Retail Media Lead

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: Publicis is recognised as a Leader in the Forrester Wave for Commerce Services in Q2 2024, achieving the highest score in ecommerce. Our substantial investment of $2+ billion over the past five years has enabled us to develop a market-leading commerce capability that spans the entire value chain, including buy-side platforms for manufacturers, retail website development, and managing retail media networks for over 150 major retailers (e.g. Carrefour). 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 retail media, marketplaces, eRetail strategy 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 legacy organisational structures. Our aim is not to talk to individual capabilities, instead focusing on driving client outcomes.

Job Description: This is a critical hire to support our rapid growth following recent major client wins. The successful applicant will possess a combination of strong client and team leadership skills, with a track record of delivering business growth through retail media. We’re looking for someone who has a genuine passion for retail media, is willing to move fast to innovate ahead of the market and can navigate the complexities of working within a complex matrixed organisation to unlock growth opportunities for Publicis and our clients. The role reports directly to the Head of Retail Media within our Retail Media Centre of Excellence (COE) and will lead a team across the London COE and our offshore operation in India.

Responsibilities:

• Client & Team Leadership: Lead and grow a high-performing retail media team, delivering best-in-class strategy, planning, activation and reporting. Drive innovative, full-funnel retail media campaigns that deliver measurable growth and award-worthy outcomes. Own senior client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor and escalating with senior leadership where needed. Champion innovation across client brands, leading testing roadmaps and partnering with internal specialist teams. Develop and mentor talent, setting clear objectives and training plans to build future retail media leaders.
• Championing Retail Media: Act as the retail media lead for your agency brand or client, raising its profile and driving integration across media plans. Partner closely with planning and strategy teams to embed retail media thinking and unlock new opportunities.
• Business Development: Drive new business growth, building a strong pipeline and supporting pitches where required. Leverage the full Publicis Commerce offering to unlock incremental value for clients. Stay at the forefront of the UK retail media landscape, shaping client strategy through industry insight and thought leadership.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience delivering scaled retail media programmes, either agency-side or client-side.
• Strong leader with a track record of driving growth through retail media for large, complex clients (CPG experience a plus).
• Experience leading retail or performance media activation teams, with hands-on platform expertise.
• Deep understanding of full-funnel retail media strategy, including audience targeting, measurement and channel integration.
• Broad commerce expertise across e-commerce, marketplaces, shopper marketing, paid media and social commerce, underpinned by strong commercial acumen.
• In-depth knowledge of Amazon vendor and seller models, plus experience with leading retail media and digital shelf tools (e.g. SKAI, Pacvue, Profitero).
• Confident communicator and collaborator, experienced in managing senior stakeholders and leading complex, multi-team projects.

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 full 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).