New Business Director

In 1948, David Ogilvy founded the agency that would become Ogilvy Worldwide, a leading global advertising and communications group now present in 132 markets and 83 countries.

In South Africa, Ogilvy has a proud history since 1976 of working with some of South Africa’s largest and most loved brands. Today, we operate as a diverse advertising and communications group across two main campuses in Johannesburg and Cape Town providing our Clients with world-class services in, amongst others, Advertising, Brand and Content, Digital, Health and Wellness and Public Relations.

THE BIT ABOUT THE TEAM

The New Business Director reports into the Managing Director of Ogilvy Johannesburg and works in close collaboration with the Groups Managing Partners which consist of the Managing Director of Ogilvy Johannesburg, the Chief Creative Officer, Chief Financial Officer. The New Business Director will also play a key role in Ogilvy Johannesburg's participation in new business efforts.

WE RELY ON YOU TO

Successfully define and execute Ogilvy Johannesburg’s net new business plan, in line with the Group’s ambition and in collaboration with the Opco teams and Ogilvy’s Go-to-Market global community.

1. Partner with Ogilvy Johannesburg's Management Team in the development and execution of the New Business and Growth Strategy in alignment with the Groupwide Business Strategy, as well as the achievement of the annual budget and business plan.
2. Facilitate, orchestrate and manage Ogilvy Johannesburg Group’s pitch processes (including from RFI, RFP and pitching) seamlessly through effective planning, project management, communication and collaboration with relevant specialist and business and functional leads, under the direction of the Pitch Lead.
3. Bring the best of Ogilvy and partners to all pitches through facilitating effective pitch casting of the right talent, making the right investment in the pitch and leveraging other enablement functions such as marketing and finance to ensure Ogilvy is competitive in a pitch process, under the leadership and direction of the Pitch Lead.
4. Identify External Partners to help build and deliver relationships and initiatives to aid the new business and growth objectives.
5. Drive the agency’s growth by ensuring a healthy new business pipeline through proactively creating net-new business growth opportunities partnerships with pitching agencies, and building relationships with prospective clients to explore opportunities for partnership and solving clients marketing and communication problems.
6. Develop common standards, practices and tools for best in class lead generation.
7. Partner relevant stakeholders throughout the group and global business to ensure that all new business assets remain updated, pitch-fit and competitive.
8. Hold regular meetings with relevant account leads to review pipeline and facilitate the sharing of pitch share best practice to improve the overall pitch fitness across Ogilvy Johannesburg.

YOU ARE GREAT AT

1. “Building something” – entrepreneurial spirit coupled with large-organization agility.
2. Understanding and navigating the marketing and business landscape of multiple industries within South Africa.
3. Managing complex and ambiguous pitching processes through proactive and collaborative engagement and delivering competitive pitch outcomes.
4. Collaborating and working with multiple and complex team structures and stakeholders at all levels including working with cross-border senior stakeholders and galvanising collective support needed.
5. Networking and building effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders and partners.
6. Navigating with strong diplomacy and political acumen.
7. Understanding and negotiating commercial terms in the agencies.
8. Influencing, including and delivering through people who may not even report to you.
9. Project management, planning and coordination.
10. Writing stories and building IMPACT communication assets (e.g.: PowerPoint and keynotes presentations).
11. Managing a variety of projects and tasks simultaneously.
12. Applying a creative lens to marketing problems.
13. Getting things done.
14. Prioritising for yourself and others.
15. Working within a team.
16. Managing and working under pressure, constant change and level of ambiguity.
17. Engaging others with a mature, can-do and positive outlook.

YOUR TRACK RECORD SHOWS

1. More than 8+ years’ successful marketing industry experience of marketing on multiple brands via multiple digital and traditional mediums.
2. Experience working with senior executives.
3. Experience working in the creative part of the marketing and communication industry or the interest to do so.
4. Successful management of a large brand (minimum 10 years’ experience) including strategy creation, execution creative and marketing innovative.
5. Experience working with media.
6. Your insatiable curiosity, a drive for relentless improvement, a fresh set of ideas, and bold decision-making.
7. Effectively delivering through others who may not report into you.