Connections Director

WHAT WE NEED FROM EVERYONE:

Live our values & do the brave thing.

Our Values: Good Enough is Not Enough. Grab an Oar. Be More Human. Play Like a Pirate.

Doing the brave thing is about courage. It’s about never being a spectator. Speaking up with clarity and conviction and kindness. Not hedging our points-of-view with clients or each other. Saying what we think when it’s in the best interest of the idea or the people, even if it’s uncomfortable. Being willing to take smart risks. Making tough decisions without agonizing. And, being transparent and vulnerable in search of the best. This is the expectation for all of us. In turn, we commit to perpetuating a culture where bravery is rewarded and support is always within reach.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU:

• Navigate complex business challenges: You help orchestrate multi-tiered, multi-objective, multi-client, multi-agency with a clear vision that Bring Clarity to Chaos: You work with internal discipline leads to orchestrate a clear vision for complex multi-tiered, multi-agency, multi-objective marketing efforts. You oversee work for multiple clients, actively working to provide cohesion to the IAT processes and jumping in at times of disorder to identify best ways forward.
• Craft exceptional Connections strategies: You bring innovative, fresh connections thinking to our creative and strategy teams. You are able to identify key communication tasks and develop relevant Connections ideas that come to life in innovative ways. You are able to co-create inspiring, informative briefs for our creative teams, in collaboration with our strategy & data partners. 
• Guide creative: You recommend the best set of creative deliverables to fulfill objectives, adjusted to budgets, time and resource limitations. You consult on prioritization of assets and collaborate with media partners to ensure consistency across media plans. You provide channel and platform-specific best practices and best-in-class examples for creative inspiration.
• Grow the team & practice: You help build the Connections team and discipline, pushing the department to become stronger in our thinking and our craft. You lead internal and external workshares to expand opportunities for the team. You play a critical role in new business pitches. 
• Provide POVs in a quick, efficient manner: You are not intimidated by developing time-sensitive POVs on media and marketing tactics, collaborating with cross-functional teams and partner agencies when necessary.
• Distill information into key themes and takeaways: You are comfortable using 3rd party research tools and able to refine complex information and data into key takeaways and/or compelling hypotheses. You are able to prepare and give presentations on findings & recommendations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Actively contribute and bring your voice to the table: You be leading and contributing to team brainstorms and workshops. You unafraid to voice your opinions and raise a hand if you anticipate any issues.

WHAT SETS YOU APART:

• Resourceful & Solution-oriented: You have a high Say-Do ratio. You are able to take feedback from external and internal collaborators and craft the best way forward. You aren’t afraid to step up in times of ambiguity and ask questions to uncover the info you need to get tasks done.
• Brave Change Agent: You are an enemy of the status quo who wants to reinvent, reimagine, and do work that gets noticed, loved, and envied. You know that a rebellious spirit and a healthy skepticism of the status quo are necessary conditions for innovation and change. You use frameworks to guide your work but are able to adjust your thinking & process based on specific goals at hand.
• Radical Collaborator: You welcome collaboration and POVs from others. You are able to work with our amazing strategic apparatus (strategy, data, social) to push and enhance your Connections thinking.
• Vision: You know how to translate your unique professional and lived experience into bold, brave strategic Connections thinking that pushes boundaries and creates positive discomfort. You bring a point of view and the drive and persuasion to welcome others into it.
• Cultural Provocateur: You are an endlessly curious culture seeker who can bring fresh, unexpected cultural thinking to the work we do. You stay on top of industry standards and new media opportunities to consult on new ways to connect with our audience.
• Self-Starter: You are proactive about personal development and look for opportunities to grow & lead.
• People Champion: You are an unselfish leader who thinks about the welfare and growth of the team, advocates relentlessly to ensure they have what they need to succeed and be fulfilled and understands how to provide our people with the opportunities and stretch moments to expand their strategic horizons and do their best work (a crafter, not a cloner).

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 10+ years of experience in media planning or communications planning for at least 2 of the following categories: Entertainment, Food/Beverage/CPG, Finance, B2B, Tech, Travel, Healthcare, Home Improvement
• Track record of exceptional Connections strategy outputs, developing compelling, focused briefs and strategic frameworks for different needs & across all channels. Ability to own and lead internal and external workshops and brainstorms. Ability to convert new business pitches into wins, inclusive of Connections opportunities.
• Strategic client partner and a fearless team leader. Experience managing across multiple clients and teams. Ability to build strong relationships across agency leads and create growth opportunities for Connections. Ability to harness your influence to sell-in and defend work, pushing creative work to be its very best. then harness your influence to sell-in and defend that creative work and push for it to be its very best. Prior experience working closely with VP/director level clients within brand/marketing, consumer insights, and innovation is valuable, c-suite is a bonus.
• Ability to collaborate with multiple IAT agencies, publishers, and across internal departments. Preferred experience leading and/or collaborating with 3+ IAT agencies simultaneously.
• Ability to independently utilize research tools including Commspoint, Pathmatics, Nielsen AdIntel, Simmons, GWI
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and written communication skills. Ability to write clear POV’s, client-ready communication, and presentations.
• Strong understanding of Paid Channels. You are articulate in all Paid Channels, including Paid Social, Paid Search, Programmatic, Partnerships, SEO, and Traditional Channels. Experience with Performance or Acquisition Marketing desired but not essential. Ability to develop strategic thinking across Paid, Owned and Earned media.
• An advertising, marketing, media and creative enthusiast with a passion for pop culture and data

All hires must be located in or willing to relocate to Los Angeles to work from our offices hybrid three days a week. 

The annual salary range for this role is $150,000- $200,000 and may vary depending on the candidate’s experience. Other compensation includes relocation costs, if applicable. Benefits for this role include health/vision/dental insurance, 401(k), stock purchase, vacation, sick and personal days, Also, you will be eligible (approximately thirty days after you commence employment) to participate in all disability, life, travel insurance plans and programs, retirement plans subject to the terms and conditions of such benefit plans. Please don’t let our posted ranges keep you from exploring this or any other exciting opportunities within TBWA.