E-commerce Specialist Internship - 12 months

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.

Publicis Groupe Africa is one of the continent’s leading marketing and communications groups, home to agencies spanning media, creative, data and production. Our Connected Media practice brings strategy, planning, activation and measurement together in one integrated team, working with some of Africa’s most recognised brands. We invest in people, capability and craft, and we build careers, not just campaigns.

E-commerce is one of the fastest-growing disciplines in media. In this role you will learn how brands win on digital shelves – from retailer platforms and product listings to campaign execution and reporting – and build a practical, in-demand skill set from day one.

What You Will Do 

• Support the setup and execution of e-commerce and retail media campaigns across retailer platforms 

• Monitor campaign delivery, pacing and spend, and flag issues to the commerce team 

• Pull performance data and help build weekly and post-campaign reports 

• Track product listings, content and promotions on key e-commerce platforms 

• Research category, competitor and shopper trends in online retail 

• Coordinate with planning, client and reporting teams to keep campaigns on schedule 

Your 12-Month Learning Journey 

• Month 1 – Foundations: Connected Media bootcamp, platform certifications and pod induction 

• Months 2–4 – Rotation: short rotations across Strategy, Operations and Performance (about a week per discipline with a specialist) 

• Months 5–10 – Seat: live placement in the home team with a named mentor and defined account responsibilities 

• Months 10–12 – Absorption gate: assessment against the Connected Media JD and offer into a commercially approved role, where available 

Who We Are Looking For 

A digitally savvy graduate with a specific interest in e-commerce and online shopping behaviour, who enjoys both data and execution.

• Completed relevant tertiary qualification (3-year degree or 3-year diploma) in the field listed below 

• Basic computer literacy, including Microsoft Office (Excel in particular) 

• Good written and verbal communication skills 

• Available for a 12-month, Johannesburg-based internship from March 2027 

• A positive attitude, curiosity and a commitment to learning 

• Preferred field of study: Marketing, digital marketing, e-commerce, business, commerce or a related field 

Nice to have 

• Digital marketing or platform certifications 

• Personal or project experience selling or marketing online 

What We Offer 

• A 12-month, structured internship with hands-on exposure to real client work 

• A named mentor and buddy, plus rotations across the Connected Media model 

• Platform certifications and learning through our internal academies 

• A clear absorption gate into a commercially approved role, where available 

Publicis Groupe Africa is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building diverse and inclusive teams and welcome applications from all qualified candidates, including candidates with disabilities. Preference may be given to candidates in line with our Employment Equity objectives.