Associate Account Director

Media help partners understand the changing advertising landscape. Specialising in audience measurement, consumer targeting and in-depth intelligence into paid, owned and earned media, their global coverage and local expertise enable better understanding of media audiences and their relationships with brands.

Kantar Media is a wholly owned but operationally independent part of the Kantar Group.

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Job Details

Associate Account Director

KANTAR MEDIA

Johannesburg

South Africa

The DStv-i team collects TV audience measurement data via panels that are set up both in SA and across Africa. As the Senior Delivery Manager & Costing Lead, you will be required to work closely with the team of Panel Managers, other Project Managers and Researchers to ensure we maintain healthy and responsive (high polling) panels (subscribers), by conducting the studies we do with subscribers and panelists in an efficient and effective manner. This role is responsible and accountable for the hands-on project management of all inputs and outputs of projects by overseeing all stages of the project lifecycle. In addition, leading the services costing and budget process.

KEY OUTCOMES

1. Commercial and Business Acumen

Responsible for the project cost preparation as per client and project requirements

Plays a critical role in the annual budget process with the client

Sources supplier quotes

Conducts profitability analysis to ensure projects run to budget

Uses commercial acumen to identify cost implications when making business decisions

Justify and responds in cases where project costs are over budget

Link to Kantar Data Protection team to ensure adherence to data protection requirements within the service

2. Financial Responsibilities

Manage all invoicing to client and own the invoicing schedule document

Liaise with the Finance Team monthly to ensure invoicing is completed as per the schedule

Load projects into the finance system (Maconomy)

Oversee the raising of PO’s and approve all POs for payment to suppliers

3. Supplier Management

Manage supplier outputs and deliverables, especially fieldwork suppliers across the markets

Manage the full supplier payment process, including sourcing quotes, budgeting, and costing decisions, finalising costs, raising PO’s and approving payments

4. Proposal, Design, Sampling

Leads/instigates brainstorming on projects from operational perspective

Contributes towards and provides value and insight in discussions around complex or difficult proposals / alternative methodologies

Attends proposal and cost discussions providing insight based on experience of best practices in operations

5. Project Management

Oversees the development and management of the other delivery managers on the team

Ensures the successful execution and completion of all projects through:

Working to a budget and being mindful of costs and profitability of individual projects

Providing advice on project and questionnaire requirements

Survey scheduling and set-up

Sample specification

Monitoring achievements of quotas

Coming up with pro-active and intelligent solutions to any issues faced

Train other members of the client operations team on any specific procedures, client requirements or projects as required

Successfully complete projects, as per the timeline, adhering to quality standards and best practices

Works closely with the Research team and Panel Operations teams to ensure the successful delivery of all projects

Negotiate timings with other Kantar counterparts and suppliers e.g., Kantar Kenya/Kantar Nigeria/DTS to ensure projects are delivered in line with client expectations

Oversee translations and setting of weekly quotas

Putting together interviewing plans, project plans and timelines

Escalation of all issues for a timely resolution

Know when to call a meeting to discuss requests/stumbling blocks

At all times, manage the timelines of all projects to ensure deliverables will be met

Lead the debrief/wrap up meeting on different projects upon completion, set agenda, and collate information regarding challenges and learnings

6. People Development and Management

Overall management of the Project Management Stream of the account

Responsible for mentoring, training, and managing direct reports

Support other team members on project and/or client issues

Monitor and manage workload, productivity, and capacity within team

Prioritise project requirements and delivery by monitoring the input and outputs of the team

7. Communication

Develop strong relationships with all internal clients (at a senior level) based on trust in expertise and insight shown

Develop and maintain strong relationships with team members based on trust in expertise and insight shown – solution orientated approach

Keeps client / internal team aware of more complex project progress through regular updates

Excellent communication skills – specifically how to distil the issues, manage client expectations and communicate in a timely manner under pressure

Displays a solution driven approach

8. Leadership

Be involved in complex / high profile studies to support managers towards the best (most effective and efficient) possible delivery

Continually strives to improve and maintain efficient project management tools, approaches, and processes

Set standards of excellence in the team

Consistently demonstrates ability to think laterally

Actively transfers learning to others

Promotes team spirit

Maintains personal well-being and balance

Lead by example and live the company's values

CAPABILITIES

Tertiary education, a degree (such as BCom, BA, Project Management or equivalent)

Must be deadline-driven and quality obsessed

Ability to manage and motivate people within a team

Must have at least 3-5 years working experience at a management level, and relevant project management and implementation experience

Must have a sound knowledge of the research process, marketing research and previous research experience a distinct advantage

Strong business acumen. Solution driven.

Sound understanding of financial requirements and processes within the business

Developed inter-personal skills dealing with people at all levels across departments

Good negotiating and conflict resolution skills

The candidate must be a strong self-starter, who takes on initiatives and responsibilities

Maintain personal well-being and balance for self and team

Promote team spirit

This role would suit a motivated professional who enjoys fostering relationships and working as part of a team, but also embraces responsibility for their work as an individual.

The successful Senior Delivery Manager will exhibit the ability to be proactive, solution-oriented and well-organised. A good attention to detail and the ability to multi-task are essential.

Reporting Line:

Reports into Head of Panel Management and Operations

Country

South Africa

Why join Kantar?

We pride ourselves on understanding people, and what makes us think and act the way we do.

And because we know people, we like to make sure our own people are being looked after as well. Equality of opportunity for everyone is our highest priority and we support our colleagues to work in a way that supports their health and wellbeing. While we encourage teams to spend part of their working week in the office, we understand no one size fits all; our approach is flexible to ensure everybody feels included, accepted, and that we can win together. We’re dedicated to creating an inclusive culture and value the diversity of our people, clients, suppliers and communities, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds and sections of society. Even if you feel like you’re not an exact match, we’d love to receive your application and talk to you about this job or others at Kantar.

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