Strategy Manager

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UM is a media agency designed to Futureproof our clients’ businesses for the now and the next. We leverage the transformational power of rich business analytics and real-time intelligence to maximize growth and activate the full consumer journey across content and connections – all rooted in culture.

We believe in purposeful growth, and our Better World Media philosophy puts diversity, equity, and sustainability at the heart of our business operations. We are committed to investing in diverse and responsible media partners, in order to drive more meaningful and authentic messaging for our clients.

As the leading global media network in IPG Mediabrands, UM operates in over 100 countries, with more than 3,000 people innovating on a roster of global clients. Here in the UK, we are proud to work with some of the world’s most exciting brands, including Accenture, American Express, Just Eat Takeaway, Johnson & Johnson, Mattel, MoneySuperMarket, and Spotify.

London is also the home of our UM EMEA Headquarters, providing the full spectrum of integrated media and marketing services to global clients across the region. Our in-house tools and technology capabilities, driven by a truly multi-national, talented, and passionate team of people, makes us perfectly placed to create tailored, regional solutions for a diverse range of clients. As a regional hub, we act as a catalyst to integrate and connect – fuelling central strategies with both local insights and regional expertise. We have specialists across brand strategy, research & insight, data-driven analytics, 360 digital media planning, and content creation, and we bring all of these disciplines together to provide frameworks that optimise our clients’ advertising investment in each market.

Role Description

An exciting opportunity to join the most vibrant UM team. As Strategy Manager, the role is to be UM’s strategic lead for some of our most brilliantly innovative & creative brands Dyson, Just Eat & the newly won Levi’s. You will be responsible for ensuring strategic excellence that ensures transformative business growth for each one of your clients.

Beyond your day-to-day ‘patch’, there are multiple opportunities across the business to stretch your creative and strategic muscles by making a positive difference to all of the best bits of an agency output. There is fantastic opportunity for growth, working directly into the Managing Partner, Head of Strategy with the support of the wider Strategy & Audiences Teams.

Some of your time is to be allocated to new business projects , crafting the strategic approach for UK pitches or interpreting/localising global strategies for the UK.

You will work collaboratively with multiple teams across the Mediabrands network. Uniquely for a media agency, we have creative, content, and production capabilities in-house, in the form of UM Studios. You will become part of an integrated Strategy, Content, and Partnerships Team who are leading the industry in developing effective & award-winning work.

Key Responsibilities

As a team, our main deliverable is ensuring that the agency produces breakthrough work that works. Creative thinking, inspiring our teams, dynamic presentation skills, and leadership behaviours are critical in delivering success in this role.

The Strategists are considered the driving force behind the proposition and execution for existing clients and in new business pitches.

We have an audience-first approach to everything we do and as such are committed to understanding consumers and their motivations, as an integral part of strategic output. Both in terms of identifying the highest value audiences to achieve growth and surfacing compelling insights which connect to them in our media strategies and plans.

Through our partnership with Acxiom, we not only construct our high value audiences using 1st party data, we also take those audiences through to activation.

The ideal candidate will be confident in collaborating with our Planning and Data Solutions Team to ensure our ideas reach the right people, at the right times, with the right messages, on the right devices.

Opportunities for progression to Director and Strategy Partner; becoming a member of the UM London Leadership Team, helping to shape the future of our business in the critical areas of strategic product, new and organic growth, client service, and our special culture.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Experienced and well-versed in multi-media and able to clearly articulate how communications are able to deliver a positive impact on our client’s business.
• A dedicated and motivated individual, who is keen to continue to grow in strategic fluency and flair. The role allows plenty of autonomous work, with lots of support, mentorship, and coaching from the wider strategy team.
• Highly ambitious, with a thirst for continually learning to deliver UM’s strategic output.
• Highly personable with a collaborative spirit, who develops good working relationships internally and externally with ease.
• Committed to the team environment of experimentation and collaboration, following best practice standards within the agency.
• Confident with clients and in leading meetings and presenting to stakeholders, with the support of the wider strategy & planning teams.
• You will have an ambition to get involved in the broader agency culture as well as building UM’s reputation in the wider industry.

Employee Transparency

At Mediabrands and Kinesso, we celebrate difference and believe this makes us stronger. Mediabrands and Kinesso are equal opportunity employers and 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 our Talent Inclusion Specialist Jess at 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 sacrifices 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!

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