About Us
Initiative celebrates diversity in an inclusive environment where all of our 6,000+ strong talent across 90+ markets feel seen, heard, and valued. Our vision is to create not only a better media company, but also a better media industry, and maybe even a better world.
We believe in the power of media to reshape our industry and orchestrate a brand’s entire consumer experience, by balancing both what unites people and what makes them different. When brands unite people in culture, they build Fame, and when brands connect individuals to their unique journeys, they build customer Flow. Media responsibility is at the forefront of everything we do, whether it’s creating media plans that reflect the diversity of our communities, promote brand safety, and foster sustainability.
Our agency celebrates diversity in an inclusive environment where all of our 6,000+ strong talent across 90+ markets feel seen, heard, and valued. Our vision is to create not only a better media company, but also a better media industry, and maybe even a better world.
We make a promise to our people that we double down on seeing, celebrating & elevating all the things that make you, uniquely you. And just as we do for our brands and clients, we connect our people to the journeys that matter in building a meaningful career.
There are four I’s in Initiative and these represent our core values and behaviours.
- INDIVID[YOU]ALITY – you bring your genuine and unique self to and into the work, every day.
- INSTINCT – you’re tuned in and armed with intelligence; you have a bias for action – shit happens when you’re around.
- IMAGINATION – your ability to imagine and bring to life the ideas, solutions, and the future of Initiative, makes us THE create media agency in the world.
- IMPACT! – you care deeply about the impact you have on our clients, their customers, our community, the media landscape and our world at large.
Discipline Overview: Communications Design
Communications design is the discipline and practice of crafting how a brand idea will be delivered through communications across an owned, earned and paid ecosystem in order to achieve a desired behavioural outcome.
Initiative’s Communications Design team is creating the future of planning. Borrowing skills from User Experience, Digital, Public Relations and Content, these media professionals are responsible for curating how people connect and participate with brands through culturally rich ideas. Instead of considering the experience of a brand in components (media / channel planning), Communications Designers think about brand experience in totality (ecosystem planning) ensuring every encounter is useful and impactful.
The Communications Design team dynamically brings brands to life through their actions. They:
• Are experts in consumer and communications behaviour, and how changes in behaviours are creating new opportunities for connection
• Lead the creation of the dynamic ecosystem approach to deliver a strategy
• Work with partners (media, creative, technology, platforms, Specialty Business Units) to curate how a brand should connect within culture
• Lead the identification of the right audiences to address how to meet business goals, and guide the quantification of connection encounters holistically
• Champion innovative, forward thinking activities that help brands create value with their audience.
Role Overview: Associate, Communications Design
The Associate position is an entry level role requiring an eager, proactive and energetic person who is passionate about media, marketing & consumer behaviour. The Associate is an important position within the team, assisting in the creation of communications design briefs to help deliver on our clients’ business objectives.
In this role you will learn the fundamentals of Communication Design and how to use our proprietary tools to quantify how different communications scenarios perform against business goals. You will become the supportive backbone of your team and will be mentored and trained by various members of the department.
You should be curious about how brands grow and how diverse communications approaches work to create a difference for categories and brands.
Key Responsibilities
Client
• Assist Communications Designer and Sr. Designer with communications plan development
Internal
• Learn how campaign reporting and analysis is done
• Accurately load and maintain planning details within agency financial systems
• Help compile POV reports and intelligence on current best practice planning approaches and outcomes for client, brand, and category
• Attend team brainstorming sessions with other internal partners to learn how to generate creative & compelling connections ideas
• Participate in departmental projects as requested
• Proactively seek out mentorship and learning from key Discipline leaders at Initiative
• Assist Communications Designers in compiling relevant industry research for the team to draw
Commercial
• Learn about our Specialty Business Units and how we can impact their revenue growth through planning outcomes
New Business
• Support new business needs as required
Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s):
Client
• Able to assist with research and generate key media inputs for best in class communications planning solutions that propel the communications idea
Internal
• Participates in agency and external personal growth & education initiatives
• Assist with the media planning process & learns necessary tools
• Fosters strong and positive internal relationships
• Adherence to / use of agency processes and tools
Commercial
• Ensures and advocates for agency partner relationships
Desired Skills & Experience
• Proficiency with Microsoft programs, especially Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to communicate concisely and clearly, both written and oral
• Strong organizational and analytical skills
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of an integrated team
• Detail-oriented, organized, conscientious, with the ability to multi-task and work well under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Passion for consumer behaviour and what motivates audiences to react
• Proactively seeks to solve problems with creative solutions
Employee Transparency
At IPG Mediabrands, we celebrate differences and believe this makes us stronger. IPG Mediabrands are equal-opportunity employers committed to championing an inclusive culture that provides a sense of belonging for all our employees. We do not discriminate against any applicant based on age, disability, race, colour, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, belief, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law.
Please reach out to our Talent Inclusion Specialist Jess at [email protected] if you would like to have a confidential conversation regarding any adjustments that would ensure our recruitment process is accessible for you. Please note requesting a reasonable adjustment will not affect your application.
The Perks
We aim to provide all our people with a supportive and fun work environment where you can develop your full potential and benefit from the broad range of opportunities within the agency. When you join us, we want to make sure you feel valued – and that you are rewarded for your fantastic work. So, we also offer a range of benefits:
- Flexi–leave, with 25 days annual leave to be taken as minimum. In addition to your holiday entitlement, the office usually closes between Christmas & New Year
- Free breakfast and free lunch
- Early finish Fridays
- Core Hours (Mon-Thurs, flexible start/finish times)
- Retail discounts
- Electric vehicle salary sacrifice car scheme
- Wellbeing programme, including Headspace & flu jabs
- Interest free season ticket loan
- Paid time off for Volunteering
- Group Income Protection
- Life Assurance
- Private Medical Insurance or Health Cash Plan (dependent on level)
- Group Personal Pension Plan with matched contributions from 3-6%
- Generous Parental Leave & Pay
- Independent mortgage advice
- Financial education
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Free eye tests
- Flexible benefits including Dental, Travel insurance, Cycle to Work, Gym Discounts and many more!
