Influencer Operations Specialist

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships – all united by our pioneering agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth. 

WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working.

For more information, visit wppmedia.com.

Job Title: Influencer Operations Specialist   

Company: WPP Media South Africa 

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa 

Type: Full-Time

About the Role 

The Influencer Operations Specialist is the executional powerhouse of the influencer practice. Reporting to the Strategic Account Manager, Influencer & Social on P&G for all work allocation, prioritisation, and conflict resolution, you will bring creative strategies to life by managing the entire talent lifecycle from identification and sourcing to contracting, content delivery, and payment. This role is highly tactical and detail-oriented, requiring flawless organisation and proactive communication to ensure all assigned campaigns are executed on time, on budget, and to the highest standard of excellence. 

 Key Responsibilities: 

• Execute end-to-end influencer campaigns based on tasks assigned by the Strategic Account Manager, Influencer & Social on P&G  Manager 

 Influencer Sourcing & Relationship Management: 

• Identify, recruit, and vet potential influencers based on campaign brief requirements. 

• Serve as the primary, day-to-day point of contact for all talent throughout the campaign lifecycle. 

 Financial & Payment Administration: 

• Own the entire payment process from start to finish, ensuring talent is paid accurately and on time. 

• Proactively communicate with influencers to request and secure accurate invoices. 

• Accurately confirm and load all influencer billing details and invoice documentation onto the financial platform for processing. 

• Share creator actuals and cost breakdowns with internal finance and media planning teams as required by the workflow. 

• Track payment statuses and act as the liaison between the influencer and finance to resolve any queries. 

 Campaign Execution & Administration: 

• Lead the negotiation of rates, deliverables, and contractual terms with influencers. 

• Draft and manage all influencer contracts, scopes of work, and briefing packs. 

• Manage the onboarding of influencers onto all required platforms. 

 Content & Quality Management: 

• Act as the first line of quality control for all submitted content. You are responsible for an initial detailed review against the brief, brand guidelines, and for grammatical accuracy before it is escalated internally. 

• Meticulously track all content submissions against campaign timelines. 

• Liaise directly with creators on any required content changes or reshoots. 

 Upward Communication & Reporting: 

• Provide clear, accurate, and timely status updates on all assigned tasks and campaign milestones directly to the Strategic Account Manager, Influencer & Social on P&G  Manager. 

• You are responsible for immediately flagging any conflicting deadlines, unclear briefs, or capacity concerns to the Strategic Account Manager, Influencer & Social on P&G  Managerfor resolution and reprioritisation. 

• Proactively flag any potential risks or influencer issues to the Strategic Account Manager, Influencer & Social on P&G  Managerbefore they become critical problems. 

 Required Capabilities: 

Experience: 

• 1 year of direct experience in an operational role within influencer marketing, talent management, or social media coordination. 

• Experience with contract administration and budget tracking is essential. 

 Skills: 

• Exceptional Organizational Skills: World-class attention to detail with the ability to flawlessly manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and administrative processes simultaneously. 

• Strong Negotiation & Interpersonal Skills: The ability to communicate firmly but fairly with talent and agents to negotiate favourable terms while maintaining positive relationships. 

• Pragmatic Problem-Solving: A hands-on approach to solving executional challenges as they arise, from missed deadlines to content issues. 

• Technical Proficiency: A high level of proficiency with influencer marketing platforms (e.g., Creator IQ) is required. Experience with workflow systems like Symphony or Wrike is advantageous. 

 Attributes: 

• Tenacious & Resilient: Demonstrates a relentless drive to see every executional task through to completion, skilfully navigating difficult negotiations and setbacks with persistence and a positive attitude. 

• Highly Accountable: Takes absolute ownership of all assigned tactical duties, from contract accuracy to payment processing, ensuring every step is completed meticulously without the need for micromanagement. 

• Process-Driven: Exhibits an unwavering commitment to executing established workflows for contracting, payment, and approvals, understanding that process is fundamental to managing risk and ensuring quality. 

• Professional & Diplomatic: Acts as a polished ambassador for the agency, building strong relationships with talent and communicating necessary feedback with a diplomacy that preserves partnership. 

 Overview of KPI’s (to be evolved as required by the business) 

The KPIs for this role are part of a dynamic performance development framework. They will be formally reviewed and updated on an annual basis to ensure alignment with evolving business objectives and your personal career development goals. This entire process is managed collaboratively through goal setting and progress tracking within our dedicated platform