Description

Wavemaker positively provokes growth for clients by reshaping consumer decision-making and experiences through media, content, and technology. Our name is both our mission and our method. We do our best work for brave brands and people who relish being challenged to go further and faster, together.

Role Summary & Impact

As an Associate Director of Strategy, you will be an integral and supporting member of media strategy, product, and campaign management. You will be fully embedded in each client team and involved from the earliest stages of the planning process through campaign execution and measurement. You will also interface with mid-level executives at our clients as well as the full team within the agency.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute significantly to the development of communications strategies that activate consumer insights, drive innovation for clients and provide structure for brand channel presence/priorities.
• Exhibit understanding and actively contributes strategic input/product into the total channel planning process.
• Distill client briefs and translates them into an insights-led media strategy and communication brief with clear media objectives.
• Work collaboratively with the Insights team to analyze client business situations and identify key objectives for communications.
• Support the development of and identify key roles for media; help define how media should complement and connect with other marketing activities.
• Identify areas for continuous innovation of the agency's product ensuring the use of strategy and insights in a coordinated manner working towards the same goals.
• Partner with Ideas and Planning team throughout the plan build, ensuring that the strategy is inspiring and actionable.
• Partner with Accountability and Performance group to ensure appropriate measurement plans are in place and executed flawlessly.
• Collaborate with partner agencies to integrate messaging and creative campaigns into overall media/communications plans.
• Develop strategic intelligence via keeping abreast of industry developments, macro and consumer trends, technology (tablet, other tech devices), etc.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in advertising, marketing, business administration, and communications; OR equivalent professional work experience.
• 5+ years overall industry experience, at least 1-2 in strategic capacity
• Strong knowledge of client's business, competition, and latest industry news and trends.
• Understanding of the principles of media and able to think across the whole media mix, marketing and advertising, as well as an understanding of media concepts and terms, creative and budget requirements.
• Understanding of media data sources and research tools in terms of what is measured, the method and the information reported.
• Detail-oriented, resourceful and self-motivated. Ability to manage multiple projects and requests from numerous groups
• Show appropriate time management skills, including self-initiation in downtime and completion of projects on time.
• Active/passionate interest in advertising/media strategy, technology, popular culture, current events and their subsequent impact on business.
• Superior communication skills - written and presentation, articulate in dialogue.
• Resilience, smart and creative thinking and an innovative outlook.
• Influence and persuasive skills, collaborative and able to work well with a variety of disciplines and personality types.

Life at GroupM

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we're just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. GroupM employees can tap into the global GroupM & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.

GroupM is WPP's media investment group and the world's leading media investment company with a mission to shape the next era of media where advertising works better for people. The company is responsible for more than $60 billion in annual media investment, as measured by the independent research bureau COMvergence. Through its global agencies Mindshare, Wavemaker, EssenceMediacom, and T&Pm, and cross-channel performance (GroupM Nexus), data (Choreograph), entertainment (GroupM Motion Entertainment) and investment solutions, GroupM leverages a unique combination of global scale, expertise, and innovation to generate sustained value for clients wherever they do business. Discover more at www.groupm.com.

GroupM provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race; color; sex; gender identity; sexual orientation; religious practices and observances; national origin; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; status as a protected veteran or spouse/family member of a protected veteran; or disability.

GroupM is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with GroupM, please send an e-mail to GroupM Leave Administration at [email protected] or call ([redacted] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

The base salary for this position at the time of this posting may range from $75,000 to $180,000. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including business needs, experience, level of responsibility and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, please visit https://www.wpp.com/people/wellbeing/benefits-at-wpp-in-the-us for more details.