Social Media Lead

Job Title: Social Media Lead

Company: WPP Media South Africa

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Reports To: Biddable Media Lead

About the Role

The Social Media Lead is responsible for driving strategic direction and performance across Paid Social for a portfolio of leading brands. This role combines leadership, data-driven decision-making, and client engagement to deliver impactful, results-oriented campaigns. The Social Media Lead will guide a team of specialists, ensuring best-in-class execution while aligning Paid Social strategies with broader digital and business objectives.

Key Focus Areas:

• Lead and develop a high-performing Paid Social team
• Drive Paid Social strategy aligned to business and digital objectives
• Oversee campaign performance and optimise against KPIs
• Translate data into actionable insights and improvements
• Manage client relationships and stakeholder communication
• Ensure best practices and continuous team upskilling

Core Responsibilities:

1. You will be leading a team of Paid Social Specialists, servicing some of the biggest brands in SA.
2. Driving excellence and performance within Paid/Biddable Social.

You will be required to:

• Work with digital strategic planners to develop overall Paid Social strategies
  Conduct research using social and biddable media tools to inform paid media strategies and audience targeting.
• Understand the client’s overall digital strategy and the role that Paid Social plays within the broader media mix
• Present Paid Social strategies and performance insights both internally and to clients
• Have a strong understanding of Google Analytics, website tagging, and data interpretation to inform optimisation and strategy
• Translate data and performance trends into actionable biddable media insights
• Supply digital audit information when required
• Assist in preparing competitive analysis across paid media channels
• Work closely with Agency Delivery Managers to ensure agency satisfaction and KPI delivery, while managing key relationships

Key Skills and Competencies:

• Strong leadership ability to grow and support a team of Paid Social Specialists
• Ability to mentor, train, and elevate the standard of Paid Social delivery
• 5–8 years of proven experience in Paid/Biddable Social Media
• 2+ years of management experience (advantageous)
• Client-facing experience within a performance or biddable media environment
• Social platform certifications (e.g. Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn) and ability to drive team certification
• Experience managing large budgets and blue-chip client accounts
• Strong experience with Google Analytics and data-driven decision making
• Experience with eCommerce and Cost Per