Positions: Associate Director - Bupa & Quorn in London

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Agency: Initiative - United Kingdom Ref#: 22312 | Type of Contract: Regular

OUR COMPANY

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.

DISCIPLINE OVERVIEW: COMMUNICATIONS DESIGN

Communications design is the discipline and practice of crafting how a brand idea will be delivered through communications across an owned, earned and paid ecosystem in order to achieve a desired behavioral outcome. Initiative's Communications Design team is creating the future of planning. Borrowing skills from User Experience, Digital, Public Relations and Content, these media professionals are responsible for curating how people connect and participate with brands through culturally rich ideas. Instead of considering the experience of a brand in components (media/channel planning), Communications Designers think about brand experience in totality (ecosystem planning) ensuring every encounter is useful and impactful.

The Communications Design team dynamically brings brands to life through their actions. They are experts in consumer and communications behaviour, and how changes in behaviours are creating new opportunities for connection.

ROLE OVERVIEW: THE CLIENTS

This role is working on two of the most exciting accounts here at Initiative – Bupa and Quorn. Bupa Healthcare services is one of the largest clients within Initiative, they are a future facing digital client looking for us to show expert knowledge and leadership in how digital and technology can be used to complement & enhance comms design solutions. Bupa comprises six different business units, PMI (Private Media Insurance and what they are most famous for), SME, Dental, Care Homes and Clinics. The different BUs have very different requirements, from annual planning to monthly tactical campaigns, and the Comms Design Director plays a key role, working with the Strategy Lead, Comms Design and activation teams to develop through the funnel campaigns.

This role will be responsible for looking after PMI, Brand, Dental. We are very proud of the work we are doing with Bupa, winning a Cannes silver and multiple other gold and silver awards continuing our planning and association with Paralympics.

Quorn is a market leader in a fast‐growing, competitive category. This role will be responsible for creating sharp, strategic, and always evolving planning approaches across ATL channels, always on and e‐comm. This role reports into the Group Director of Comms Design and manages a Senior Planning Executive. You'll play a key role in shaping Quorn's annual strategy and driving best‐in‐class communications planning.

ROLE OVERVIEW: ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, COMMS DESIGN

As the Associate Director, Communications Design you are at the forefront of bringing the next generation of planning to life. You are responsible for ensuring the adoption and adherence of communications design principles across your client base, ensuring your team consistently delivers best in class idea‐led, culturally empowered communications ecosystems that drive effectiveness.

With experience gained in detailed media, digital, communications or experience design roles, you are an expert in the UK media landscape and what this offers us for ecosystem planning, and how channels and experiences work across paid, owned, earned and shared connections. You are considered a communications trailblazer amongst your peers & clients. When it comes to managing big projects you are a skilled & experienced conductor of stakeholders. Your experience allows you to think outside the box and if necessary re‐design the box altogether. These abilities enable you to orchestrate and oversee the design & produce market‐leading communication campaigns through ecosystem planning.

You have a demonstrable understanding of the digital landscape and how we can leverage digital‐centric product to deliver client needs. Your understanding goes beyond digital media planning and activation, stretching to understanding the benefits of a sophisticated data & tech infrastructure, and the importance of optimizing clients owned & earned assets to create a seamless brand experience (including but not limited to SEO, CRO, Content and Digital PR). This will enable you to have productive conversations with our clients regarding their digital marketing journey/transformation.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Client: Responsible for the development of the detailed communications plan to power the idea.
• Together with Group Director, CAM and Director, Communications Design present the Connections Design holistic approach to the relevant stakeholders.
• Manage the outputs of day‐to‐day requirements and workflow of the client.
• Responsible for presentation of client education program around Communications Design relevant marketplace trends.

Internal: Responsible for the management and training of design team in communications planning fundamentals. Responsible for the best practice application of planning approach including key tools and techniques to surface media and marketing intelligence and insights to produce an impactful, culturally rich communications plan across owned, earned, shared, paid (OESP). Write and manage outputs from RFP submissions from the Design discipline, in collaboration with Partnerships leads.

Commercial: Contributor to client Key Performance Indicator (KPI) delivery. Contributor to Specialty Business Units (SBU) growth and client profitability. New Business Contributor to new business as required.

KPI's:

• Client: Able to deliver best in class communications planning solutions that propel the communications idea.
• Able to effectively lead the management of the client's communications budget to successful outcomes.
• Accurately and effectively manage client's day‐to‐day communications design product requirements.

Internal: Able to successfully manage Communications Design planning outputs from team. Able to lead a response process, including briefing and partner selection together with Partnership colleagues. Able to deploy tools and techniques to deliver best in class communications planning outcomes across OESP.

Commercial: Contributor to specialist business revenue growth through planning outcomes. Contributor to organic revenue from communications design.

QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES:

• Ability to delegate and oversee direct reports.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain strong professional relationships with clients, colleagues and vendors.
• Excellent written, verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Strong time‐management and organizational skills.
• Required PC proficiency and solid working knowledge of Microsoft Office (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Proven problem solving ability.
• Ability to work successfully within a team, handling multiple projects and meeting tight deadlines under pressure.

Employee Transparency: At IPG Mediabrands, we celebrate differences and believe this makes us stronger. IPG Mediabrands are equal‐opportunity employers 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 Ninette.DeSousa@mbww.com 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).
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice car scheme.
• 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.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Free eye tests.
• Flexible benefits including Dental, Travel insurance, Cycle to Work, Gym Discounts and many more!