At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic initiatives to empower brands and drive impactful media strategies.
- Company: Join UM, a global media agency with a vibrant culture and ambitious goals.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexi-leave, free meals, early finishes, and comprehensive health benefits.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with clear progression opportunities and a focus on collaboration.
- Why this job: Shape the future of media strategy and make a real difference for top brands.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in strategy, media planning, and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
The home of full colour media, UM is a global media agency committed to empowering brands to their full potential of growth by leveraging the power of brand patterns. As the leading global media network in IPG Mediabrands, UM operates in over 100 countries, with more than 3,000 people serving a roster of global clients including American Express, General Mills, Levi Strauss & co, Enterprise Holdings, Upfield, Just Eat Takeaway.com and Mattel.
This is an opportunity to join UM at a pivotal moment, as we build a more ambitious, distinctive and growth-focused strategy capability around our agency philosophy, Stand Against Bland. As Strategy Director, you will help clients make sharper growth choices, identify where their brands can stand apart, and turn that thinking into transformative media strategies that drive business outcomes. You will work across a portfolio of important UM clients, potentially including Levi’s, General Mills, Enterprise, Fidelity, Saputo and American Express, alongside one or two core clients.
This is a Director-level role, so you will be expected to operate with autonomy, authority and collaboration. You will lead the strategic story from diagnosis through to planning, activation and measurement, working closely with Insights, Analytics, Audiences, Planning and Activation teams to ensure strategy shapes the work, not just the deck. You will also play an active role in new business, shaping strategic approaches for UK pitches, interpreting global strategies for the UK market, and building the kind of commercially sharp, culturally relevant and award-worthy work that reflects UM’s ambition.
Key ResponsibilitiesUM’s strategy team exists to produce breakthrough work that works. For this role, that means combining sharp strategic judgement, creative ambition, analytical confidence, strong storytelling and the leadership behaviours needed to bring teams with you. You will turn complex business, brand, audience and category challenges into clear strategic choices, moving confidently from diagnosis to direction, from insight to idea, and from recommendation to work that can live in market.
Audience thinking sits at the heart of how we plan. You will identify the highest-value audiences for growth, understand the motivations and behaviours behind them, and translate that understanding into planning principles that lead to better consumer experiences. You will also be confident working with data-led audience solutions, including our partnership with Acxiom and Flywheel and collaborating with Planning, Data Solutions, Insights and Analytics to help define, build and activate audiences in ways that are measurable and useful for future learning.
Strong presentation and facilitation skills are essential. You will lead senior conversations, challenge briefs constructively, run workshops, shape client narratives and help internal teams move from multiple inputs to one coherent strategic story. There is a clear progression path beyond this role, into Group Director and Strategy Partner positions, with the opportunity to help shape UM London’s strategic product, growth agenda, client relationships and culture.
Desired Skills & ExperienceYou are an experienced strategist with a strong understanding of multi-media planning and the ability to show how communications can drive meaningful business impact. You will have credibility with senior stakeholders across clients, agency teams and media owners. You know how to change the conversation, challenge the brief and elevate projects beyond standard responses into sharper, more ambitious strategic territory.
Be confident leading others. You inspire, coach and guide teams, helping them produce stronger work while building the capability and confidence of those around you. Be proactive, curious and creative, with the motivation to work autonomously and the judgement to know when to bring others in. You contribute positively to the team dynamic and help create an environment built on collaboration, experimentation and high standards.
Be well connected with media owners and able to work with them to generate distinctive, innovative and effective solutions for clients. Also be ambitious in your use of AI, seeing it as a practical tool to improve ways of working, accelerate delivery, strengthen strategic outputs and reduce the time it takes to get better solutions into market.
Above all, you will be someone who raises the quality of the thinking, lifts the ambition of the work, and helps UM deliver strategy that is more distinctive, more effective and more valuable to our clients.
Employee TransparencyAt IPG Mediabrands, we celebrate differences and believe this makes us stronger. IPG Mediabrands are an equal-opportunity employer 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 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 PerksWe 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!
Strategy Director in London employer: UM London
UM is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture, empowering employees to reach their full potential while working on transformative media strategies for renowned global clients. With a commitment to employee growth, UM offers clear progression paths, flexible working arrangements, and a comprehensive benefits package, including generous parental leave and wellness initiatives, all within the dynamic environment of London.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategy Director in London
✨Dive Into Corporate Strategy Communities
Get yourself involved in online communities or forums focused on corporate strategy. Places like LinkedIn groups or specific Slack channels can hook you up with industry insights, trends, and many potential job leads. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts or ask questions; it’ll boost your visibility!
✨Attend Industry Conferences and Events
Keep an eye out for corporate strategy conferences or networking events in your area (or online!). These gatherings are gold mines for meeting hiring managers and making impactful connections. Plus, having a few good conversations can lead to job referrals at companies like UM London!
✨Showcase Your Strategy Skills
Create content that showcases your knowledge of corporate strategy—think reports, blogs, or even video discussions. Sharing these on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium can demonstrate your expertise and make you stand out to employers looking for fresh talent.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply for the Strategy Director position at UM London via our website! This shows your genuine interest, and who knows, you might just land that interview in a matter of days. Keep your application focused on how you can add value to their strategy team.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategy Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Strategic Thinking:When crafting your CV and cover letter, highlight your strategic analysis skills. Focus on past experiences where you've effectively assessed market trends or made impactful recommendations. Evidence-based achievements, like improving processes or contributing to significant projects, will help us see your potential for driving corporate strategy at UM London.
Tailor Your Narrative:Don’t just send us a generic application! Personalise your cover letter by connecting your experiences and aspirations to UM London’s mission and goals. We love seeing candidates who genuinely understand what we do; share how your vision aligns with ours and what you can bring to the table.
Highlight Relevant Academic Credentials:In your CV, make sure to showcase your academic background, especially if you have qualifications in business, economics, or analytics. We appreciate candidates who can back up their skills with relevant degrees or certifications, so don’t be shy about flaunting those achievements!
Utilise Professional Language:While we want you to be yourself, remember that corporate strategy roles demand a level of professionalism in communication. Use clear and concise language in your application materials, ensuring that your ideas come across as well-structured and sophisticated. It’s all about making a great impression right from the written application stage!
How to prepare for a job interview at UM London
✨Master the Numbers
Corporate strategy often involves data analysis and financial forecasting. Brush up on your quantitative skills, and be prepared to handle case studies or numerical problems during the interview. We might get questions about how to approach market trends or assess the performance of a hypothetical company — so practice these scenarios!
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarity with strategic frameworks like SWOT, PESTLE, or Porter’s Five Forces can set you apart. We should be ready to discuss how we’d apply these tools to real-world business situations — maybe even relating them to UM London. This shows we’re not just theory-happy but can articulate our practical application.
✨Engage in Strategic Conversations
In a full-time role like this, it’s crucial to show that we're engaged and informed about current trends in the industry. Keep up with major news and prepare to discuss how recent developments could impact strategic decisions at UM London. This will demonstrate our passion and proactive approach to the field.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
Whether through internships or projects, we should highlight any experience that relates to corporate strategy. Have specific examples ready to talk about how we’ve contributed to strategic growth or improvements. It's about showcasing our unique journey and how it will bring value to UM London.
