Ad Operations Specialist

Publicis Groupe · Johannesburg

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We are the Human Experience Agency. We believe the growth opportunity lies in people. We understand and anticipate human desires to deliver media experiences of value.

We call this PeoplePoweredGrowth! Focusing on both business outcomes and human outcomes is proven to deliver stronger growth for clients. PeoplePoweredGrowth identifies the intersection between what people want and what brands need, to create media experiences of value.

PeoplePoweredGrowth orchestrates the right talent and capability to solve for clients’ unique business challenges through interconnected capability. PeoplePoweredGrowth embodies a way of thinking, working, and learning; challenging the status quo and always reaching for a better. It is a culture of never standing still.

Starcom is a full service, global media agency with a presence in multiple markets around the world. We believe in the power of our network and work closely with our global colleagues to ensure that we are providing our clients with global best practice, localized for the South African market. Our clients include Mondelez, Haleon (GSK), Samsung, Stellantis, Sandoz, Kellogg’s to name a few.

We are part of the Publicis network – the fastest growing global network.

Reports to

Campaign Operations / Ad Ops Lead

Dotted line

Channel Specialists, Reporting Specialist, Buying Ops

Role purpose

Executes campaign trafficking, tracking setup, QA and go-live processes — ensuring digital campaigns are technically implemented according to approved plans and reporting requirements.

Scope of role

• Trafficking sheets
• Tags, pixels, UTMs & click trackers
• Creative QA
• Placement QA
• Go-live confirmation
• Technical issue logging
• Tracking validation support

Core accountabilities

• Prepare trafficking sheets.
• Implement or coordinate tags, pixels, UTMs, click trackers and ad server setup.
• QA creative, placements, click-throughs and naming conventions.
• Confirm campaign go-live.
• Identify and document technical issues.
• Support data validation for reporting and billing actualisation.
• Maintain campaign setup records.

Mandatory artifacts owned

• Trafficking Sheet
• Captures campaign setup requirements.
• Tagging Confirmation
• Confirms tracking is correctly implemented.
• QA Record
• Confirms setup has passed checks.
• Go-Live Screenshot / Confirmation
• Confirms campaign launch status.
• Issue Log
• Tracks technical problems and resolution.

Decision rights

• Hold launch if tracking or assets are incomplete
• Reject incorrect creative or tags
• Escalate setup issues
• Flag data quality risks

What this role is NOT accountable for

• Selecting channels or approving media plans.
• Deciding budgets.
• Reconciling supplier invoices.
• Writing PCA recommendations alone.

Required competencies

• 2–5 years in Ad Ops or digital trafficking.
• Trafficking accuracy
• Set up campaigns correctly.
• Tagging knowledge
• Understand tags, pixels, UTMs and click trackers.
• QA discipline
• Test creative, links and placements.
• Platform familiarity
• Working knowledge of common platforms and ad servers.
• Documentation
• Maintain clean setup and issue records.
• Problem solving
• Identify and escalate technical issues.

Core accountabilities

• Prepare trafficking sheets.
• Implement or coordinate tags, pixels, UTMs, click trackers and ad server setup.
• QA creative, placements, click-throughs and naming conventions.
• Confirm campaign go-live.
• Identify and document technical issues.
• Support data validation for reporting and billing actualisation.
• Maintain campaign setup records.

Mandatory artifacts owned

• Trafficking Sheet
• Captures campaign setup requirements.
• Tagging Confirmation
• Confirms tracking is correctly implemented.
• QA Record
• Confirms setup has passed checks.
• Go-Live Screenshot / Confirmation
• Confirms campaign launch status.
• Issue Log
• Tracks technical problems and resolution.

Decision rights

• Hold launch if tracking or assets are incomplete
• Reject incorrect creative or tags
• Escalate setup issues
• Flag data quality risks

What this role is NOT accountable for

• Selecting channels or approving media plans.
• Deciding budgets.
• Reconciling supplier invoices.
• Writing PCA recommendations alone.

Required competencies

• 2–5 years in Ad Ops or digital trafficking.
• Trafficking accuracy
• Set up campaigns correctly.
• Tagging knowledge
• Understand tags, pixels, UTMs and click trackers.
• QA discipline
• Test creative, links and placements.
• Platform familiarity
• Working knowledge of common platforms and ad servers.
• Documentation
• Maintain clean setup and issue records.
• Problem solving
• Identify and escalate technical issues.

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