At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape innovative media strategies for global brands and enhance consumer experiences.
- Company: Join Dentsu, a leading global media agency with a focus on creativity and collaboration.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, health perks, and a supportive environment that values your well-being.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that champions inclusion and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by turning insights into actionable strategies for top brands like HEINEKEN.
- Qualifications: Experience in media planning and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 58500 - 71500 £ per year.
Shape future-facing, "through-the-line" media strategies for global clients, turning audience insight and business intelligence into consistent, locally relevant plans.
About CARAT: As a global media buying agency, we put people at the centre of everything we do, identifying and optimising audiences to deliver client outcomes. We are experience designers, not simply media planners. We build winning experiences by going deeper into consumer empathy and further into the possibilities of what's next in media and beyond.
Purpose of the Role: The Strategy Director will work within the Carat Global strategy team, supporting Strategy Partners and the Senior Strategy Partner on the global HEINEKEN account. You will act as a strategic partner to central brand and media teams, developing future-facing "through-the-line" communications strategy and plans, contribute to thought leadership, and shape best practices for a diverse range of local markets. Combining strategic craft, creative problem-solving, and commercial understanding, you will help elevate the role of through-the-line communications strategy and planning within HEINEKEN's wider business agendas.
What You’ll Do:
- Build strong relationships with day-to-day global clients, helping them identify and understand the key issues facing their brands.
- Develop high-quality through-the-line responses and guidance for strategic and initiative briefs, ensuring strong thinking, global coherence, and allow for appropriate local nuance.
- Advise central brand and Media teams, embedding best-in-class strategic and media-planning into global guidance.
- Collaborate closely with strategy and planning leaders in local markets to strengthen strategy, media planning and implementation.
- Apply audience insights and dentsu's through-the-line planning tools to develop business-outcome-focused strategies across the media ecosystem.
- Develop creative ideas, (media) partnerships, and innovations based on communications strategy, working across dentsu specialisms and teams.
- Use econometrics, business analytics, and campaign and competitive learnings to shape and refine implementation guidelines.
- Contribute to client thought leadership that connects emerging media and marketing ideas with real-world commercial impact.
- Support wider Carat Global strategy initiatives across new business, product development and training.
How You’ll Succeed:
- Deliver clear, compelling, through-the-line strategies and plans that turn consumer and business insight into actionable communications plans.
- Strengthen Carat's role as a trusted strategic partner to global clients and their local markets.
- Bring an informed perspective to client conversations and demonstrate the value of media within the integrated communications mix.
- Create guidance that balances global consistency with the needs and nuances of individual markets.
- Build productive collaboration across client, agency, specialist and partner teams.
- Identify opportunities to use dentsu's capabilities and product pipeline to support client outcomes and incremental business growth.
- Share knowledge and proactively support strategic talent across accounts and markets.
What You’ll Bring - Essential Skills:
- Deep knowledge of media and communications planning processes, including insight and planning tools.
- A proven ability to turn cultural, consumer, and business insights into effective communications strategies.
- Strong understanding of how media delivers business value and improves the consumer experience.
- Deep working knowledge of CCS or equivalent audience insight platforms and planning tools.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present strategic and innovative ideas clearly.
- Experience developing marketing and communications strategies for multi-market clients.
- The ability to align agency, client, and partner stakeholders behind a strategy while accommodating local market nuances.
- Experience advising senior clients on the strategic direction and business value of their communications.
What We Offer: From company-funded Private Medical Insurance, a 24/7 Virtual GP and a generous sick-pay policy, to wellbeing days, volunteering time, flexible bank-holiday swaps and great everyday perks like retail discounts, gym access and tech schemes - we make it easier to live well, not just work well.
Our employee-led resource groups have helped shape policies that genuinely matter: enhanced maternity, paternity and carers leave, extended sick leave, menopause and baby-loss support, plus 10 fertility treatment days. Combined with life assurance, income protection, financial education tools and flexible savings options, you'll find a workplace that invests in you - your health, your family, your future.
About Dentsu: Dentsu is an integrated growth and transformation partner to the world's leading organisations. Founded in 1901 in Tokyo, Japan, and now operating in approximately 120 countries and regions, we bring together the power of a global network of leadership brands to deliver impactful, end-to-end growth solutions.
Through our client promise, Innovating to Impact, we drive growth through integrated services across Media, Customer Experience Management (CXM), and Creative. Our business transformation (BX) mindset, combined with a focus on experience transformation (EX), drives sustainable growth for brands, people, and society.
Inclusion and Diversity: At Dentsu, we embrace diversity and inclusion, valuing the unique perspectives and contributions of every individual. We believe that diversity fuels creativity and innovation, benefiting our employees, partners, and communities. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or any other protected characteristic.
Beyond recruitment, we strive to create an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. We recognize the importance of work-life balance and are open to discussing flexible working arrangements for all roles.
Media Strategy Director employer: Carat
At Dentsu, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises employee well-being and growth. Our London office is not just a workplace; it's a community where innovative ideas flourish, supported by comprehensive benefits like private medical insurance, flexible working arrangements, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Join us to lead impactful media strategies for international brands while enjoying a fulfilling career that values your contributions and personal development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Media Strategy Director
✨Show Your Creative Side
In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for Carat and show them what you can bring to the table.
✨Engage in Marketing Communities
Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like Carat are looking for.
✨Leverage Social Media
Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with Carat on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.
✨Attend Industry Events
Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at Carat. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Media Strategy Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit Carat. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.
Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.
Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!
Demonstrate Your Understanding of Carat:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about Carat’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Carat
✨Showcase Your Creative Campaigns
Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at Carat will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.
✨Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out
If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
At Carat, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing
As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.
