Group Director, Strategy Freelance

IPG Mediabrands

Group Strategy Director

DISCIPLINE – STRATEGY

Above all else, Initiative’s Strategists take the Initiative.

This team generate smart and strategic thinking that inspire and inform the conditions needed for each brand to grow. They understand the relationship between Fame and Flow and do not classify themselves as an either-or type Strategist. To succeed at Initiative, understanding the digital landscape and performance aspects which heavily influence ‘Flow’ are as well versed as their big, broadcast, fame-building thinking.

Future-focused and independent, Strategists sit as an entrepreneurial, agile unit of consumer, creative, digital and analytical experts who are cast and deployed according to the brief and skillset vs. Client. They take a holistic view to drive smarter, better and broader ‘media’ thinking that generates more interesting and rich territories for a brand to explore. They work in creative collaboration with all teams – Client Advice, Communications Design and Partnerships – to inspire and inform the creation and design of culturally led brand experiences.

On a Client Brief or RFP, Initiative Strategists are:

• The Guardians of Growth – they understand how to utilise tools, systems and data to identify areas of growth for a brand that help set the direction of travel for the response to brief.
• Experts in audience – they understand that an audience strategy requires deep understanding of the brand’s growth goals, along with consumer and cultural insight. They are also constantly raising the bar for how we can help clients understand their consumer in new and interesting ways.
• Relentless in their pursuit of meaningful insight – they understand the tension an insight needs to deliver; the moment of provocation to inspire our clients and have them lean in. They also can distinguish when different types of insight are required – for example: behavioral vs media to add the most value in cross-functional or multi-agency scenarios.
• Fluent in Full Funnel marketing – With budgets shifting toward addressable media, it is an imperative Initiative Strategists are confident in speaking both Brand and Performance.
• Data led Storytellers – Ability to distil complex data into clear and actionable insights that drive tangible results for the business and guide strategic thinking.
• The Leaders of the Communications platform which sets the clear direction for Communications Design and employs Fame and Flow principles that will follow through into the delivery of a plan.
• Protectors of the Strategy – While our process inevitably works its way through different teams through to activation, Initiative strategists are not hands off. They are there to ensure the strategic direction maintains its integrity and have an active role in PCAs to ensure end to end involvement.

Outside of a brief/RFP Response, Initiative Strategists are:

• Strategic businesses consult to our clients well beyond media – this is exhibited through their confidence and expertise in data and technology, and the application of our craft to their broader business challenges.
• Growth minded in every way – We don’t wait for briefs; we get close enough to our clients to understand the nuance of their business challenges and proactively go to them with opportunities and areas they should be thinking about.
• Thematic Thinkers – Initiative Strategists look beyond their patch to understand the themes multiple clients are facing and get a head start on problem solving, solution finding and optimising work streams to maximum effect across the client portfolio.
• Actively curious in our industry and motivated to share findings with the wider agency group to help propel fresh thinking and keep everyone abreast of trends.
• Owners of thought leadership – from conception to delivery, constantly pushing the boundaries for the most innovative ways to experience it, ie. They think beyond the white paper.

ROLE OVERVIEW: GROUP STRATEGY DIRECTOR, UK

As Group Strategy Director, you are a senior member of the Strategy team with reporting lines into the UK Head of Strategy and UK Chief Strategy Officer. You will be responsible for the creation of strategic work crafted specifically for key clients and new business pitches to help them achieve their ambitious goals. Your responsibilities will be as below:

Client

• Your primary responsibility is to author trailblazing strategic work clients that delivers on Fame and Flow principles. This includes uncovering new insight, translating these into unique strategic platforms that work full funnel, and creating award winning media campaigns.
• Maintaining excellent client relationships reflected in high TRR scores.
• Demonstrating understanding of the clients’ key business challenges across yearly planning, brief response, and tailored thought leadership.
• Proactively finding ways to drive our clients’ businesses forward beyond the briefs received.
• Being confident in speaking to all elements of full funnel marketing and media considerations
• Contributing to QBRs (or equivalent)

Internal

• You will be a sparring partner to our senior Comms Design practitioners – making sure that our product delivers on brilliant strategy through to game changing execution. This includes quality controlling the work from strategy to ensure it is both actionable for planners and imaginative in its potential to deliver big ideas and executions.
• Bring fresh thinking and inspiration into the Strategic Process to help the teams springboard to better Strategic thinking
• Drive usage of the Fame and Flow Process and Tools to help teams find new insights that unlock growth
• Contribute to training material for all members of teams and cross-craft where necessary
• Partner with Analytics to develop new tools, inputting into the development of new and cutting edge proprietary planning, research and reporting models for Initiative
• You will be responsible for supporting the landing and interpretation of global product and strategic tools roll out. This includes delivering training to the UK Initiative teams where needed and identifying gaps in knowledge. The immediate priority for this is landing and ensuring end-to-end application of Fame and Flow, particularly training in areas where teams need focus and upskill.

Commercial:

• You will be expected to lead appropriate new business pitches and any significant ad-hoc projects that require senior strategic leadership.
• Proactively work with all partners (vendors, academic institutions, creative consultancies) to unlock new growth opportunities for the client and/or the agency

Prioritization:

• 65% Client
• 25% New business / Ad-hoc projects
• 10% Thought leadership content pieces

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

• Experience in integrated planning in a strategic communications role (global or local)
• Demonstrable experience on full-funnel client strategy
• Ability to think differently: creative and adaptive, entrepreneurial, independently minded; deeply immersed in cultural understanding and driven by a desire to know more the world / to better understand people’s motivations and behaviours in the shifting landscape

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:

• Unlimited paid annual leave. 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!

Employee Transparency

At Mediabrands and Kinesso, we celebrate difference and believe this makes us stronger. Mediabrands and Kinesso are equal opportunity employers and 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 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.