Head of Business Growth & Marketing (Mat Cover)

The Local Growth Director is responsible for amplifying an accountable Growth practice and discipline in the country. S/He articulates the New Business strategy and executes it, managing prospecting efforts and leading local pitches.

ABOUT HAVAS

Havas Media Network is one of the largest communications groups worldwide, working with brands like Domino’s, Ocado, Redbull, Bumble, Bethesda, Kia, BBC, Starbucks, Maersk, and British Red Cross. Our mission is to make a meaningful difference to brands, businesses, and lives. We deliver meaningful media experiences across our five practices within the network, including:

• Arena Media: Creating meaningful moments in culture.
• Havas Media: Delivering meaningful outcomes through media.
• Havas Market: Building limitless performance.

THE ROLE

We are seeking maternity cover for the Head of Growth and Marketing. This senior leadership role is responsible for driving agency growth through strategic new business acquisition and developing growth marketing and prospecting strategies for each media brand. You will lead the new business and marketing teams, including an in-house creative team, fostering a proactive, results-oriented culture. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with exceptional leadership and communication skills.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strategic Growth Planning & Implementation: Implement growth strategies for each media agency, ensuring collaboration across all teams—Marketing, Communication, New Business, and Design.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with senior management and cross-functional teams to foster collaboration on growth initiatives and media pitches.
• Influencing Leadership: Use influencing skills to align diverse teams and stakeholders, ensuring buy-in and active participation.
• Organisational Excellence: Establish effective processes to prioritize initiatives, manage resources, and track progress toward growth goals, ensuring accountability.
• Problem Solving & Decision Making: Demonstrate excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective Communication: Deliver pitches and presentations effectively to diverse audiences.
• Performance Measurement: Define KPIs to measure the success of growth strategies.
• Team Leadership & Development: Lead and mentor a high-performing growth team, fostering innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

WHAT ELSE

• Accountable for all new business pitches across Havas Media Network.
• Manage a team of 11, supporting talent development.
• Oversee budgets, track wins, and review performance metrics.
• Coordinate with the Chief Growth Officer on new initiatives.
• Manage end-to-end new business processes, from RFI/RFP responses to pitch execution.
• Ensure standards are maintained throughout client acquisition processes.
• Serve as the first point of contact for prospective clients, understanding their needs and presenting to the senior team.

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Minimum 10 years as a New Business/Marketing Director with proven growth-driving skills.
• Expertise in managing pitches, RFIs, and RFPs.
• Experience designing and implementing growth and marketing strategies.
• Self-starter capable of working independently across teams.
• Strong writing skills with high-quality work samples.
• Ability to manage multiple projects efficiently and meet deadlines.

Equal Opportunity Statement: We are committed to offering equal opportunities and have zero tolerance for discrimination. We welcome applicants regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, disability, or other factors unrelated to job performance.