About Machine_  

Machine_ is a creative solutions agency represented across Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, and is home to over 75 adventurous minds. At Machine_ we don’t believe that intuition and gut feel are enough. That’s why everything we do starts with an insight. Our team of experts uses these insights to create impactful and accountable solutions that touch consumers at every point in their connected world. 

Machine_ is part of Publicis Groupe, one of the fastest-growing global networks. 

Machine’s mantra, Never Afraid, underpins our values of; doing the right thing, being curious, solution orientated and at its core ‘giving a s**t!’. Living this mantra daily helps grow our Clients’ businesses and these are the values we look for when recruiting new talent. The right personality is just as important as the right experience. We’re here to work hard and have fun while doing it. 

We’re looking for an experienced and passionate Content Officer with specific experience in financial services. This is a full-time position that requires a senior person with a strong editorial background, and a wealth of experience in the realm of digital.

Job details – roles and responsibilities

Content planning, creation, editing & management

• In collaboration with client, plot monthly communication schedule across physical and digital channels as part of overall CRM strategy. Oversee this content, its production and quality, and its effectiveness (reporting, results, data analysis).
• Plan and oversee content to support the monthly planning (write or commission, edit).
• Commission writers and maintain a good freelance base of expert writers to contribute as needed.
• Write and review error-free copy as required for the elements (or brief others effectively to write as required).
• Brief the communication elements into design studio and manage the process, with guidance for creative look and feel.
• Conceptualise and write copy for communication elements as required by the client.
• Strong writing skills to ensure style is consistent and that complicated topics are clearly explained to audiences.
• Ability to plan and edit content to take it to the next level, including turning articles into infographics, generating increasingly interactive and personalised content (like quizzes, gamification etc.). Very comfortable with content trends and innovation in the loyalty, rewards and CRM spaces including tech innovations and tools and platforms that can be used by our clients within their marketing and communications strategies and operations.
• Strong understanding of email, Google and Meta analytics; able to compile reports on content performance for clients and present these to key stakeholders monthly.
• Manage content budgets and timings, with the support of client service team.

Strategy

• Take briefs from clients or potential clients, perform content audits and reviews and provide content marketing strategy, across print and digital.
• Understand and deliver loyalty and rewards content and communications strategies, including for CRM and digital acquisition campaigns. Implement these strategies with the client and continuously monitor and optimize results.
• Support teams in pitches by providing strategic content thinking for a variety of potential clients.
• Constantly review the content marketing strategy you are implementing with your clients and optimise for best results; ensure all content produced is insights-led and performance-based.
• Advise on content marketing and digital content best practice, for both in-house team and clients.

Relationship & network

• Grow meaningful, trust-based relationships with clients to ensure long-lasting business agreements that deliver on client needs.
• Manage client relationships and place the client at the heart of your work.
• Identify new business opportunities and nurture relationships with key stakeholders to allow for business growth.
• Build trust-filled relationships within your team and among your peers at the agency so that you are both a pleasure to work with, and you enjoy working with those around you.
• Manage any junior staff members allocated to your team, including mentoring their professional growth and becoming invested in their future at the agency.

Requirements

• Strong editorial and communications background across multiple platforms
• Minimum 3 years as a lead editor and content marketing strategist with experience in digital sales campaigns and CRM.
• Loyalty and rewards programs experience (preferable) 
• Experience in creating omni-channel content marketing strategies for clients that are primarily digital.
• Ability to multitask and plan across a range of projects.
• Solid time management skills are essential.
• Ability to work independently and make things happen.
• Ability to bring creative thinking to a range of different marketing and content opportunities. Need to think out of the box!
• Very strong English language writing and editing skills.
• Ability to be firm in one’s beliefs on what makes great content. 
• People person, with good problem-solving skills and the ability to represent the agency in front of clients.
• Be a strong leadership figure.
• Confident reporting and presenting to key clients.
• Comfortable tackling a range of content pillars, including content for clients in: financial services, FMCG, alcohol and more
• Well-versed in digital content best-practice and strategy, from mainstream social media channels and websites to digital magazines, WhatsApp and more.
• Strong journalistic network of content writers, creators and producers for commissioning work.
• Be fundamentally passionate about the power of content and content marketing, be excited by delivering great work to clients, and be willing to go above and beyond, outside of the 9-to-5.
• Creatively-minded and able to assist with creative direction on shoots.

Personality Attributes:

• Team player with the ability to work independently
• Able to remain calm in a highly pressurized environment
• Ability to lead and mentor a team
• Assertive
• Resilient
• Accountable 
• Proactive
• Energetic
• Creative “out of the box” strategic thinker
• Problem solver / solution driven
• Meticulous with attention to detail
• Other:
  • Flexible to work beyond normal office hours (overtime if and when required)
  • Comfortable and willing to work on alcohol brands 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Should you not hear from us within 2 weeks after submitting your application, please consider your application as unsuccessful.

Publics group is proud to be an Equal opportunity employer and prohibits any forms of Discrimination or Harassment. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our employees in line with our Employment Equity Plan. All appointments will be based on qualifications, experience and best fit but preference will be given to all candidates from designated groups.