OVERVIEW
A frontline member of the media delivery team, responsible for the successful end-to-end implementation of above-the-line and digital media campaigns. This includes campaign setup, execution, monitoring, optimisation, and close-out. The Media Buyer plays a critical role in translating strategy into execution, ensuring flawless delivery, operational efficiency, and client satisfaction. Accountable for ensuring campaigns run accurately, on time, and in alignment with client objectives, the Media Manager also supports the Account Lead by managing supplier relationships, tracking performance, and maintaining the highest standards of delivery.
CLIENT CONTEXT
· Industry: Telecommunications (Telco)
Market: Nigeria + Pan-African footprint
· The Nigeria business represents one of the largest and most competitive telecom markets on the continent. The client holds approximately 35% market share (over 50 million active subscribers), and Nigeria remains their largest business unit globally. This market presents high complexity, short turnaround times, and significant visibility, but also unmatched opportunities for growth, innovation, and impact.
· We’ve recently won the account and are assembling a high-performance team to deliver best-in-class strategy, execution, and client partnership. The Nigeria operation will serve as the blueprint for excellence across 12 additional markets. Success in this role depends on precision, speed, and a proactive mindset capable of navigating fast-paced, high-stakes client environments.
TRIANGLE OF FOCUS
· Operational Excellence: Ensure flawless execution of media campaigns with high accuracy, zero delivery errors, and adherence to Simply Black processes and client standards.
· Client Delight: Deliver work that consistently meets or exceeds expectations in quality, accuracy, and responsiveness, supporting seamless collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders.
· Commercial Performance: Maintain financial accuracy across bookings, invoicing, and reconciliations, ensuring accountability and cost efficiency in campaign delivery.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
· Campaign Execution: Execute media campaigns end-to-end, from booking confirmation through to reconciliation, across ATL and digital channels. Ensure all campaign elements are implemented on time and in alignment with approved plans and budgets. Maintain daily coordination with suppliers and vendors to confirm flighting, material delivery, and placement accuracy.
· Media Management Ensure media placements align with approved strategy and target audience objectives. Continuously monitor campaign performance, making proactive optimisations to maximise ROI and meet client KPIs. Escalate delivery risks, discrepancies, or supplier issues promptly to the Account Director or Planning Lead.
· Campaign Diversity: Build experience in establishing, implementing and managing different campaign channels such as radio, television, out of home, print, email and telephone marketing etc.
· Supplier Partnership: Day to day supplier contact. Cultivate strong partnerships with media vendors and outlets. Work with account lead to determine budget allocations for different media channels.
· Optimizing: Continuously monitor campaign performance. Adjust campaigns based on data-driven observations, making proactive optimisations to maximise ROI and meet client KPIs. Recommend the most effective media channels, platforms, and formats to reach the target audience. Escalate delivery risks, discrepancies, or supplier issues promptly to the Account Director or Planning Lead.
· Reporting: Prepare comprehensive campaign reports. Provide clients with analysis on key performance indicators (KPIs) and make data-driven recommendations on the most effective media channels, platforms, and formats to reach the target audience.
· Billing & Compliance: Ensure correct application of budgets, purchase orders, and invoicing procedures. Track campaign spend against forecasts and reconcile discrepancies with Finance and Planning. Close off campaign or project and follow internal billing protocols. Consistently observe financial, legal and ethical compliance across all campaigns and markets. Maintain PlanIt hygiene and timely data input to support reporting and billing accuracy.
· Through The Line Acumen: Upskill yourself to become a master of through the line campaign management. Support data gathering for pitch work or strategic recommendations. Curiously stay up-to-date with emerging digital marketing technologies, tools, and trends, and integrate them into campaigns to enhance effectiveness. Demonstrate proficiency in utilizing popular digital and above the line marketing platforms.
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
· Professional working proficiency in English (essential) and local language (advantageous).
· Communicate timeously (calls, emails, texts, calendar invites).
· Demonstrate a keen eye for detail, prioritize and deliver work on time or requests input timeously.
· Upholds Simply Black’s ways of working and meets all delivery timelines.
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT
· Understands ATL and digital media fundamentals, measurement, and optimisation.
· Technical understanding of how media platforms operate when targeting audiences and be familiar with how consumers interact with the platforms.
· Strive to maximize Simply Black integrated offering with client objectives.
· Display cross-cultural awareness and regularly collaborate with in-market expert to drive best outcomes for client.
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND INFLUENCE
· Put the client experience at the heart of every encounter and proactively foster ‘Client Delight'. Understand client objectives and offer market and platform insights that reinforces client trust.
· View suppliers as strategic partners in delivering excellent client service. Builds credibility with suppliers through professionalism and reliability.
· Be respectful to all colleagues. Cultivate constructive working relationships. Positively engage and collaborate with internal community members.
· Actively participate in group conversations, using correct tone, grammar and spelling when communicating.
· Use the appropriate channels to escalate and address stakeholder concerns timeously.
COMMERCIAL ACUMEN
· Ensures cost accuracy (±2% variance) and adherence to client and internal financial protocols.
· Identify opportunities to drive and implement digital first and through the line objectives.
· Knowledge of basic financial terms and metrics (e.g. CPM, CPA).
· Understand the basics of an invoice: quantity, tax types etc and the cost structure.
INNOVATION
· Apply data insights to improve campaign delivery or workflow.
· Think creatively. Synthesizes information from various sources and disciplines. Develop new insights and innovative solutions.
· See problems as innovation opportunities and approach challenges with a solutions mindset.
· Able to interpret data and display sound data-driven decision quality.
PERSONAL MASTERY
· Thrive in a fast-paced media environment. Agile and eager to grow.
· Adapt to changing circumstances and new information with flexibility and resilience.
· Curiously develop awareness of strengths, weaknesses and emotions. Receive and implement feedback well.
· Clearly understand role impact and core responsibilities, success metrics and strive for excellence in all spheres.
· Show determination. Set challenging goals and persist in the face of setbacks.
· Take accountability for work and actions. Own mistakes and deals with issues.
SPECIAL PROJECT
Each employee is expected to take on a special project that a) contributes to growth in business unit, b) streamlines processes or c) positively impacts workplace happiness. This will be determined by the employee and their leader on an annual or bi-annual basis.
VALUE ALIGNMENT
Simply Black Group’s values are more than words on a wall, and we hold all members of the Tribe to the same high standard. Living the organisational values is crucial to your success at the company and this is measured throughout the year.
GROWTH PHILOSOPHY
At Simply Black Group we value holistic growth. The primary focus is personal mastery, but growth in the form of organisational movement such as a role change is dependent on three key factors:
(a) Success in Current Role: Demonstrated, consistent excellence in a) Triangle of Focus b) Core Responsibilities and c) Success Drivers
(b) Business Readiness: Alignment with operational, commercial, and strategic priorities.
(c) Industry Need: Agility to adapt as the media and marketing landscape evolves.