Creator Talent Acquisition, Publisher Onboarding & Partnerships Lead

ABOUT SMART STUDIO

Smart Studio is Smart Africa Group's solution-oriented production house, specialising in visual and audio storytelling. We exist to help brands bring their narratives to life through world-class content — from TVCs and branded films to podcasts, photography, and live productions. With a rigorous focus on quality, creativity, and client brand integrity, Smart Studio is the creative heartbeat of the SAG ecosystem.

About the Role

This role builds, manages, and grows a high-performing ecosystem of creators, influencers, publishers, media partners, and brand relationships that drives audience growth, campaign success, and sustainable revenue for SAG.

It is responsible for identifying, recruiting, onboarding, developing, and managing the agency's network of content creators, digital talent, publishers, and strategic media partners.

The role serves as the primary liaison between creators, publishers, brands, advertisers, and internal teams, ensuring strong partnerships, successful campaigns, and sustainable monetisation across the SAG ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute creator acquisition strategies, sourcing emerging and established creators across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, podcasts, and blogs.
• Conduct creator assessments covering content quality, audience demographics, engagement, brand suitability, and growth potential.
• Lead creator outreach, interviews, negotiations, onboarding, and contracting, ensuring accurate documentation and compliance.
• Manage relationships with represented creators, advising on content strategy, monetisation, personal branding, and development.
• Maintain an updated creator database and talent management system, and run recruitment campaigns and referral programs.
• Identify and recruit digital publishers, online media platforms, blogs, podcast networks, and content distribution partners.
• Evaluate publishers on traffic, audience quality, content standards, brand safety, and commercial viability, and lead onboarding.
• Manage strategic publisher relationships, ensure compliance, monitor performance, and conduct periodic business reviews.
• Build relationships with influencers, creator networks, media organisations, advertisers, and industry stakeholders.
• Match creators and publishers with sponsorship, endorsement, and campaign opportunities, and negotiate partnership agreements.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities for creator marketing, influencer campaigns, and publisher solutions.
• Generate qualified leads, prepare proposals and pitch decks, and contribute to revenue targets and client retention.
• Collaborate with account, media, creative, and campaign teams to recommend suitable talent and deliver successful campaigns.
• Monitor trends across the creator economy, influencer marketing, and digital publishing, and produce periodic performance reports.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, Public Relations, Media Studies, Journalism, Digital Marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum 4–7 years' experience in influencer marketing, creator/talent management, media partnerships, publisher development, digital advertising, or business development.
• Demonstrated experience recruiting creators, influencers, publishers, or media partners.
• Experience in partnership management, revenue generation, and negotiating commercial agreements.

Skills & Competencies

• Influencer marketing and creator-economy expertise.
• Publisher and media partnership management.
• Social media analytics and audience analysis.
• CRM and partnership management systems, and sales pipeline management.
• Proposal and presentation development, and contract negotiation.
• Talent sourcing, relationship management, and performance reporting.