Head of Performance Marketing

Social.Lab is where creative excellence meets digital performances

We're a modern creative agency in every sense with a culture of curiosity, exploration and growth. We want to do more, to push harder for greatness. We're eager to redefine the boundaries of what advertising can be and how brands can reach new audiences, as technology reshapes our industry. Our growth plan is driven by offering our expertise to both local and international clients through a multi-market footprint.

All disciplines work together in our bright, open-plan office, with a friendly culture and creatively permissive environment. We make brands matter in todays world, by combining compelling creative ideas with effective distribution and optimization.

We cherish our entrepreneurial spirit and embrace the opportunity to rethink marketing and communications while challenging the status quo.

We are looking for a Head of Performance Marketing

We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Head of Performance Marketing to lead our digital paid media operations and drive strategic success across a range of global and South African clients. Reporting to the Global Media Partner, this role combines leadership, technical expertise, and commercial acumen to deliver outstanding results. The successful candidate will have both local and global experience, ensuring a holistic approach to paid media strategies. They will take ownership of paid media performance, operational improvements, and innovation while contributing to new business development and creating training modules and playbooks to enhance team capabilities.

This role reports into the Global Media Partner and is based in Cape Town. Key responsibilities include:

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and execute advanced paid media strategies across Programmatic, Search, Paid Social, and emerging platforms.
• Align strategies with client and business objectives in collaboration with the Global Media Partner.
• Lead innovative programmatic solutions, leveraging platforms such as DV360 and Adform for optimal results.

Operational Excellence

• Set up and manage ad accounts, including Business Managers, MCC accounts, and Campaign Manager 360 (CM360).
• Ensure security, compliance, and maintenance of partner badges while maintaining platform hygiene.
• Work closely with the Ad Operations Lead to improve workflows, QA documents, and operational processes.
• Conduct audits and assessments to ensure operational efficiency and adherence to industry best practices.

Performance Management

• Take ownership of pacing, optimisation, and delivery of paid media campaigns, ensuring KPIs are consistently met.
• Drive the adoption of automation tools and AI-powered solutions to enhance campaign performance and efficiency.
• Manage DCO (Dynamic Creative Optimisation) processes to improve personalisation and results.

Vendor, Supplier, and Partner Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors, suppliers, and partners, negotiating favourable terms.
• Act as the primary liaison for media and technology partners, driving collaboration and value creation.
• Identify and onboard new vendors and tools to support innovation and evolving business needs.

Commercial Acumen

• Partner with the Global Media Partner in new business development efforts for global markets and clients, contributing to pitches and client acquisition strategies.
• Provide strategic input and insights to position the organisation as a leader in the digital media landscape.
• Ensure cost-efficiency and ROI in budget management while driving commercial opportunities.

Team Leadership & Development

• Manage and mentor the paid media team, fostering a high-performance and collaborative culture.
• Develop and deliver training modules and playbooks to enhance media capabilities across internal teams and business units.
• Ensure adherence to best practices, workflows, and operational standards.

Client Relations

• Act as a trusted advisor to clients, presenting recommendations with confidence and strategic insight.
• Collaborate with the Global Media Partner and senior stakeholders to deliver measurable client outcomes.
• Maintain and enhance long-term client relationships through performance excellence.

CORE STRENGTHS:

• Ownership & Accountability Lead with integrity and consistently deliver high-quality outcomes.
• Proactive & Collaborative Approach Anticipate challenges and foster teamwork to achieve shared goals.
• Innovative & Solutions-Oriented Leverage technology and data-driven methodologies to optimise results.
• Strategic Thinking Shape forward-looking strategies based on data-driven insights and trends.
• Performance Excellence Focus on exceeding benchmarks and delivering measurable impact.
• Consistency & Trust Build confidence through reliability, transparency, and collaboration.

DESIRED SKILLS & DESIRED EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in digital paid media, with a proven history in performance marketing.
• Demonstrated experience across local and global markets, understanding nuanced regional and international dynamics.
• Expertise in programmatic platforms (e.g., DV360, Adform, CM360) and advanced audience strategies.
• Proficiency in managing Business Managers, MCC accounts, and tracking setups (e.g., GTM, GA4).
• Experience building automation dashboards: LookerStudio or PowerBI + Funnel IO or Supermetrics integration.
• Demonstrated ability to create training materials, playbooks, and capability-building initiatives.
• Experience with operational improvements, including QA documentation and workflow enhancements.
• Strong negotiation skills and vendor management expertise.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and analytics tools.
• Proven expertise in budget management, media planning, and commercial strategies.
• Certifications in Meta Blueprint and Google Ads (Search, Display, Analytics)

KEY ATTRIBUTES:

• Strategic thinker with a strong results-oriented mindset and proven commercial acumen.
• Exceptional communicator and presenter, skilled in client-facing and pitch environments.
• Collaborative and empowering leader with a focus on innovation and performance.
• Adaptable to emerging trends and technologies within the digital media industry.

WHAT WE OFFER!

• Full-time job within a growing and trendsetting agency
• Global client portfolio
• Attractive package and benefits
• Continuous trainings. Career conversation and growing opportunities
• Hybrid work policy

Join our team to lead the charge in delivering cutting-edge paid media strategies, driving commercial growth, and empowering our teams through training and innovation!