Vacancies at 99C

Responsibilities

Leadership

• Oversee and mentor a team of art directors, providing guidance, support, and inspiration to foster their creative growth
• Drive the development of innovative and compelling creative concepts that align with client objectives and brand identity
• Ensure the highest standards of quality and execution in all creative deliverables
• Lead and inspire Art Direction best practice
• Ensure consistency and integration of art direction across all communication channels
• Responsible for seeing the idea through the creative process to final sign off
• Mentor junior and mid art directors
• Participate in new business initiatives, from identifying opportunities to pitch development
• Hands-on creative development from concept to implementation
• Provide quality assurance of all creative deliverables

Thinking

• Collaborate with copywriters and other team members to develop the overarching creative strategy and big ideas for campaigns
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of consumer insights and market trends to create relevant and engaging content
• Think critically and creatively to solve complex challenges and generate unique solutions
• Interact with other agency teams/divisions to develop creative concepts
• Work to brief and show understanding and relevance to the target market

Integration

• Research and implement AI-powered design tools and techniques to streamline workflows and enhance creative output
• Utilize AI algorithms for tasks such as generating design ideas, creating custom illustrations, and optimizing visual assets

Proficiency

• Stay up to date on the latest design software, hardware, and industry trends
• Leverage technical skills to create visually impactful and technically sound designs
• Create social, digital, print, TV, OOH and editorial layouts and oversee shoots

Excellence

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the art direction team, including workflow, deadlines, and – along with Traffic – optimal resource allocation to enable quality delivery
• Ensure efficient and effective execution of creative projects, from concept to completion
• Collaborate with production teams to ensure seamless transition of creative concepts into production
• Oversee creative consultations with strategy and account teams to assure appropriate creative strategies, adequacy/accuracy of input, production support, necessary reviews, and client presentations

Client Management

• Present creative concepts to clients and effectively communicate the creative rationale and solution, ensuring all concepts are well thought out, strategic, highly creative, and effectively answer the brief requirements
• Build strong relationships with clients and foster trust and collaboration
• Address client feedback objectively and openly, and make necessary adjustments to creative deliverables

Retail Focus

• Demonstrate a deep understanding of retail marketing and consumer behaviour
• Develop creative concepts that are tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of the retail environment

KPIs

Leadership and Team Development

• Conduct performance reviews and individual development plans for team members, focusing on creative growth and skill enhancement.
• Achieve consistent team satisfaction scores, measuring the effectiveness of mentorship and guidance provided to junior and mid-level art directors.

and Consistency in Creative Output

• Maintain consistently high levels of adherence to brand standards and quality expectations across all creative deliverables.
• Ensure that 100% of projects meet consistency and integration standards across channels

in Project Delivery and Resource Management

• Complete creative projects on time and within the allocated resources by effectively managing workflow and collaborating with the Traffic team.

Satisfaction and Communication

• Present creative concepts to clients with a goal to first time approval on initial presentations.
• Satisfactorily address and implement client feedback, ensuring responsiveness to client needs and alignment with project briefs.

through AI and Technical Proficiency

• Integrate AI-powered design tools wherever possible, streamlining workflows and enhancing creative output.
• Ensure team proficiency with the latest design software

Requirements

• Tertiary degree or diploma in art direction and marketing and/or communications
• 8+ years of experience (preference will be given to candidates from agency environments)
• Strong conceptual ability demonstrated by an impressive portfolio of work
• Experience in omni-channel advertising is crucial
• Proven experience as a Creative Group Head or a similar leadership role in advertising or a related field
• Strong portfolio showcasing exceptional creative concepts and execution across various channels
• Ability to lead and inspire a team of creative professionals
• Deep understanding of design principles, typography, and color theory
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Strong attention to detail and organisational ability
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Passion for creativity and a commitment to delivering exceptional results
• Ability to balance working personally on projects, as well as overseeing campaign development within your teams
• Need to be able to work with Adobe Creative Suite software (Acrobat, InDesign, Photoshop, After Effects, etc.)
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 Suite (MS Word, MS PowerPoint, etc.)
• Team player with the ability to work independently, as well as collaborate with broader teams
• Resilient, with ability to remain calm in a highly pressurised, fast-paced environment
• Creative, out-of-the-box thinker with both a strategic and creative mind-set
• People-focused, approachable, dependable, emotionally intelligent,
• empathetic and compassionate
• Proactive and resilient, assertive, accountable and proactive
• Problem-solver, deadline and solution driven
• Meticulous with excellent attention to detail
• May be required to work on alcohol brands and/or alcohol-related material

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Our ideal candidate:Junior Art Director

• Loves to write and use the power of words in interesting ways, AND can think conceptually to come up with fresh ideas.
• Has the ability to collaborate with designers and art directors and is able to multitask in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment without losing his/her sense of humour.
• Will be comfortable in the fast-changing digital and social landscape and be willing to learn on-the go and utilise AI where applicable
• Will be able to take feedback and be eager to grow under the guidance of experienced mentors.
• Is dependable and takes ownership of responsibilities.
• Must be Cape Town based and be willing to work in office as well as from home.

Requirements

Minimum relevant experience required:

• Relevant tertiary qualification or at least 1-year experience as a copywriter at an advertising agency of in-house marketing department.
• A copywriting portfolio (with digital link on CV) that clearly showcases the ability to conceptualise, script, and write headlines and engaging copy for a variety of media channels.

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Role Summary:

• We are looking for a passionate Art Director looking to gain experience and grow in a retail agency, someone who’s keen to learn how to capture promotional excitement and breakthrough designs for a national retail client. The successful applicant will be tasked to carry visual and conceptual skills from initial brief to final artwork – with guidance from Seniors in the team.
• Our ideal candidate must have a keen eye for little and big details, work extremely well under pressure with quick deadlines, high work volume and demanding pitches. We want someone who is resourceful, a self-starter and a conceptual thinker. If you are all of the above and are keen to grow with us – we want to see your portfolio.

