Ogilvy Social Lab is setting global benchmarks in digital marketing and is driven by offering our expertise to both local and international clients through a multi-market footprint.
We have enabled 'borderless ways of working', operating as connected teams and providing Creative, Content, Media and Intelligence capabilities to Ogilvy agencies and clients in more than 20 countries.
Join our globally connected team and work on challenging projects that transcend borders. Embrace a career that takes you to new horizons and make a global impact!
We are looking for an Account Manager
Ogilvy Social.Lab is looking for an experienced Account Manager with a strong digital background and proven project management skills, to nurture and develop some of the most loved and established international brands. The role is pivotal in orchestrating and steering a diverse range of digital projects spanning various global markets and brands across Media, Content and intelligence. The Account Manager oversees the coordination and execution of these projects, guiding them from initial briefing to successful delivery.
We believe that strong, agile & capable client service and project management fuels our business growth through seamless collaboration with our solutions teams to deliver brilliant work that impacts our clients' businesses. This is achieved by providing excellent service and strategic guidance.
This role involves meticulous client management, project ownership, planning and follow-up. Crucial to this position is a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of digital marketing across content creation, media and strategy. As an Account Manager, you are responsible for ensuring work is produced efficiently, on time, and within budget. You will be expected to think strategically and act independently, while maintaining strong planning skills.
Client Relationship Management
- Act as the primary day-to-day contact for assigned clients, building and nurturing strong, trusted relationships.
- Develop a deep understanding of client business objectives, target audiences, and competitive landscape.
- Proactively identify and address client needs, ensuring their voice is heard and their expectations are met.
- Understand the full suite of agency solutions and be able to strategically speak to these.
- Identify and act upon client growth opportunities, expanding existing business and fostering new partnerships.
- Foster and promote due diligence and care both in client day-to-day work and internal tasks.
Project Management
- Develop a deep understanding of client business objectives and translate them into actionable project briefs for internal teams.
- Develop and manage detailed project plans, timelines, and budgets, effectively communicating progress and managing expectations.
- Collaborate seamlessly with internal (creative, strategy, production, etc.) and in-market teams to execute campaigns and deliver exceptional results.
- Manage client expectations effectively, providing regular updates and proactively addressing any concerns.
- Foster collaboration and team culture within teams and across departments, particularly when working on client projects.
- Develop and manage project status documents, reporting back to relevant stakeholders regularly.
Financial Management
- Accurately manage Scope of Work (SOWs), raising flags and addressing any discrepancies promptly.
- Manage client price quotes, invoicing, ensuring timely and accurate billing.
- Manage Work in Progress (WIP) adjustments accurately and in a timely manner.
- Support Market Lead with revenue forecasting in their portfolio.
- Capture time accurately and on time using the Ogilvy platform.
- Provide internal and client-facing reconciliations as needed, ensuring timely delivery.
- Develop and manage project scopes of work (SOWs) and budgets.
Reporting & Analysis
- Develop and deliver insightful client reports, showcasing campaign performance, key learnings, and actionable recommendations.
- Develop compelling case studies that highlight successful campaigns and demonstrate the value delivered to clients.
- Proactively monitor industry trends and competitive activity, sharing relevant insights with clients and internal teams.
Team Collaboration
- Foster a collaborative and positive team environment, promoting open communication and knowledge sharing.
- Forecast necessary resources aligned with project requirements.
- Responsible for the day-to-day operations, including scheduling, task management, and communication within the project team.
- Support the Market Lead in client-facing engagements, including presentations and meetings.
- Identify opportunities for process improvement to aid overall performance, and contribute to the ongoing development of the broader Client Service team.
Desired Skills and Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, or a related field.
- 3+ years of proven experience in an Account Management role within an agency or client-side environment, with demonstrable project management experience.
- Strong understanding of digital marketing landscape, platforms, and best practices – content creation, media and strategy/intelligence.
- Excellent project management, organisational, and time management skills.
- Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with clients and internal stakeholders.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and project management tools (e.g., Trello, Asana, Monday.com, Jira).
- Experience working with cross-functional or global teams, managing cultural nuances and diverse perspectives.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to speak French is beneficial, but not critical, for this role.
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What We Do
In 1948, David Ogilvy founded the agency that would become Ogilvy & Mather. Starting with no clients and a staff of two, he built his company into one of the eight largest advertising networks in the world with more than 500 offices and 20,000 staff across 169 cities. Ogilvy South Africa’s origins lie with a small hot shop in Cape Town, founded by Bob Rightford, Brian Searle-Tripp and Roger Makin in 1976. After merging with Ogilvy in 1984, Ogilvy & Mather RS-TM dominated the local creative scene during the first decade and over the next twenty years was recognized as a brand-focused agency that acted with integrity. During the 1990’s, Ogilvy South Africa soared creatively under the leadership of Robyn Putter (1950-2010), who eventually went on to become the global creative head of WPP. Today, Ogilvy South Africa is the leader in the industry, focused on building and transforming brands. Employing more than 900 staff across three offices, Ogilvy remains true to David’s vision; we still see ourselves as a company that does more than ads and have proven that by maintaining our humility and an almost divine discontent at our past successes, we can do more than stay relevant. For more than 50 years, Ogilvy South Africa has created iconic advertising for clients such as KFC, VW, SAB, BP, DStv and Mondelez amongst others, and we continue to live by our founders credo of existing to “Make brands matter”.
