Director, Business Leadership

About Us 

Initiative unlocks business growth for the world’s most ambitious brands. We believe in the power of media to reshape our industry and orchestrate a brand’s entire consumer experience, by balancing both what unites people and what makes them different.  

When brands unite people in culture, they build Fame, and when brands connect individuals to their unique journeys, they build customer Flow.  

Media responsibility is at the forefront of everything we do, whether it’s creating media plans that reflect the diversity of our communities, promote brand safety, and foster sustainability.  

Our agency celebrates diversity in an inclusive environment where all of our 6,000+ strong talent across 90+ markets feel seen, heard, and valued. Our vision is to create not only a better media company, but also a better media industry, and maybe even a better world.  

Role Description 

As Director you will be the day to day lead across two of our top UK clients, supporting the Group Director. We are looking for people who enjoy the art of business leadership; working day to day with clients to improve outcomes for their business and ours. Someone who prides themselves on assembling and managing high performing teams to deliver demonstrable outcomes for our clients. We want candidates who have a POV on how to improve these outcomes and to feel empowered to work with our clients to act in their best interests and to advocate for what they think will be beneficial (versus waiting for instruction). Highly organised and with a keen eye for detail, this is a role for people who want to be future leaders of businesses and agencies. 

Key Responsibilities

The Business Leadership craft at Initiative is focused on three core areas of competency; Client partnership, commercial growth and team orchestration (orchestrating both the structures and ways of working of the team that works across your client business but also of the ways of working with and utilisation of our wider group capabilities and talents (across Mediabrands and IPG). 
 
You are responsible for the quality of our work output, the client relationship (measured through a client referral rating surveyed every 4 months) and the commercial health of the accounts you work on. Your Group Director will provide support and guidance in each of these areas but you will be expected to manage the delivery successfully day to day and to provide your input and perspective on how to improve all areas. 

Client 

• Day to day client leader and advisor 

• Actively lead the team to deliver brilliant work and flawless execution, ensuring positive client satisfaction scores 

• Leadership and authoring of all client proposals, recommendations, and points of view 

• Ensure all client reporting, budget management, authorization and billing needs are met in a timely and accurate fashion 

• Responsible for ensuring a positive relationship between clients and Strategy, Design, Partnerships and SBU leads on your group of accounts 

• Astute listener and learning to drive the right solutions 

• Agitator / driver to push clients to innovate rather than stagnate 

• Ready to professionally push back where necessary to effectively manage client expectations, agency resources and deadlines 

• Deepen relationships and craft collaborative partnership with clients’ partners agencies 
• Contribute to client QBR meetings 

Internal 

• Participate in all client briefings, clearly articulate client needs and objectives to the integrated Strategy, Communications Design and Partnership leads 

• Apply a client lens to all areas of Initiative product, ensuring solutions developed are business-appropriate and meet agreed-upon KPIs 

• Regularly educate your team and Initiative leadership on your clients’ business, culture and industry 

• Involve leadership in key client engagements 

• Partner with discipline leaders to stay informed and aware of new developments internally and externally 

• Promote an open working environment where opinions, views and ideas can be shared 

• Develop your client advice and management team through performance management and giving consistent feedback 
• Partner with the discipline leaders (e.g., Strategy, Communications Design, Partnerships, Analytics) and Leadership, to provide team members with well-rounded performance goals, evaluations and career paths 

Commercial 

• Ensure over delivery of all agreed-upon performance KPI’s 

• Actively track and manage team staffing and resource allocation 

• Regularly update Leadership on utilization, profitability, fees, and scope of work compliance 

• Seek out opportunities to grow existing business and drive organic growth across group of accounts, through Initiative’s services as well as those of Mediabrands’ and IPG partner agencies 
• Ensure all annual financial goals/targets are met across Initiative and Mediabrands SBU’s 

New Business 

• Participate in new business when required – either on prospective clients or organically from your own group of clients 

Desired Skills & Experience

• You are an experienced account leader with experience across both offline and online media channels. 

• Previous experience managing and motivating multi-disciplinary teams within an agency. 

• You are experienced in implementing financial processes, quality assurance and effective ways of working. 

• You are a strong communicator and you thrive building great relationships with clients.  

• Proven ability to develop and maintain strong professional relationships with clients, colleagues and vendors. 

• Extensive experience in Marketing and/or Advertising and Media 

Employee Transparency 

At IPG Mediabrands, we celebrate differences and believe this makes us stronger. IPG Mediabrands are an equal-opportunity employer 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 Ninette 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!