Creative Director (Advertising)

SUMMARY:
To work collaboratively with Sales Teams to support and enable sales / commercial success through the development and provision of creative solutions / expressions to meet client needs and requirements The role will spearhead the establishment, evolution and leadership of the company’s integrated Creative Solutions Hub, designed to drive revenue growth through innovative, single and cross-platform advertising solutions. This role is critical to enable sales teams to increase their face to face client time and to meet and exceed their revenue targets by delivering high-impact, multimedia campaigns across TV, Radio, Digital, OTT, Web, Social, and Mobile platforms.

POSITION INFO:
Key accountabilities:
Lead development & delivery of integrated, insight-driven creative advertising / marketing solutions and collateral that delivers value in line with client needs, expectations & requirements.
Drive consistent revenue growth by developing and proposing high-impact creative solutions that deliver compelling value to clients and expand the company’s share of the advertising / sponsorship market.
Differentiate advertising / marketing solutions from competitors in ways that increase market share and consistently grow revenue across all platforms.
Provide innovative thinking to maximise the potential for differentiated client value utilising the company’s unique range of radio, VE and digital media channels, platforms and applications.
Utilize audience insights, CRM analytics, and competitor trends to inform creative direction and influence advertiser spending patterns in favour of company media assets.
Meet deadlines for the submission of Client proposals and reports.
Develop new content-led and on-the-ground commercial opportunities that go beyond conventional advertising, enhancing SABC’s creative reputation and revenue base.
Track creative sales performance against targets, manage operating budgets, and ensure timely, accurate reporting through CRM and related strategic dashboards.
Develop Sales / Marketing proposal / concept templates, collateral, presentations and standardised reports that enhance the company’s reputation for professionalism and enable fast turnaround of proposals to clients.
Provide input into Intelligence & Analytics research proposals to guide scope and optimise pragmatic utilisation of outputs.
Integrate audience insights with evidence-based analytics to support creative campaign development to ensure client loyalty, unlock new revenue opportunities and grow market share.
Disseminate actionable market intelligence to guide concept ideation and influence client spend in favour of company platforms.
Maintain a dynamic, up-to-date client database to support targeted engagement, sales tracking, loyalty evaluation and campaign conversions.
Continuously monitor competitors and market trends to identify gaps, recapture lost business, and drive creative commercial innovation in both sales and marketing.
Conduct post campaign discussions / surveys with Clients to assess the extent to which the solution met client requirements, identify learnings and potential areas for improvement.
Maximise profitability through disciplined cost-of-sales management and effective commercial deal structuring.
Contribute to strategic revenue planning, including target setting, budgeting, and sales forecasting aligned with business objectives.
Monitor performance consistently, using sales analytics and regular reviews to track progress against revenue and margin targets.
Establish and enforce SOPs, internal controls, and compliance frameworks to support risk management, cost control, and adherence to legislation, regulation and company policies.
Ensure timely and accurate reporting, maintaining comprehensive records in CRM systems.
Proactively manage risk and audit processes, ensuring operational risks are identified, addressed, and reported through structured risk management plans.
Drive performance accountability, applying organisational performance management systems and maintaining accurate CRM and budget reporting.
Lead strategic planning and business reviews, tracking proposal conversions, revenue trends and business performance to inform decisions and prevent commercial loss.
Work collaboratively with all Sales, Marketing and commercial teams to unlock value, build client loyalty and contribute to the company’s commercial success
Build strategic partnerships with company platforms, agencies, and industry stakeholders to unlock collaborative revenue opportunities.
Enhance market visibility through consistent presence at industry events, positioning the company as a creative leader and trusted commercial partner.
Cultivate high-value client relationships that drive repeat business, larger deal sizes, and long-term sponsorship and content partnerships.
Leverage stakeholder engagement to co-create innovative media solutions that boost sales and expand the company’s commercial footprint.
Provide clear direction to the Creative Solutions Team and champion cross-functional collaboration (internally & with Sales Teams) at all levels.
Develop and implement structured training and succession plans to build future-ready creative and commercial talent.
Drive a culture of accountability through consistent application of the Performance Management System aligned with organisational standards.
Lead strategic people initiatives, including Talent Management, Career Progression, Employment Equity, and Wellness programmes.
Foster a high-performance team environment by mentoring, motivating, and enabling continuous development across all direct reports.

Qualifications and experience:
A relevant degree (NQF7) in Media, Marketing, Industrial Design, Art, Sales, Communication, Marketing, or a related field is required.
Supplementary training or certifications in Creative Strategy, Digital Media, Integrated Marketing or Design Thinking will be a strong advantage.
8–10 years of progressive experience in media, digital, creative strategy, or commercial management, preferably within creative or media sales environments.
Proven track record in leading creative teams and delivering integrated, revenue-generating advertising, marketing and sponsorship solutions across multimedia platforms.
Supplementary qualifications in Creative Strategy, Media Innovation, Digital Marketing, or related fields are highly desirable.