Strategic Data Intern

Company description

Publicis Groupe is a global leader in communication and is positioned at every step of the value chain, from consulting to execution, combining marketing transformation and digital business transformation.

Publicis Groupe Africa has opened applications for Le Cubs 2027, its flagship 12-month internship programme designed to give young South African graduates meaningful workplace experience and an opportunity to build future-ready careers in the marketing and communications industry.

Starting in March 2027, successful applicants will join teams across Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, gaining hands-on experience in disciplines including creativity, strategy, human resources, data, technology, AI, media and business support.

Le Cubs is designed to bridge the gap between tertiary education and the workplace, giving graduates the opportunity to move beyond theory, contribute to real work, learn from industry professionals and develop practical skills in a connected, collaborative environment.

Overview

Title: Strategic Data Intern
Location: Cape Town
Reporting To:  Strategy Director

JOB PURPOSE

Digitas is seeking a curious, analytical, and commercially minded Strategic Data Intern to support both the Strategy and Data teams. This role is ideal for a recent graduate or final-year student with a background in Strategic Marketing, Brand Strategy, Business Science, Economics, Consumer Insights, Data Analytics, Statistics, or a related field.

The successful candidate will help transform data into meaningful insights that inform communication strategies, customer experience design, campaign planning, and business growth. This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of strategy, creativity, technology, and data.

Responsibilities

What you’ll do everyday

Strategic Support

• Assist in developing customer, brand, and communication strategies.
• Support market, category, competitor, and audience research.
• Help uncover consumer trends and cultural insights.
• Participate in strategic brainstorming and planning sessions.
• Assist in developing presentations, strategic frameworks, and client recommendations.

Data & Insights

• Analyze campaign, audience, customer, and performance data.
• Identify key trends, patterns, and actionable insights.
• Support reporting across digital, social, CRM, and media campaigns.
• Assist with data visualization and dashboard creation.
• Translate complex data into clear business recommendations.

Research & Analytics

• Gather quantitative and qualitative research from multiple sources.
• Monitor social, digital, and consumer behaviour trends.
• Conduct audience segmentation and customer profiling exercises.
• Support measurement frameworks and campaign effectiveness analysis.

Collaboration

• Work closely with Strategy, Creative, Media, Technology, and Client Service teams.
• Contribute insights that improve campaign performance and customer experience.
• Support the development of data-driven storytelling and strategic recommendations.

Qualifications

Degree or Diploma in:

• Strategic Marketing
• Business Science
• Marketing Management
• Economics
• Behavioural Science
• Statistics
• Data Analytics
• Mathematics
• Information Systems
• Commerce
• Or a related field

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

Strategic Skills

• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving ability.
• Natural curiosity about consumer behaviour and brands.
• Ability to connect business challenges to strategic opportunities.
• Understanding of marketing, advertising, digital ecosystems, and customer journeys.

Data Skills

• Strong numerical and analytical skills.
• Ability to interpret and synthesize data into meaningful insights.
• Comfortable working with spreadsheets and data sets.
• Knowledge of data visualization and reporting principles.

Technical Skills (Advantageous)

• Excel or Google Sheets
• Power BI or Tableau
• Google Analytics 4 (GA4)
• Looker Studio
• SQL (basic)
• Social listening and analytics platforms
• CRM and customer data platforms

KEY BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES

• Passionate about data-driven decision making.
•  Interest in brands, advertising, technology, and consumer behaviour.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
• Comfortable presenting findings and recommendations.
• Eager to learn and grow in a fast-paced agency environment.
• Strong communication and storytelling ability.
• Collaborative team player.

WHAT YOU’LL GAIN

• Hands-on experience within one of South Africa's leading digital agencies.
• Exposure to strategic planning, consumer insight development, and data analytics.
• Mentorship from experienced strategists and data specialists.
• Experience working on renowned local and global brands.
• Practical exposure to customer experience (CX), CRM, media, and digital transformation projects.
• Development of skills in research, analytics, strategic thinking, and storytelling.

WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF

• Microsoft Word

Ideal Candidate Profile

This role would suit a graduate who enjoys both understanding people and interpreting data. They are equally excited by consumer research, behavioural insights, brand strategy, analytics, and using data to solve business problems. They possess the curiosity of a strategist and the analytical mindset of a data professional.

Additional information

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Publicis Groupe Africa is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits any forms of Discrimination or Harassment. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our employees in line with our Employment Equity Plan.

All appointments will be based on qualifications, experience and best fit but preference will be given to candidates from designated groups. Interested candidates must please submit a concise CV including a link to your portfolio if necessary. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Should you not hear from us within 2 weeks after submitting your application, please consider your application as unsuccessful.