Manager Strategy-IPG Mediabrands
A Strategy Manager is a key agent in the development of recommendations that solve client media and comms challenges. You will work on a major multi-national client, working in technology, B2B marketing, e-commerce and even more. You will strive to steward the development outstanding communications strategies, in collaboration with the Audience and Analytics Unit and other disciplines, that are recognized through awards, client satisfaction scores and tangible examples of innovation.
You’ll be a main source of audience and cultural research; synthesizing key cultural, consumer and category intelligence to inform the design of strategic culture-first communications plans that deliver against our clients’ business objectives. You will become more comfortable with data, using syndicated tools, access to our premium tools and your nose for investigation to uncover a-ha insights and pointed strategic direction.
You have a passion for people, brands and creativity and a curiosity for culture and trends in every sense. You need to be creative brain and social anthropologist all at once – driven by the desire to understand the changing world and people’s shifting motivations and behaviors. You want to use your skills to help build brands with real significance; brands that shape and move with culture.
You’ll report to & work closely with the Strategy Associate Director to develop sound strategic responses that result in positive outcomes for our clients’ businesses. This role is for a collaborator – not afraid to take on more responsibility, present to clients, speak truth to power and manage up. You’re role is to ensure that strategy informs every element of the agency’s output on certain briefs; Initiative functions as an eco-system of equally important crafts and Strategists have to work with all of them, helping achieve strategic excellence in every output – you need to love working with others, in-person and virtually, and be able to listen to and understands the needs of other specialisms.
Creative thinking, proactivity and solid writing skills are critical in succeeding – much of the work is delivered in narrative formats, meaning confidence with no-nonsense storytelling is key. However, you’ll also present – becoming an expert over time with the support of your managers and peers.
You will work directly with the Head of Strategy and Group Directors; they will help to develop your skills to enable you to lead the work in time. The culture of this team is one of kindness, consideration for one another and constant improvement – your voice will be heard and you will be given every opportunity to thrive in a way that respects a harmonious work-life balance. One more thing! Strategy is the agency’s creative thinking powerhouse, leading internal brainstorms and helping write partner briefs – both being the catalyst for big ideas and ambitious award-winning work and crafting the award entries themselves!
Key Responsibilities
Working with clients
· Demonstrate an expert understanding of the clients’ business and the challenges they face
· Be a valuable contributor to client meetings, providing research, insight and understanding of key consumer behaviors & motivations/mindsets
· Arm the client team with knowledge & expertise to speak confidently about the strategic direction (e.g. new audience definition) and industry trends
· Work with the Analytics team to identify high value audiences, investigate them through the data, and adapt Initiative tools and resources to a client’s specific needs
· Research and write compelling POVs on topics of strategic importance to client business, from video gaming to leading edge technology or ComplexCon
· Collaborate with all functions and departments to deliver strategies rooted in data and insight that excel against client KPIs.
Internal
· Be the in-house expert on consumers and culture
· Use qualitative and quantitative research to develop insights into the consumers, culture and their connection to the brand and category
· Clearly demonstrate how these research insights inform strategies that answer business needs
· Use data, insight and storytelling to translate complex concepts into simple, powerful narratives
· Create and lead internal strategy idea workshops (demonstrating understanding the real business challenge, audience/targeting, insight generation, and innovation)
· Create and lead internal training sessions on core tools/processes, educating other disciplines (e.g. CD or Partnerships) in the adoption of insights, implications, and targeting
· Write awards submission & enter work into a competition (e.g. Young Lions)
· Contribute to Agency & Client revenue opportunities and new business pitches
Desired Skills & Experience
Education:
· Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent work experience
Work Experience:
· 2-4 years in a strategy/planning role in a media, creative, innovation or communications discipline (e.g. digital, content, invention, social, activation)
Skills:
– Strong knowledge of media and communications
– Excellent written and oral communication skills
– Proficient in all MS Office products (Excel) and Syndicated Research Tools
– Empathy, esteem and openness to new ideas and different points of view.
#LI-DNI
Wage and Benefits
We offer a Total Rewards package that includes medical and dental coverage, 401(k) plans, flex spending, life insurance, disability, employee discount program, employee stock purchase program and paid family benefits to support you and your family. To give you the ability to better meet your personal needs, and in support of your physical and emotional well-being, you will receive discretionary time off days and company-wide Appreciation Weeks and Wellness Days.
We also offer a competitive Total Compensation package, including a competitive salary and eligibility for an annual discretionary incentive award or a relevant incentive award.
The salary range for this position is $85,000 to $100,000. Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position, market considerations, budgetary considerations, tenure and standing with the Company (applicable to current employees), as well as the employee’s/applicant’s skill set, level of experience, and qualifications.
Employment Transparency
It is the policy of Mediabrands, division of the Interpublic group, to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. The job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and other job functions are subject to modification. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
For applicants to jobs in the United States: In compliance with the current Americans with Disabilities Act and state and local laws, if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position with Mediabrands, please email accommodation@mbww.com.
About Us
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 are the world’s fastest growing media agency built upon the strongest strategic capability of any agency in the market. Core to this strategic proposition is the belief that the faster a brand can move through culture the more relevant it can become.We call this Cultural Velocity ™.Our process is designed to create ideas that move through culture through unique insight, market leading analytics and strategic media brilliance.Our new world model is comprised of craft centers – Client Advice and Management, Strategy, Communications Design, Partnership and Culture, Insights & Analytics.