Digital Production Assistant
Lotame
Durban, South Africa
Posted on Apr 10, 2026
Company description Publicis Groupe is a global leader in communication. The Groupe is positioned at every step of the value chain, from consulting to execution, combining marketing transformation and digital business transformation. This role supports the delivery of digitally focused production and project outcomes within a fast-paced advertising environment, ensuring seamless collaboration between internal teams and external suppliers while maintaining control over timelines, budgets, and quality. Overview The Digital Production Assistant / Project Manager is a key operational driver responsible for managing digital-first production workflows, coordinating suppliers and internal teams, and ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to specification. The position plays a central role in the successful delivery of projects, working across production and project management disciplines. This role is responsible for translating briefs into actionable plans, coordinating internal teams and external suppliers, managing timelines and budgets, and ensuring work is delivered to a high standard. Operating in a fast-paced environment, the role requires a highly organised, detail-oriented individual who can manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining strong communication, structure, and momentum from brief through to final delivery. Responsibilities Production & Project Delivery Manage the end-to-end delivery of projects, from initial brief through to final execution Facilitate production briefs entering the system and ensure clarity of scope, requirements, and timelines Coordinate and manage suppliers across print, digital, and integrated production outputs Ensure all deliverables meet agreed quality standards, specifications, and deadlines Project Management & Planning Create, manage and maintain detailed project timelines, milestones, and schedules Monitor project progress, proactively identifying risks, bottlenecks, or delays Implement solutions to maintain momentum and ensure projects stay on track Manage multiple concurrent projects without compromising accuracy or delivery standards Maintain organised project documentation and status tracking Supplier & Stakeholder Management Act as a key point of contact between internal teams and external suppliers Allocate work to suppliers based on availability, skillset, scope, and cost efficiency Build and maintain strong working relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders Support supplier onboarding and ongoing supplier administration Ensure clear communication and alignment across all parties involved in a project Financial & Administrative Management Track and manage project budgets throughout the production lifecycle Ensure financial processes and workflows are followed accurately Maintain awareness of costs, approvals, and budget constraints Flag potential scope creep, budget risks, or timing implications early Support financial documentation, cost tracking, and reconciliation Collaboration & Communication Work closely with Client Service and internal teams to gain a thorough understanding of project requirements Translate briefs into clear, actionable production instructions Facilitate regular check-ins, status updates, and project meetings Ensure all teams are aligned on priorities, deadlines, and deliverables Communicate clearly, professionally, and proactively at all times Qualifications Experience & Background A minimum of 3+ years experience working within an advertising agency environment Strong exposure to production workflows, supplier management, and financial processes Experience working across administrative, operational, and production functions Proven ability to support high-volume, fast-moving project environments Additional information Skills & Capabilities Strong hybrid capability across both production and project management Excellent organisational, planning, and time-management skills High attention to detail and strong documentation discipline Confident multitasker with the ability to manage competing priorities Strong problem-solving skills with a calm, solutions-focused approach Excellent verbal and written communication skills Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build positive working relationships Financial awareness and budget management capability Tools & Systems Project management and production tools Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Ability to quickly learn and adapt to new systems and workflows Personal Attributes Highly reliable, proactive, and self-motivated Calm under pressure and comfortable working in deadline-driven environments Positive, collaborative team player Naturally organised with a strong sense of ownership and accountability Committed to continuous learning and professional development SOFTWARE & TOOLS Must have a working knowledge of the following platforms and tools: Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint COMPANY VALUES TRUST Trust is the cornerstone upon which we build our relationships. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of how a partner should behave. We treat our people and our clients with respect, transparency and honesty. TALENT This is first and foremost a people business. We are committed to ensuring Publicis Groupe is a destination for the best talent in our industry. We value people as individuals, growing ourselves as we grow our client’s business TRANSFORMATION True transformation comes when we stop managing change, and instead initiate change. We believe in our purpose to be the admired force for business transformation. We believe that focusing on performance and results has the power to transform client business.