Retail Media Director

Company description

Who We Are in the UK? Spark Foundry, the Acceleration Agency. We help brands to identify, learn and respond to opportunities faster than the competition. Every client has an area of their business they need to accelerate, from short-term goals to long-term transformation. We’ve proven our approach during the most difficult year on record. Now we’re using it to provide a launchpad for their future. Come be an accelerator with us.

How we accelerate

• Planning: an approach that works in practice rather than theory, arming planners with the ability to create cutting edge campaigns
• Intelligence: a suite of tools that give definitive answers to big questions, and uncovers actionable insights about real people
• Trading: a model built on flexibility and trusted relationships, underpinned with bold guarantees
• Relationships: a culture of asking challenging questions to better understand the brief – we are not a ‘yes’ agency
• People: a strong history of recruiting talent from diverse backgrounds and accelerating their careers

Our Commitment

We are diverse through our experience, people and the clients we look after - and we celebrate that diversity. Our people hold us accountable to our beliefs and via regular surveys and our grass roots D&I team, The Collective, and internal next generation board, Firestarters, we hold regular events and work continually towards generating ideas, initiatives and educating our people to ensure we are a diverse and inclusive agency. As part of our dedication to create an inclusive and diverse workforce, Spark Foundry is committed to equal access to opportunity for people without regard to race, age, sex, disability, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion.

Publicis Commerce

As a global branded "wrapper" that delivers the strongest commerce talent, tech, and partnerships in markets, Publicis Commerce provides clients with end-to-end products and solutions that drive clear business outcomes. With a highly collaborative team of subject-matter experts, Publicis Commerce is a trusted partner to clients in navigating the complexities and emerging opportunities of the Commerce landscape, whether that be through marketplaces, eRetail or emerging direct-to-consumer channels. We have a flexible go-to-market strategy, whether we appear as Publicis Commerce to clients or through one of our many agencies within the Groupe. From strategy and organisational design to activation models, Publicis Commerce works across a number of exciting briefs, such as how clients can maximise visibility and sales on the digital shelf, best construct data-led relationships with retailers and how to effectively transform organisational structures. Our aim is not to talk to individual capabilities, instead focusing on driving client outcomes. There is significant momentum in the Groupe having acquired the retail media platform, Epsilon Retail Media, and the eRetail analytics platform, Profitero, alongside a genuine desire from clients to explore the opportunity the emerging landscape offers. We are placing a significant bet on Commerce within the Groupe on eRetail and are building a powerhouse of capability to deliver on this. We are on the hunt for interesting and ambitious people to join us on this journey.

Overview

The Retail Media Director will lead the strategic development and execution of retail media campaigns across multiple platforms, overseeing a team dedicated to driving eCommerce success for our clients. This role requires a seasoned professional with strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of retail marketing strategies, and the ability to foster client relationships while achieving revenue targets.

Responsibilities

• Lead client account growth through clear eCommerce strategies and innovation roadmaps, delivering against revenue and performance targets
• Set strategic direction for retail media activations across platforms including Amazon Advertising, Epsilon Retail Media and Criteo
• Own senior client relationships, ensuring alignment on objectives, KPIs and performance, and acting as the escalation point when needed
• Lead, coach and develop high-performing account teams, fostering collaboration, capability growth and continuous improvement
• Oversee campaign quality, performance and optimisation, translating data into actionable insights and improvement plans
• Manage financial governance across accounts, including budgets, reconciliations and billing, to maximise ROI
• Build strong partnerships with key retail and technology players and represent the agency externally to stay ahead of industry trends

Qualifications

We are seeking an enthusiastic and entrepreneurial candidate who thrives in dynamic environments. This role presents an exciting opportunity to join a young and vibrant agency environment, working on high-profile multi-million budget accounts within the retail media sector.

• Experience in retail media and/or agency environments, including hands‑on activation across platforms such as Amazon Advertising, Epsilon Retail Media or Criteo
• Proven experience managing large, complex client accounts, ideally within an agency setting
• Strong strategic understanding of retail search and Amazon Advertising, alongside broader digital media, attribution and conversion best practice
• Experienced people manager, with a track record of leading, coaching and developing high-performing teams
• Strategic thinker with the ability to define goals, shape innovation roadmaps and drive measurable outcomes
• Confident communicator and presenter, able to manage senior internal and external stakeholders
• Strong analytical and reporting capability, with advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills (certifications across retail media platforms a plus)

Additional information

Spark has fantastic benefits on offer to all of our employees. In addition to the classics, Pension, Life Assurance, Private Medical and Income Protection Plans we also offer;

• WORK YOUR WORLD opportunity to work anywhere in the world, where there is a Publicis office, for up to 6 weeks a year.
• REFLECTION DAYS – Two additional days of paid leave to step away from your usual day‑to‑day work and create time to focus on your well‑being and self‑care.
• HELP@HAND BENEFITS 24/7 helpline to support you on a personal and professional level. Access to remote GPs, mental health support and CBT. Wellbeing content and lifestyle coaching.
• FAMILY FRIENDLY POLICIES We provide 26 weeks of pay for the following family milestones: Maternity, Adoption, Surrogacy and Shared Parental Leave.
• FLEXIBLE WORKING, BANK HOLIDAY SWAP & BIRTHDAY DAY OFF You are entitled to an additional day off for your birthday, from your first day of employment.
• GREAT LOCAL DISCOUNTS This includes membership discounts with Soho Friends, local restaurants and retailers in Westfield White City and Television Centre.

Full details of our benefits will be shared when you join us!

Publicis Groupe operates a hybrid working pattern with full time employees being office‑based three days during the working week. We are supportive of all candidates and are committed to providing a fair assessment process. If you have any circumstances (such as neurodiversity, physical or mental impairments or a medical condition) that may affect your assessment, please inform your Talent Acquisition Partner. We will discuss possible adjustments to ensure fairness. Rest assured, disclosing this information will not impact your treatment in our process.

Please make sure you check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG’s (Employee Action Groups).