channels
• Consistently produce creative elements against a deliverables list
• Participate in brainstorms & conceptualisation
• Compile presentations for clients and learn to present

Qualifications

OPERATIONAL KPI’S

• Ability of design work (Show minimum of 4 examples)
• Must show an understanding of various programmes
• Working knowledge of these tools
• Illustrator
• Photoshop
• Indesign
• After Effects (Advantageous)
• PowerPoint
• AI image and text generation tools
• Photography (Advantageous)

BUSINESS KPI’s

• Must be able to work on multiple projects at any one time.
• Have the ability to have more than one design idea per brief.

THE PERSON

• Great time management
• Ability to work under pressure & meet tight deadlines
• Adopt problem solving skills
• Strong communication skills with ability to provide rationales for creative choices made
• Adequate presentation skills
• Working knowledge of existing and emerging technologies & platforms
• A strong understanding of best practice interaction and visual design principles
• Able to work with team members