Media Buyer - Durban Based

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Media Buyer - Durban Based

🔹 Company: GroupM

🔹 Location: Durban, South Africa

🔹 Job Type: Permanent (Full Time)

🔹 Category: Advertising Services

🔹 Date Posted: April 9, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 2-5 years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Effective negotiation, purchasing, and administration of media time or space across all touchpoints
• Ensuring media appears on-time at the best cost while managing all investments
• Close collaboration with the entire on and off-line media team, providing strong support
• Accountability for financial queries and timely resolution

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a balance of strong negotiation skills, administrative prowess, and a solid understanding of the media industry and financial systems.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Buying/Booking: Following the buying process from start to end, ensuring written client approval and PO numbers are obtained prior to any booking, liaising with media owners, providing relevant documentation, and issuing accurate material chase lists.

✅ Negotiation: Conversant with GroupM trading considerations, negotiating over and above the planner's schedule for best deals possible, negotiating compensation for non-placement and incorrect media placement, and ensuring every media placement booked carries a discount or added value.

✅ Input into Navision and Monthly Billings: Inputting into the media administrative system for billing and budget control purposes, ensuring all rate stages, dates, and positions are correct, continuously informing the implementer of any rate, position, or date changes, and coordinating with the finance department to ensure billing ensues correctly and timeously.

✅ Monitoring: Reacting to any misplacement or non-placement of advertising, negotiating compensation accordingly, supplying tear sheets to clients on any print bookings, and supplying site bibles to clients monthly for OOH.

✅ Other: Supplying media costs on request, maintaining good media owner relationships, accountable for all financial queries and the timeous resolution thereof, no up-front payments to any media owner prior to funds being received from the client, providing assistance on client business not traditionally within the allocated portfolio, assisting in new vendor onboarding through ME-Suite, and offering mentorship to junior buyers.

ASSUMPTION: The responsibilities listed are comprehensive but may vary based on the specific needs of the client portfolio assigned to the buyer.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: A relevant degree or diploma in Marketing, Communications, or a related field is preferred but not required.

Experience: 3 years of digital buying experience is required.

Required Skills:

• Good administration, planning, and organizing skills
• Sound negotiation skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Accountable, responsible, reliable, flexible, proactive, and productive
• Aptitude for and confident with numbers – high degree of numeracy
• Good communication skills both written and verbal
• Team player and interpersonal skills
• Computer literacy with proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Navision, and Symphony
• Trustworthy, displaying initiative and integrity

Preferred Skills:

• Good understanding of the media industry and essential solid understanding of the billing process
• Good understanding of financial systems - commercial and budget awareness

ASSUMPTION: While the required skills are essential for this role, the preferred skills would make an ideal candidate stand out.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The salary range for this role in South Africa is typically between ZAR 350,000 and ZAR 500,000 per annum, based on experience and performance. This estimate is based on industry standards for a media buyer with 2-5 years of experience.

Benefits:

• Competitive benefits package
• Opportunities for professional development and growth
• Dynamic and collaborative work environment

Working Hours: The role requires a standard full-time work arrangement, with core hours between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday. Flexible working arrangements may be considered based on business needs and team agreement.

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate and may vary based on individual performance, market conditions, and company policy.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: GroupM is a global media investment group that specializes in advertising services, including media planning, buying, and creative services. The company operates in a highly competitive and dynamic market, with a focus on delivering innovative and effective marketing solutions for its clients.

Company Size: GroupM is a large organization with over 10,000 employees across 120 offices in 96 markets worldwide. This size offers opportunities for career growth and exposure to diverse clients and projects.

Founded: GroupM was founded in 2018 as a result of the merger between Essence and MediaCom, two pioneering agencies with unique strengths in performance, data, analytics, creative technology, and strategic media expertise.

Company Description:

• GroupM is committed to delivering marketing breakthroughs for brands by disrupting old models across media, creative, innovation, and analytics
• The company aims to ensure its people fulfill their potential by investing in their whole-person wellbeing, careers, and capabilities, which in turn helps grow its clients' businesses
• GroupM's global client roster includes prominent brands such as adidas, Coca-Cola, Dell, Google, Hasbro, Mars, NBC Universal, P&G, Richemont, Shell, Sony, and Uber

Company Specialties:

• Media planning and buying
• Creative services
• Innovation and analytics
• Continuous learning and development

Company Website: https://www.essencemediacom.com

ASSUMPTION: GroupM's large size and diverse client portfolio offer applicants a dynamic and challenging work environment with ample opportunities for professional growth.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is suitable for candidates with 2-5 years of digital buying experience, seeking to advance their careers in the advertising industry.

Reporting Structure: The media buyer reports directly to the business head and works closely with the entire on and off-line media team, including strategists and implementation planners.

Work Arrangement: The role requires a standard full-time work arrangement, with core hours between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday. Flexible working arrangements may be considered based on business needs and team agreement.

