Facebook looking for Sub-Saharan Africa Head

In the latest sign that Facebook is about to step up its African presence, the social networking giant has put up a job posting looking for someone to head up its Sub-Sharan African operations.

The posting, which is visible on LinkedIn, confirms that it’ll be opening its first office on the continent in 2015, something Memeburn first reported on in mid January. It also confirms that the offices will be based in Johannesburg.

The posting calls for a “highest caliber executive leader to manage Facebook’s growth throughout Sub Saharan Africa, spearheading the company’s strategic relationships with global brands, agencies and partners for Facebook’s advertising platform”.

The social giant adds that it’s “looking to identify an exceptional people leader with a proven track record of delivering success in a high growth organisation”.

The ideal candidate will must also, apparently, “have senior executive contacts across the region’s largest brands and businesses”.

As is the case with many technology companies which establish a presence on the continent, Facebook’s African office will primarily be focused on selling and promoting its advertising and marketing products.

Reporting to Facebook’s Head of Middle East, Turkey & Africa, the requirements for the role include “relevant experience in marketing, media or technology and proven experience in managing regional sales and marketing operations”.

That’s in line with it previous job posting, for a Regional Measurement Lead, which called for someone with at least eight years’ worth of experience in a relevant field. That suggests that Facebook is looking to put together a team capable of maximising its chances in a region which, economically, is on the rise.

Interestingly, Facebook feels that anyone applying for the job shouldn’t only be comfortable with online advertising, but also television and “other media”. It’s not just advertising in other media that the successful candidate will have to be familiar with either.

As the face of Facebook in the country, they’ll have to be comfortable being interviewed for a variety of media.

Given the vast geographical area that the position covers, as well as the variety of languages spoken and political conditions, it seems to be a fairly challenging position too. Anyone who’s done work on the continent will tell you that having to “collaborate with internal, cross market/regional teams to ensure product improvement, transfer knowledge, improving process/client relationship,” is far from easy.

Facebook’s Johannesburg office is one of more than 50 around the globe.