Job Description

Position Overview



Are you more than just a digital visionary? Penquin is looking for a Head of Digital & Social Media who combines big-picture strategy with deep technical know-how and hands-on implementation expertise.

In this leadership role, you'll:

Lead and execute cutting-edge digital and social strategies for top brands.

Apply your technical skills to implement, optimise, and measure digital campaigns.

Inspire and mentor a high-performing team of digital specialists.

Drive innovation, performance, and measurable business results.

Stay ahead of emerging trends, tools, and technologies.



This role forms part of Penquin's Leadership Team , contributing to agency growth, client success, and positioning Penquin as a thought leader in digital innovation.



Key Responsibilities

1. Digital Strategy Leadership

Spearhead the development and execution of comprehensive digital marketing strategies aligned with client objectives and industry trends.

Drive innovation by identifying new opportunities, emerging technologies, and creative approaches to enhance client campaigns.

Provide thought leadership and strategic counsel, representing Penquin at industry forums, events, and client workshops.



2. Social Media Management



Lead the development of social media strategies, content planning, and platform selection.

Oversee content creation, ensuring brand alignment and creative excellence.

Manage community engagement with oversight of the Community Management team.



3. Digital Advertising and SEO



Plan, execute, and optimise campaigns across PPC, display, programmatic, and social media advertising.

Manage budgets to maximise campaign performance and ROI.

Implement SEO strategies (on-page and off-page) and stay up-to-date with algorithm changes.



4. Client Engagement and Growth

Collaborate with clients to understand their business objectives and develop tailored digital solutions.

Act as senior digital partner, building long-term trusted relationships.

Contribute to new business pitches and identify opportunities to grow client accounts.



5. Team Leadership and Development

Lead and inspire a high-performing team of strategists, analysts, community managers, and content creators.

Foster a collaborative, innovative culture with emphasis on continuous learning and upskilling .

Mentor and empower team members with career growth opportunities and training.



6. Campaign Development and Execution

Oversee the development and rollout of integrated digital campaigns that drive client objectives.

Ensure social-first creative thinking is embedded in all campaigns.

Champion best-in-class digital storytelling across platforms.



7. Emerging Trends and Innovation

Stay ahead of digital, social, and tech trends, positioning Penquin as a digital thought leader.

Identify opportunities for innovation in content formats, platforms, influencer strategies, and performance marketing.

Share insights internally and externally to strengthen Penquin's competitive advantage.



8. Performance, Analytics and Optimisation

Drive a culture of data-driven decision-making .

Oversee analytics, measurement, and testing frameworks.

Provide actionable insights and transparent reporting to clients and internal stakeholders.



9. Budget and Resource Management

Develop and manage campaign budgets effectively.

Ensure efficient allocation of resources and transparent ROI reporting.



10. Cross-Channel Integration

Collaborate with creative, client service, media, and strategy teams to deliver fully integrated campaigns .

Champion collaboration across departments to ensure consistency and impact.



11. Compliance and Risk Management

Ensure compliance with POPIA, legal, and ethical standards in all digital and social media activities.

Identify and mitigate potential risks associated with digital campaigns.

REQUIREMENTS

Strong strategic vision and ability to translate insights into business impact.

Excellent leadership and team-building capabilities.

In-depth expertise in digital storytelling, performance marketing, SEO/SEM, influencer marketing, and analytics .

Exceptional client-facing and pitching skills , with proven experience building executive-level partnerships.

Data-driven with strong analytical and reporting capabilities.

Adaptability to evolving platforms and fast-changing environments.

Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor's degree in marketing, Communications, Digital Media, or related field.

8-10+ years of proven digital leadership experience in an advertising, media, or digital-first agency environment .

Track record of managing large-scale, multi-platform digital campaigns .

Experience in new business development and pitching .

Certifications in Meta, Google, TikTok, or equivalent platforms an advantage.