OUR COMPANY
Initiative is different to other media agencies.
We are not trapped by a legacy structure primarily centered on paid advertising. Instead, we are liberated by a new world structure designed to deliver highly differentiated and highly effective communications strategies for our clients.
We’re not the biggest agency in town. So rather than outsize our competitors we must outsmart them. That’s why we’ve built the strongest strategic capability of any agency in the market. Core to this strategic capability is an obsession with culture and how brands can pivot from brand advertising (which is forgettable) to cultural branding (which is highly memorable).
Our new world model is comprised of four central “craft centers” – Client Advice and Management, Strategy, Communications Design and Partnerships.
Here is a brief description of each center.
Client Advice & Management
Client Advice acts as both business partner to the client and internal leader to brief, inspire, motivate and drive our teams to deliver the highest quality integrated solutions across a full spectrum of communication disciplines – Strategy, Communications Design, Partnerships and Mediabrands Specialty Business Units in areas like Social, Programmatic, Mobile, Search and Innovation.
The authority on all Initiative and IPG Mediabrands services, Client Advice is responsible for regularly identifying unmet client needs and challenges, for bringing forth specialized services and solutions to meet those needs, and for growing Initiative’s client relationships in both revenue and profitability. Importantly, Client Advice must also ensure that reasonable, achievable and business appropriate KPI’s are in place to ensure a positive and mutually beneficial relationship between agency and client.
Strategy
Strategy create the opportunities for brands to lead in culture, designing and defining how a brand will live, play and thrive in the world. They are the voice of the people, using deep and intuitive cultural understanding of consumers and communications to develop the strategic direction a brand must take. They translate business goals into actionable communications tasks, first identifying and then designing the most profitable audience, space or place for the brand to occupy. The Strategists believe that everything communicates and that ‘media’ can and should mean more in today’s world - that there is a ‘better way’ - and that propels them to constantly challenge convention to add value, unlock untapped market potential and generate unfair share of hearts and minds.
Communications Design
Communications Design are the architects of how a brand idea will be delivered across a communications ecosystem in order to unlock the behavior change that drives brand growth. Communications Design are experts in creating connected communications experiences that spread. They work with strategy and creative partners to translate the client’s cultural opportunity into the idea that shapes the experience someone will have with the brand across paid, owned and earned encounters. Communications Design define the right audiences of value, and how you will engage them within the experience. And they work with our analytics partners to quantify the business impact that the holistic experience will have on the brand over time.
Partnerships
The Partnerships team is the next generation marketplace team of experts that identify, broker and manage the relationship between media, partners and culture vehicles for a given brand. This team leads partner evaluations, makes strategic investment recommendations and manages in-market KPIs. Partnerships works closely with Strategy and Communications Design to bring communications experiences to life and drive innovation. This team ensures we are supporting and executing against the overall corporate initiatives as well as drive maximum value for our clients.
Each craft center is as important as the other, because only when they are effectively combined can we produce a truly creative and integrated product for our clients.
We strive for world-class work on every client, every time.
We believe that good enough is not good enough. We hope you do too.
We are excited to have you and your unique talent helping us to realize our ambition to be the best media agency in the world.
OUR BEHAVIORS
Initiative respects that everyone has something unique to contribute to the agency.
We are a bunch of eclectic and brilliant misfits with diverse backgrounds that represent the unique fabric of consumers and culture.
We want you to be yourself. We want to hear your opinions. We want to see your passion and energy.
If you disagree with something you see or hear then speak up. We will never punish or penalize you for bringing something important to our attention.
If you believe you can improve something in the agency then speak up. We will always listen to your ideas and suggestions.
We will not tolerate harassment, bullying or corporate politics. We will not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We expect you to be responsible on social media and remember that you represent the agency and should not bring us into disrepute.
We are committed to your learning and development. The agency will organize regular training to enhance and accelerate your career – we expect you to prioritize training and actively participate.
There are 4 central behaviors that bind all Initiative employees together. These behaviors are always encouraged and rewarded by the agency.
We use the acronym “FBDS” to describe them.
They are:
Fearless in our approach.
Be fearless. Push back on clients when appropriate. Have the courage to take bold ideas to the table. If you believe in something don’t take “no” for an answer. Remember, fortune really does favor the brave.
Brilliant in our work.
Everything you do for the agency and our clients must be of the highest standard. Good enough is not good enough. Be obsessed about producing brilliant work. Every day. Every time. No exceptions.
Dynamic in our design.
Be dynamic and agile. Design these things into your plans for clients. Remember we must keep pace with technology and consumers. Don’t be afraid of change, run towards it.
Seamless in our approach.
We sell solutions not services. Always “stitch” together the various services of Initiative and IPG Mediabrands in a way that is seamless for clients. We operate as one united IPG Mediabrands and never in siloes. We will not tolerate “turf wars” across business units and expect you to play nicely in the sandpit as you collaborate with others.
