Operations Manager (Traffic & Production)

Role Purpose

The Operations Manager is responsible for the efficient operation of the Health business and the successful delivery of client work across video, radio, digital, print, design and copy.

The role owns resource and capacity planning, production delivery, operational reporting, supplier management, financial control, process improvement and team performance. The successful candidate will ensure that work is delivered on time to the required quality and standards, while supporting sustained client satisfaction and business profitability.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a commercially aware and highly organised operations professional who understands how an agency operates and can bring structure to a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. They will be confident working across creative, production, client service and finance functions, while remaining sufficiently detail-oriented to manage budgets, schedules, approvals and operational risks.

They should be comfortable leading through influence, making decisions under pressure, challenging inefficient processes and developing people. Experience in health or regulated communications will be beneficial, but strong integrated agency operations and production experience is essential.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Management

• Manage and coordinate the day-to-day operational activities of the Ogilvy South Africa Health division.
• Ensure projects and campaigns are delivered within agreed scope, timelines, budgets and quality standards.
• Maintain oversight of the production pipeline, work in progress, dependencies, risks and delivery constraints.
• Identify potential delays, conflicts or operational issues early and escalate them with recommended solutions.
• Establish and maintain effective operating procedures and workflows.
• Track and influence activities across the team to ensure accountability and consistent execution.
• Review timesheets and ensure timesheets reports are updated.
• Prepare and review cost estimates for existing work, new scopes, tenders and pitch opportunities.
• Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations in line with client budgets and commercial objectives.
• Monitor project budgets, operational costs, resource costs and productivity metrics.
• Support accurate forecasting and allocation of resources across projects.
• Review existing systems, workflows and processes to identify opportunities for greater efficiency.
• Source, assess and maintain a network of reliable production suppliers, freelancers and specialist partners.
• Manage supplier relationships, quotations, negotiations, briefs, delivery timelines and quality standards.
• Ensure external suppliers deliver against agreed scope, budget, quality and deadlines.
• Resolve supplier issues and manage performance where service levels are not achieved.
• Maintain appropriate supplier records, rate information and production partner databases.
• Manage courier and other operational service providers where required.

Capacity and Production Planning

• Plan, forecast and manage resource requirements across the department.
• Monitor capacity, utilisation, workloads and productivity across internal teams and external partners.
• Allocate the right people and skills to projects based on scope, deadlines, budget and complexity.
• Source and brief freelance, production and specialist talent where required.
• Identify capacity constraints and develop short- and long-term resource solutions.
• Support interviewing and onboarding.
• Manage and support Account Direction for production for campaigns, including Video, film radio, audio, digital content, and print production.
• Coordinate work from initial brief and scoping through to final delivery.
• Work closely with Account Management, Creative, Studio and Producers to ensure seamless delivery. Coordinate internal creative reviews, quality control, client revisions and final approvals.
• Ensure all deliverables meet the approved brief, brand requirements, technical specifications and applicable compliance standards.
• Manage changes to scope, timelines and deliverables, ensuring the impact is accessed and communicated. Compile project and campaign performance reports where required.

Client and Stakeholder Collaboration

• Partner with Account Management, the Managing Director and Creative Director to achieve business and client objectives.
• Support the development of practical solutions to meet client needs.
• Provide clear and timely updates on project status, risks, costs and delivery expectations.

Minimum Requirements

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Operations Management, Project Management, Production, Business Management, Advertising, Marketing
• Approximately 6–8 years relevant experience in an advertising agency, production environment, marketing organisation or similar professional services business.
• At least 3 years' experience managing teams, operations or integrated production delivery.