Channel Investment & Implementation Lead

Publicis Plus is a newly formed, dedicated client team within Publicis Groupe Africa, partnering with one of the world's leading food and beverage companies. Join us at the start and help shape how a global partnership comes to life in South Africa.

Overview

Reports toHead of Investment / Head of Media / MD

Dotted lineCorporate Investment Lead, Journey Planning Lead, Buying Ops Lead

Role purposeOwns the channel craft function across AV, OOH, audio, social, search, programmatic, performance, retail media, commerce and influencer. Ensures specialists produce technically strong, commercially sound, measurable and executable plans. Owns recommendation quality, implementation standards and delivery validation — not invoice loading or billing admin.

Scope of role

Channel planning standards

Specialist capability management

Channel plan QA

Delivery validation governance

Make good / credit / dispute recommendations

Channel learning & PCA quality

Marketplace collaboration with Corporate Investment

Responsibilities

• Core accountabilities
• Lead the channel implementation planning function.
• Ensure specialists receive clear briefs from Journey Planning.
• Ensure every channel plan includes rationale, recommendation, cost logic, KPI forecast and delivery assumptions.
• Ensure plans are executable, measurable and aligned to the integrated strategy.
• Ensure delivery actualisation is completed before billing approval.
• Ensure under-delivery is disputed, credited, made good or escalated.
• Ensure channel learnings feed future planning.
• Maintain channel planning standards across teams.
• Decision rights
• Channel planning standards
• Quality approval of vertical plans
• Delivery validation requirements
• Approve / hold / dispute / credit / makegood delivery
• Channel specialist capability standards
• What this role is NOT accountable for
• Defining the original growth strategy.
• Owning the client relationship.
• Loading plans into billing systems.
• Processing supplier invoices or vendor onboarding.
• Trafficking tags.
• Producing routine campaign reports.
• Required competencies
• 8+ years managing channel standards, investment quality and delivery governance.

• Channel expertiseStrong grasp of channels and buying environments.
• Technical planningEvaluate plans, forecasts and delivery assumptions.
• Commercial judgmentUnderstand cost, rate and delivery implications.
• GovernanceEnforce standards and handoffs.
• Supplier understandingChallenge media owner / platform delivery.
• Team leadershipManage specialists and develop capability.
• Delivery validationIdentify under-delivery and recommend action

How performance is measured

• Channel plan qualityPercentage of plans passing QA first time.
• Forecast accuracyDelivery versus forecast by channel.• Delivery validationPercentage of invoices validated before billing.• Leakage reductionLess unchallenged under-delivery or incorrect billing.• Specialist capabilityImprovement in standards and training completion.• PCA qualityChannel learnings captured and reused.