DISCIPLINE OVERVIEW: PARTNERSHIPS
Initiative is building the most streamlined and integrated Partnerships teams in the industry. We do not operate in silos. As such, our best and brightest Partnerships leaders from both Traditional and Digital backgrounds are charged with leading the Partnerships teams and delivering on the following:
- TV, BVOD, Radio and Cinema marketplace landscape experts internally and with clients
- All media partner evaluation, selection and recommendations leveraging strategic / consumer insights, marketplace insights, and Initiative’s proprietary partner selection data and toolsets
- Strategic, digital partnership solutions, negotiation/go‐to-market strategies, and audience—focused strategies, designed to deliver on client objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Innovation and emerging partner test opportunities to drive client KPIs
- Support MAGNA aggregate negotiations across all digital media channels
- Support and facilitate IPG Mediabrands corporate, agency and external media initiatives
ROLE OVERVIEW:
The Associate Director, Partnerships is a high-level client team specialist role at Initiative, requiring strong leadership and managerial skills. The role involves strong knowledge of the video space and available media research and systems, ability to juggle multiple tasks at one time, and negotiating media partnerships. The Associate Director helps to lead the strategic direction and is tasked with being a marketing partner for the clients. The Associate Director is an expert on client’s business, and within the agency.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Client
- Collaborate with Comms Design, Analytics and Client Advice and Management to ensure alignment with and delivery against client KPI’s
- Interact positively with clients to gain their trust and demonstrate value
- Identify synergistic and/or targeted opportunities on an on-going basis for clients to further drive their business
Internal
- Ability to work in a team environment that promotes collaboration
- Accountable for media plan output timeliness, accuracy, and overall excellence
- Instrumental in managing client’s media investment; responsible for smooth running of day-to-day activities
- Direct staff in the day-to-day activities of their group(s)
- Plans, directs, supervises, and coordinates work activities of subordinates and handles all personnel requirements for immediate staff including training and development
- Primary contact for Strategy, Comms Design and Analytics groups
- Inspire while leading by example in developing, motivating, mentoring and coaching their team
- Ensure that all direct reports master the skills and organizational savvy required for advancement
- Adept at communicating effectively across all levels
- Provide partner selection recommendation and justification designed to deliver on client KPI’s using the most sophisticated use of data and analytics, via multi-faceted, cross-channel strategic partnerships, while delivering maximum strategic value and efficiency
- Develop processes and manage team to ensure superior in-flight stewardship, optimization, delivery and (cross-platform) post-analysis – but also able to free up more time for creative approaches to each client’s business
- Resolve major issues with media partners
- Prepare and deliver proposals to various audiences
Commercial
- Provide Partnerships support for various New Business pitches including costs exercises
- Support and collaborate with all MB SBU’s for maximum effectiveness and seamless integration onto client business
- Support MAGNA aggregate negotiations across appropriate channels
Prioritization:
- 40% Client
- 40% Internal
- 15% Commercial
- 5% New Business
Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s):
- Client
- Successfully presents to clients with strong POVs and recommendations
- Positive interactions with clients to gain their trust and show value
- Identify new media opportunities for clients that align with their communications goals and marketing objectives
- Internal
- Manages the team by being a collaborative and engaged leader
- Participates in agency and external personal growth & education initiatives to expand knowledge of broader media topics
- Utilize data and analytics to make strategic recommendations to clients
- Successful collaboration with Strategy, Comms Design, SBUs to develop media partnerships that meet client's objectives
- Participates in new business pitches - competitive analysis, ideation
- Commercial
- Supports and delivers on MAGNA agency-wide media partnership targets
- Ensures and advocates for agency partner relationships
- Develop costs for new business exercises
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Relevant experience including supervisory experience required
- Broadcast media buying experience required with a demonstrated solid technical and negotiating skills
- Experience writing and delivering presentations
- Detailed awareness of client business issues, industry trends, consumer trends, promotional resources, market status, and competition
- Understanding of the principles of marketing and advertising, as well as an understanding of media concepts and terms, creative and budget requirements
- Able to successfully manage multiple full service accounts
- Solid understanding of media data sources in terms of what is measured, the method, and information reported
- Fluent in mathematical concepts with an ability to translate data into well-articulated ideas
- Knowledge of all media types
- Solid understanding of research tools
- Strong organizational, interpersonal, and managerial skills
- Knowledge of buying, planning, client presentation and reporting
- Superior written and verbal communication and presentation skills
- Ability to work successfully with teams, handling multiple projects and meeting tight deadlines under pressure
- Demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
- Superior analytical abilities and quantitative skills, including math proficiency
- Ability to effectively utilize media research and reporting resources
- Technical proficiency, particularly with media systems and MS Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
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!
