Company description We are the Human Experience Agency. We believe the growth opportunity lies in people. We understand and anticipate human desires to deliver media experiences of value. We call this PeoplePoweredGrowth! Focusing on both business outcomes and human outcomes is proven to deliver stronger growth for clients. PeoplePoweredGrowth identifies the intersection between what people want and what brands need, to create media experiences of value. PeoplePoweredGrowth orchestrates the right talent and capability to solve for clients’ unique business challenges through interconnected capability. PeoplePoweredGrowth embodies a way of thinking, working, and learning; challenging the status quo and always reaching for a better. It is a culture of never standing still. Starcom is a full service, global media agency with a presence in multiple markets around the world. We believe in the power of our network and work closely with our global colleagues to ensure that we are providing our clients with global best practice, localized for the South African market. Our clients include Mondelez, Haleon (GSK), Samsung, Stellantis, Sandoz, Kellogg’s to name a few. We are part of the Publicis network – the fastest growing global network. Overview Reports to Head of Investment / Head of Media / MD Dotted line Corporate Investment Lead, Journey Planning Lead, Buying Ops Lead Role purpose Owns 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. Qualifications Required competencies 8+ years managing channel standards, investment quality and delivery governance. • Channel expertise Strong grasp of channels and buying environments. • Technical planning Evaluate plans, forecasts and delivery assumptions. • Commercial judgment Understand cost, rate and delivery implications. • Governance Enforce standards and handoffs. • Supplier understanding Challenge media owner / platform delivery. • Team leadership Manage specialists and develop capability. • Delivery validation Identify under-delivery and recommend action. Additional information How performance is measured • Channel plan quality Percentage of plans passing QA first time. • Forecast accuracy Delivery versus forecast by channel. • Delivery validation Percentage of invoices validated before billing. • Leakage reduction Less unchallenged under-delivery or incorrect billing. • Specialist capability Improvement in standards and training completion. • PCA quality Channel learnings captured and reused.