Senior Audience Planner/Data and Insights Specialist Cape Town, South Africa; Johannesburg, South Africa About WPP Media WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world‑class partnerships – all united by our pioneering agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth. WPP Media is WPP's AI‑driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working. Job Title Senior Audience Planner/Data and Insights Specialist Company WPP Media South Africa Location Johannesburg, South Africa About the Role As the senior audience planner / data and insights specialist, your role will encompass working in both the data and tech space, as well as designing and delivering audience strategies. Core Responsibilities Data and Tech Requirements Supplying any data requirement for strategy and insight work Conducting market research on media consumption patterns for different markets and audiences Adopting and localising regional and/or global tools or data solutions Building internal capabilities in data strategy, data analytics and data solution products/tools Driving innovation and new technology topics for the client business Providing ongoing thought leadership in relevant industry and category initiatives (white papers, public speaking, landscape and trend reports, awards judging) Audience Planning Requirements Lead the development and delivery of audience strategy and champion audience‑first thinking within the planning and strategy teams, providing a consultative approach to driving business outcomes using data and technology platforms Build a cohesive 360 view of the customer profile using 1st party, 2nd party, 3rd party and research data inclusive of online and offline data sources Utilise all available technologies to drive audience‑based planning, buying, targeting, measurement and optimisation Build audience targeting strategies based on campaign goals, run audience insight analysis, collaborate with data partners to create custom audiences, and establish connections with media partners to configure, test, and validate destinations across all channels Supervise the end‑to‑end process of audience planning, activation and measurement for clients and/or campaigns Analyse performance by audience segment and provide audience optimisation recommendations Develop deep expertise in the data ecosystem, including third‑party data providers, publisher and supply‑direct relationships, and WPP companies Drive adoption and success of data and technology platform partnerships as well as ensure that the global team understands market needs and priorities Leverage data‑strategy conversations and work with clients, partners and other stakeholders to forge new and interesting data connections and trials Assist in closing the measurement loop to improve incrementality, working with specialist teams as required Key Skills and Competencies In‑depth understanding of communication channels and platforms, including CRM, CDP, DMP, programmatic, social, e‑commerce, new retail and how they interrelate Familiarity with how data can drive business outcomes and how those outcomes can be measured by data Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an evolving present‑to‑persuade and facilitation skill set; strong analytics skills and the ability to see business implications beyond data Ability to demonstrate a depth of understanding of the industry, the client’s business and brands, and changes to consumer and media in senior‑level client conversations Ability to influence without authority but with organisational support, ensuring accountability Collaboration, accountability and persuasive attitude are critical for this role Experience Minimum of five years experience in data and analytics Experience working in cross‑functional teams and geographies Experience connecting audience segmentation with the realities of delivering in addressable media platforms Sound understanding of the marketing technology stack required to deliver on audience planning through to execution Strong experience working with digital platforms and ad solutions with knowledge of targeting capabilities Experience delivering campaigns with a real‑time dynamic creative element Executed campaigns with omnichannel user journeys and media targeting Roles that developed both strategic and operational capability within media marketing Change‑agent mindset and risk‑taking capabilities, with examples of projects that achieved successful business transformation Comfortable leading change and spearheading effectiveness and efficiency in media operations Build competitively advantaged skills around audience planning Mastery of (Required) Precision planning and activation Audience segmentation 1P, 2P and 3P data collection, integration (including data onboarding) and activation Biddable media buying and optimisation solutions Broad Expertise in (Good to Have) Brand and campaign strategy Category experience Agency and client background Marketing analytics Marketing effectiveness and measurement solutions Please read our Privacy Notice for more information on how we process the information you provide. #J-18808-Ljbffr