Business Unit Director

7 months ago


Johannesburg, South Africa VML Full time

**Who We Are**:
At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

**Position Description**

Leads insightful communications plans, strategies and creative work, together with effective implementation; drives allocated Accounts proactively from a Business Perspective; is ultimately responsible for relationship between Agency and Client (driving strong & enduring Client/Agency working relationships), drives Integration of the Agencies offerings effectively. Is ultimately responsible for all financials & profitability (for Client & Agency). The BUD also has a strong HR focus and previously worked on an automotive account.

**Main Areas of Responsibility**

**Account management**
- Relationship building and brand ambassador for the Agency
- Business Approach to leading Account within the Agency
- Strategic management (overall health and performance of the account)
- Effective channel, strategies & creative implemented to achieve objectives
- Workflow process (implementation and continuous improvement)
- Operational management (timing plans, resource capacity management, managing profitability, driving operational efficiencies, financial management)

**Managing escalations with client and agency leadership team**
- Manage process and continuous improvement
- Effective and timeous communication
- Problem solving

**Managing client and leadership expectations**
- Driving effective and timeous communication
- Solutions centric and service orientated
- Ensuring all actions agreed to are managed and delivered accordingly

**Commercial management of the account**
- Effective scoping of all business unit requirements
- Budget and forecasting
- Resource planning and effective management of scope requirements to ensure timeous delivery and profitability within each business unit
- Recon Management
- SOX compliance
- Out of scope requirements: management, effective quoting and planning
- Financial administration

**Managing client service team performance**
- Team leadership and mentoring
- Ensuing agency provides client with service excellence
- Ensuring client service team are successfully meeting their KPAs, Business goals and development requirements.
- Performance Management

**Experience/Qualifications**
- 2- 3 years Digital Marketing experience
- 2-3 years Business Unit Director experience
- Must have extensive experience in the auotomotive indusry and managing a corporate account
- Brand management or marketing communications diploma or degree
- Minimum 12 years in marketing communications role - strategy, advertising, research or marketing

At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Our people are the heartbeat of our organization—creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers—who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction.

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.


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