Head of Digital (Social Media Strategist)

A premier South African professional rugby franchise is currently seeking a Head of Digital to lead its Media House in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

The organisation is one of South Africa’s most dynamic sporting brands, known for high-tempo rugby, a passionate fanbase, and a strong commitment to digital innovation and fan engagement through its in-house Media House.

Department: Media HouseReports to: Head of Media HouseLocation: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Type: Full-time, Permanent

• Own and drive the end-to-end social media strategy, with social as the primary growth engine across all platforms (Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, YouTube).
• Lead daily social media execution, including content prioritisation, tone, timing, and real-time matchday engagement decisions.
• Develop platform-specific strategies to maximise reach, engagement, and virality (e.g., TikTok trends, Instagram storytelling, X live commentary).
• Oversee content creation workflows including ideation, scheduling, A/B testing, and real-time optimisation based on performance data.
• Analyse social performance metrics (engagement, reach, sentiment, growth trends) and translate insights into actionable strategy improvements.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the social media team to ensure high-quality output and consistent execution under tight match-driven deadlines.
• Ensure all digital content aligns with the franchise’s brand identity, storytelling framework, and fan engagement objectives.
• Provide secondary oversight of website content and CRM campaigns (email, SMS, segmentation), ensuring alignment with social strategy.
• Collaborate closely with the Head of Design and production teams to brief high-performing visual and video assets tailored for each platform.
• Identify and implement emerging social media trends, tools, and innovations within sports and entertainment.
• Report on KPIs and digital performance to senior leadership, with a focus on fan growth, engagement, and retention.

• 7+ years’ experience in senior social media roles (e.g., Head of Social, Social Media Director), ideally within sports, media, or high-engagement consumer brands.
• Proven expertise in social media strategy, execution, and audience growth across multiple platforms.
• Strong leadership experience managing and developing digital/social teams.
• Deep understanding of social media algorithms, analytics tools, and scheduling platforms (e.g., Sprout Social, Hootsuite, Brandwatch).
• Strong analytical mindset combined with creative storytelling ability.
• Passion for rugby or elite team sports, with strong understanding of fan behaviour and engagement dynamics.
• Experience working in fast-paced, real-time environments with strict deadlines (e.g., live sports).
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Familiarity with CRM systems and website content management is advantageous.
• Relevant qualification in Marketing, Digital Media, Communications, or equivalent experience.

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