Growth Opportunities:

• Training and development opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge in media buying and related fields
• Potential career progression to senior roles within the media buying team or other departments within GroupM
• Exposure to diverse clients and projects, fostering a well-rounded understanding of the advertising industry

ASSUMPTION: GroupM's commitment to continuous learning and development provides ample opportunities for professional growth and career advancement within the organization.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in GroupM's Durban office, offering a collaborative and dynamic work environment with state-of-the-art facilities and resources.

Office Location(s): 1 Southwark Bridge Rd, London, England SE1 9HL, GB

Geographic Context:

• Durban is the largest city in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, with a population of approximately 3.5 million people
• The city is known for its subtropical climate, beautiful beaches, and vibrant cultural scene
• Durban is a major economic hub in South Africa, with a diverse range of industries, including finance, tourism, and manufacturing

Work Schedule: The role requires a standard full-time work arrangement, with core hours between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday. Flexible working arrangements may be considered based on business needs and team agreement.

ASSUMPTION: GroupM's Durban office offers a stimulating and engaging work environment, with ample opportunities for collaboration and professional growth.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission through the GroupM careers portal
• Phone or video screening to assess communication skills and cultural fit
• In-person or virtual interview with the business head and a member of the media team to discuss the role, responsibilities, and expectations
• Final decision and offer

Key Assessment Areas:

• Negotiation skills and ability to secure favorable deals for clients
• Administrative skills and attention to detail in managing bookings and financial queries
• Understanding of the media industry, financial systems, and billing processes
• Communication skills and ability to work effectively with internal teams and external stakeholders

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences that match the required qualifications for this role
• Demonstrate your understanding of the media buying process and GroupM's commitment to delivering marketing breakthroughs for brands
• Prepare examples of successful negotiations, problem-solving, and administrative tasks to discuss during the interview

ATS Keywords: Media buying, digital buying, negotiation, administration, media planning, media owner relationships, financial queries, billing, client management, teamwork, collaboration, problem-solving, continuous learning, professional development

ASSUMPTION: GroupM's application process is designed to assess candidates' skills, experiences, and cultural fit, with a focus on finding the best fit for both the applicant and the organization.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Excel
• Navision
• Symphony
• Media administrative systems

ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with the listed tools and technologies is essential for success in this role, as they are used daily for media buying, billing, and administrative tasks.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Breakthrough: We challenge the status quo to deliver innovative solutions for our clients
• Continuous Learning: We foster a culture of curiosity and growth, investing in our people's skills and careers
• Collaboration: We work together, sharing knowledge and supporting each other to achieve our goals

Work Style:

• Dynamic and fast-paced environment, with a focus on delivering results and exceeding client expectations
• Collaborative and supportive team culture, with a strong emphasis on knowledge-sharing and mentorship
• Opportunities for professional growth and career advancement within the organization

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, with a focus on delivering results and exceeding client expectations?
• Are you a strong communicator, with the ability to work effectively with internal teams and external stakeholders?
• Are you committed to continuous learning and professional development, with a passion for staying up-to-date with industry trends and best practices?

ASSUMPTION: GroupM's company values and work style are designed to foster a collaborative and supportive environment, where employees can grow both personally and professionally.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing multiple client portfolios and prioritizing workloads effectively
• Dealing with tight deadlines and high-pressure situations, requiring strong time management and organizational skills
• Navigating a large and dynamic organization, with a diverse range of clients and projects
• Adapting to changes in the media landscape and staying up-to-date with industry trends and best practices

ASSUMPTION: The potential challenges listed are common to media buying roles and can be overcome with strong organizational skills, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Compared to other media buying roles, this position offers a unique opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients and projects within a large and dynamic organization
• GroupM's commitment to continuous learning and professional development provides ample opportunities for growth and career advancement
• This role is suitable for candidates with 2-5 years of digital buying experience, seeking to advance their careers in the advertising industry

ASSUMPTION: GroupM's media buying role offers a dynamic and challenging work environment, with ample opportunities for professional growth and career advancement within the organization.

📝 Sample Projects

• Negotiating favorable deals with media owners for a high-profile client campaign
• Managing the end-to-end media buying process for a complex, multi-channel marketing campaign
• Collaborating with the media team to optimize media schedules and maximize client ROI

ASSUMPTION: The sample projects listed are representative of the day-to-day responsibilities and challenges faced by media buyers within GroupM.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the typical workload and priorities for this role?
• How does GroupM support the professional development and growth of its media buying team members?
• What opportunities are there for collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the media team and across other departments within GroupM?
• How does GroupM measure the success of its media buying team and individual team members?
• What are the key challenges and opportunities facing the media buying team in the current market landscape?

ASSUMPTION: The key questions listed are designed to provide insight into the role, the team, and the organization, helping applicants make informed decisions about their application and career prospects.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through the GroupM careers portal
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences that match the required qualifications for this role
• Prepare examples of successful negotiations, problem-solving, and administrative tasks to discuss during the interview
• Research GroupM's company values, work style, and recent projects to demonstrate your understanding of the organization and your fit for the role
• Follow up with the GroupM recruitment team one week after submitting your application to inquire about the status of your application

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.