Company Description
We are Zenith, the ROI agency, but we’re about so much more than numbers. Since 2005, we’ve been helping some of the world’s biggest and most exciting brands turn ambitious ideas into meaningful business growth. As part of Publicis Groupe, our global community of 6,000+ specialists across 95 markets brings together media, data, technology, commerce and content to solve complex challenges and create work that makes a difference.
We believe the best work happens when great people come together. We’re curious, collaborative and always looking for new ways to think, challenge convention and push what’s possible. From strategy and planning to performance, data, content and trading, our teams work across disciplines to create smarter, more personal experiences for the brands we partner with.
And we’re serious about our people too. We want Zenith to be a place where everyone feels seen, heard and represented, with opportunities to learn, grow and make your mark. From our regular social events, mentoring, learning opportunities, recognition and community initiatives, we’re building a culture where people can bring their whole selves to work, share ideas and have a lot of fun along the way.
So, if you’re ambitious, curious and excited by the pace of change in our industry, you’ll fit right in. Whether you’re a media expert, creative thinker, data enthusiast, tech lover or simply someone who wants to make an impact, there’s a place for you at Zenith. Come and help us create a more meaningful kind of ROI – for our clients, our people and our culture.
Overview
Responsibilities
What you'll be doing:
- Lead strategic responses to EMEA briefs, from understanding the underlying business and communications challenge through to a clear, compelling recommendation.
- Turn research, client data, audience insight, campaign performance and market intelligence into focused strategies that make complex evidence easy to understand and act on.
- Shape customer journeys, channel roles and integrated media principles across paid, earned, shared and owned media.
- Present strategic thinking to client stakeholders, bringing a clear point of view, thoughtful recommendations and constructive challenge.
- Partner with planning, activation, data, analytics, commerce, content and wider teams to carry strategic thinking through into execution and measurement.
- Help strengthen the quality and consistency of strategy across EMEA by contributing to frameworks, toolkits, playbooks, training and new capabilities, including AI, search discoverability and evolving media behaviours.
- Support and coach strategists, planners and market teams through live work, while partnering with the EMEA Strategy Lead on selected priorities.
Qualifications
Skills we're looking for:
- Strong experience in media strategy, communications planning or a closely related discipline, developed in an agency, client or similarly relevant environment.
- A solid grounding in strategic thinking, including interrogating briefs, defining problems, developing insights, prioritising audiences and connecting communications strategy to media and measurement.
- Experience taking ownership of complex strategic work and translating your thinking into clear, persuasive presentations and recommendations.
- A strong understanding of today's media landscape across paid, earned, shared and owned channels, with the ability to connect different disciplines into an effective media strategy.
- Confidence working with research and evidence, including audience, market and media research platforms such as GWI, with the judgement to question outputs and identify the implications that matter.
- Clear communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to build trusted client relationships, ask thoughtful questions and collaborate effectively across regional and multidisciplinary teams.
- Curiosity, sound judgement and an organised approach, with the ability to balance multiple priorities, take ownership and adapt your thinking when new or stronger evidence emerges.
Additional Information
Zenith International offers a wide range of benefits to support our employees. Full details are shared when you join, but highlights include core benefits such as Pension, Life Assurance, and Private Medical cover, alongside enhanced policies like Reflection Days and Shared Parental Leave. You’ll also have access to a range of additional initiatives, including:
📖 Please check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG’s (Employee Action Groups).
Publicis Groupe works primarily from the office or our clients' office four days per week.
At Zenith International, we are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, disability, age, citizenship, relationship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic.
We are committed to providing a fair, accessible, and inclusive recruitment process. If you have any access needs - for example, related to disability, neurodivergence, or a health condition - please let us know. We’ll work with you to ensure the process works for you. Sharing this information will never impact your application.
Guided by our values, we listen with empathy, uplift each other, take responsibility, and embrace change - building a culture where everyone feels seen, respected, and genuinely included.
#LI-PH1
Associate Strategy Director, EMEA in London employer: Publicis Groupe
Starcom is an exceptional employer that prioritises its people, fostering a welcoming and supportive culture where every individual is encouraged to reach their fullest potential. With a strong focus on diversity and inclusion, alongside comprehensive benefits such as enhanced parental leave and reflection days, employees are empowered to thrive both personally and professionally. Located in the UK, this role offers the chance to work with leading global brands while being part of a high-performing team dedicated to innovation and excellence in media investment.
