OUR COMPANY

We are dynamic, empowered and entrepreneurial.

We pride ourselves in being an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion is at the heart of what we believe in. IPG Mediabrands are committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce and welcome applications regardless of gender identity, race, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion or belief.

Initiative is different to other media agencies.

We are not trapped by a legacy structure primarily centred 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 centres” – Client Advice and Management, Strategy, Communications Design and Partnerships.

Here is a brief description of each centre.

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 specialised 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 creates 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 behaviour 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 centre 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 BEHAVIOURS

Everyone at the company is encouraged to Take The Initiative in their day to day work. Key behaviours we adhere to are:

1. The ability to assess and initiate things independently
2. The power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do

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 L&D to enhance and accelerate your career – we expect you to prioritize training and actively participate.

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:

• Marketplace landscape experts internally and with clients
• All TV, in-cinema, OTT and other video media partner evaluation, selection and recommendations leveraging strategic / consumer insights, marketplace insights, and Initiative’s proprietary partner selection data and toolsets
• Strategic 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: DIGITAL MANAGER UK, PARTNERSHIPS

The Digital Manager, Partnerships is the base-level management role on the Partnerships team, with responsibilities including managing all national digital campaigns, negotiating buys, checking preliminary and final post buy delivery, and tracking performance. Managers assist with the management of Partnerships team – developing their skills, evaluating their performance, and managing their growth.  The individual is tasked with developing and maintaining strong client relationships.   The Manager will drive the team to explore and identify non-traditional partnerships opportunities. This is critical to their development and the success of the Partnerships division. The Digital Manager of Partnerships will need to be able to identify partnership opportunities that can exist outside of the standard paid media environments and effectively maximize communication across owned and earned media platforms as well.

• Specific expertise in advertising data & the tech space
• Detailed knowledge of audience 1^st approach
• Experience in brand / reputational marketing – if asked “name a brand who has demonstrated best practice storytelling and why?”, you can provide a detailed answer/debate
• Nice to have but not essential – political experience / background

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Client

• Operate as the back up to the Director relating to client relationships
• Collaborate with Comms Design, Analytics and Client Advice and Management to ensure alignment with and delivery against client KPI’s
• Update status documents for client meetings
• Prepare e-mails recommendations, buy presentations and present to clients
• Write POVs for targeted opportunities on an on-going basis for clients to further drive their business
• Stay knowledgeable about client’s business and its competitors to determine sufficient advertising and media needs and ensure plans are properly executed and delivered

Internal

• Direct the group (Negotiators, Associates) in the day-to-day activities and provide direction
• Provide superior negotiations delivering the maximum strategic value and efficiency, using IPGMB benchmarking capabilities to ensure best-in-class rates and efficiency
• Oversee the execution of media negotiations
• Collaborate with media partners to develop promotional and other amplification opportunities to enhance each investment
• Accountable for AV plan output timeliness, accuracy, and overall excellence
• Responsible for smooth running of day-to-day activities
• Prepare and deliver proposals to various audiences
• Work with internal SBU stakeholders where appropriate, working effectively and collaboratively
• Maintain up to the minute knowledge of all programming trends, marketplace conditions and economic indicators that impact TV and Video Investment
• Train negotiators and associates in all the nuances of negotiation as well as all Nielsen services and how to use them
• Provide senior-level guidance and review on schedules, research, POV’s, and client presentations to ensure quality and client-readiness

Commercial

• Develop and maintain media partner relationships
• Negotiate pricing that reflects efficiencies, clients objectives
• Ensure understanding of MAGNA negotiation priorities

Prioritization:

• 20% Client
• 80% Internal

Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s):

Client

• Manager is seen by client as key liaison for marketplace intelligence, negotiation and partnership needs
• Ability to successfully manage team’s response to client requests and help guide and steward process and plan changes
• Ability to lead team in developing buys that are strategic, deliver on client objectives and meet goals

Internal

• Successful stewardship of all work done by Negotiators, Sr Negotiators and Associates
• Participates in agency and external personal growth & education initiatives
• Seen by internal stakeholders as first level of “management” for the team
• Adherence to / use of agency processes and tools
• Positive collaboration partner to MB SBU's
• Ability to ensure proper delegation and workflow for team on all projects
• Commercial
• Supports and delivers on MAGNA agency-wide media partnership targets
• Ensures and advocates for agency partner relationships
• Seeks ways to deliver best in class pricing through strategic negotiations

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience of buying network, cable, and syndication with Media companies or within the Media Industry
• Prior experience in supervising a team-preferred
• Proficiency with Microsoft Desktop software, specifically Excel and Word, PowerPoint preferred
• Proficient with MBox or equivalent Inventory Management system
• Knowledge and understanding of Nielsen services
• Demonstrated ability to think and execute “out of the box” ideas
• Strong developed relationships with the Networks
• Ability to work successfully within a team, handling multiple projects and meeting tight deadlines under pressure
• Strong analytical abilities and quantitative skills, including math proficiency
• Ability to effectively utilize media research and reporting resources

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 Jess.Richardson@mbww.com 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!