Business Unit Director

Saatchi & Saatchi is the “Nothing is Impossible” agency, and one of the world’s most iconic agency brands.

We’re defined by Big Thinking, Creative Spirit and a Can-Do Culture. 

We’re part of Publicis Groupe, the world’s 3rd largest communications network that is driving innovation across the world, and leading the change in the brave new world of advertising (Ad Age’s Network of the Year 2022).

In South Africa, Saatchi & Saatchi has a proud history of producing groundbreaking and awarded work for clients like DStv, Guinness, P&G, Burger King, Mondelez, Distell, Engen, Old Mutual and may more.

The Saatchi & Saatchi global community is led by Kate Stanners (Chairperson/CCO) – and we connect regularly to share work, plus work – and also meet in person annually with all ECD’s from across the region. The New York, London and Sydney offices do some incredible work – with multiple Cannes Grand Prix winners over just the past few years.

We’re a creative hotshop as well as a connected global agency, working with partners across our Group – and across Africa - to create integrated work for different regions.  As a connected community, we collaborate with partners across the Groupe with different capabilities to make campaigns that live in a multitude of places. 

Our agency has a big name but a startup mentality - fuelled by big ambitions, a willingness to experiment, and a way of make things happen, whatever the challenges. We were ranked #2 Medium Creative Agency in SA in 2020.

Our people are a diverse bunch of rebellious creatives, who love their work and always push to create work that matters. As a connected community, we collaborate with partners across the Groupe with different capabilities to make campaigns that live in a multitude of places. 

The Business Unit Director plays an essential role in the leadership team by providing strategic & operational input. We expect this person to demonstrate the skills to be credible at this level, with the ability to influence decisions of the leadership team and be able to stay in control of the roll out of Client campaigns within the Publicis Communications agencies.

 CHAMPION

• Support the Client and Agency leadership teams by continually driving the development and evaluation of short and long term strategic, creative & financial objectives for ongoing success.
• Drive and champion Publicis Communications strategic goals, living shared values and core behaviors.
• Inculcate core values and behaviors in the culture, beliefs and behaviors of the Account Management team.
• Enable excellent intercompany and interdepartmental communication and knowledge transfer.

GROWTH & PROFITABILITY

• Drive the optimization and harmonization/integration of the various departments and Publicis Communications agencies.
• Identification and implementation of resource & infrastructure optimization opportunities
• Identification & implementation of best practice (both directions)
• Drive efficiencies, economies of scale & resource optimization.

TALENT

• Undertake ongoing monitoring/assessment of best-practice in the category, and the opportunity for adoption of best-practice.
•  Attract, retain and grow the best Account Management talent in the industry.
• Support knowledge transfer, knowledge sharing and up skilling through relevant & appropriate learning/teaching channels.
• Professional maturity to effectively collaborate with other agencies (e.g. Media, Activation, production & PR) partners.

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

• Implement and monitor the workflow process.
•  Implement and monitor standards.
• Optimize internal and external resource allocation and utilization.
• The ability to scope projects from a resourcing and timing point of view.
• Solid writing, speaking & presenting skills in English.
• Develop Account Management team to create and seamlessly deliver integrated campaigns.

•  At least 10 - 12 years of relevant experience in the advertising industry.
• At least 4 years of experience in a leadership capacity. 
• Top talent who has demonstrated ability to lead in all areas of brand building (communications, experiences and technology).
• Solid writing, speaking & presenting skills in English.

Personality Attributes:

• Team player with the ability to work independently
• Able to remain calm in a highly pressurized environment
• Assertive
• Proactive
• Resilient
• Approachable
• Proactive
• Energetic
• Creative “out of the box” strategic thinker
• Problem solver / solution driven
• Meticulous with attention to detail
• Other:
  • Flexible to work beyond normal office hours (overtime if and when required)
  • Comfortable to work from the Publicis Groupe office (on-site)

Culture commitment:

• We are approachable & globally supportive.
• We are in this together and solution orientated.
• We always do the right thing.
• We are never afraid.