Job Scope includes but is not limited to: 

• Working in a team under the leadership of a Group Head and Creative Director to conceptualise and execute campaigns based on both client and internal briefs.
• Present work imaginatively and confidently to clients and senior creatives.
• Be skilled in design and conceptualisation.
• Maintain exceptionally high standards for execution and attention to detail.
• Collaborate and communicate well with the team and other departments.
• Have an eternally positive disposition especially when the going gets rough
• We’re keen to meet candidates who’ve just completed their qualifications.

Requirements

Minimum relevant experience and skills/attributes required:

• Relevant tertiary qualification
• At least 0-2years’ experience as an art director in a large/integrated Advertising Agency
• At least 0-2 years’ previous experience in a high-volume environment
• Demonstrated experience with social media design across various social media platforms
• Strong skills in design software such as InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator non-negotiable
• Experience in digital and experiential advertising advantageous
• Strong interpersonal skills; a team player, persuasive negotiator, positive and innovative thinker
• Maintain high standards for execution and attention to detail
• Highly motivated and a high level of initiative; ability to work independently, in support of the agency’s creative goals and the client’s business objectives

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Role Summary: 

• The social media manager is responsible for the execution of social media jobs against brand strategy. Core to the role is taking briefs from client and working with internal teams (client service, creative, production, strategy, PR etc.) and external suppliers (media and/or platform partners) to plan and execute work on social media platforms effectively. You will be mentored and supported by senior social media specialists, and business unit directors. 
• The ideal candidate for this role has a marketing / agency background, has enthusiasm for the retail industry and is passionate about great content that works. They would need to have superior presentation and communication skills and proven hands-on experience managing social media content for brands. They would also need stay on top of latest social media trends, interpret data and reports, and apply these insights to the client’s campaigns. In summary, they would need to apply their growing expertise in social media to the work we do for our clients.

Responsibilities:

Client Service

• Establish and maintain relationships with clients. Build trust through ongoing thought leadership in social media.
• Manage creative briefs, client feedback and delivery of content.
• Plan, create timelines, update status, manage deliverables and expectations.
• Set up, manage, conduct, and contact report on client presentations.
• When necessary, assist with the administration of cost estimates and billings thereof.
• Manage user security and access to clients’ accounts / tools / reports / dashboards.

Strategic Thinking

Collaborate and contribute on Social Media proposals for:

• Planned and ad-hoc activity.
• Online listening, trend sourcing, outreach & tactical response
• Channel health or emerging channel creation
• Ideation, workshops, brainstorms etc.
• Contribute to mentoring junior staff members.
• Contribute to Influencer Marketing and Content Marketing efforts.
• Regularly update teams / clients on current and emerging landscape trends, competitor activity and latest news

Content & Channel Planning

• Work closely with client & wider client service team to create, manage and maintain social content and/or communication calendars.
• Conduct regular research to monitor clients, consumer, influencer, competitor, industry, and social landscape/trends activity.
• Ensure each individual channel has clarity on plans, actions, responsibilities, and social posting schedule with best practice in mind.

Content & Channel Administration

• Assist and/or manage the production of content on social jobs.
• Ensure collaboration with creative, paid media and other relevant departments for effective execution of work.
• Scheduling & deactivation of content across channels.
• Ensure effective searchability / tracking / tagging across content.
• Manage client’s creative content bible.
• Be an advanced user in all tech and tools relevant to your role.
• Ad hoc community management as-and-when required.

Content & Channel Performance Management

• Work closely with Strategy department to ensure effective integration of efforts.
• Assist with Channel, Content, Campaign and Health Audits / Reporting
• Assist with Benchmark, Review, Live Listening and ROI Reporting
• Conduct regular performance checks & ensure escalations/recommendations are made timeously.
• Manage Creative Identity of Channel, Content, Templates and Spec sheets. 

Department Integration:

Establish and manage relationships and/or partnerships with key leverage points that affect social media strategy, management and/or implementation. You’ll need to be able to collaborate and partner in any relevant exercises.

This is including but not limited to:

• In-House Departments
• Social Media Platforms
• Paid Media Agencies and/or Publishers
• Influencer Management
• Online Listening & Reputation Management
• Content Marketing & Production
• Technology Development (AR, VR or AI)
• Immerging technology etc.  

Requirements

Requirements:

• Relevant degree in advertising, marketing, social media, communication science or equivalent
• 3 - 5 year work experience in Social Media and/or Agency Environment
• Experience in the fundamentals of classical and digital marketing
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills 
• Strong analytical and project management skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Public speaking and presentation skills is beneficial
• Self-motivated, hard-working and eager to learn attitude
• Highly organised, strong attention to detail, deadline driven, ability to problem solve and confident in a fast-paced environment
• Deep understanding of the various social media and immerging marketing channels
• Experience with retail brands is beneficial
• Valid, driver's licence and own transport

Technical skills/knowledge:

• Comfortable with MAC, Microsoft Office, and Google products
• Proactive Social Certifications - Intermediary to Advanced 
• Advantageous: Google Analytics Academy Certification or other online training for social media platforms / analytics also acceptable
• Social Media content management platforms (HootSuite, Falcon Social or similar)
• Social Media monitoring platforms (Brandwatch, Brandseye, Simply Measured, Meltwater or similar)
• Understanding and implementation of tracking and/or delivery for paid media campaigns
• Influencer Management & Reporting Platforms (Stellar, Humanz or similar)