Associate Director, Strategy

Business Overview

We believe in the power of media to reshape our industry and orchestrate a brand's entire consumer experience, by balancing both what unites people and what makes them different. When brands unite people in culture, they build Fame, and when brands connect individuals to their unique journeys, they build customer Flow. Initiative builds Fame & Flow for brands like Nike, Amazon, Merck, and T-Mobile. Media responsibility is at the forefront of everything we do, whether it's creating media plans that reflect the diversity of our communities, promote brand safety, and foster sustainability. Our agency celebrates diversity in an inclusive environment where all of our 6,000 strong talent across 90 markets feel seen, heard, and valued. Our vision is to create not only a better media company, but also a better media industry, and maybe even a better world.

We make a promise to our people that we double down on seeing, celebrating & elevating all the things that make you, uniquely you. And just as we do for our brands and clients, we connect our people to the journeys that matter in building a meaningful career.

There are four I's in Initiative and these represent our core values and behaviors.

• INDIVID[YOU]ALITY - you bring your genuine and unique self to and into the work, every day.
• INSTINCT - you're tuned in and armed with intelligence; you have a bias for action - shit happens when you're around.
• IMPACT! - you care deeply about the impact you have on our clients, their customers, our community, the media landscape and our world at large.
• IMAGINATION - your ability to imagine and bring to life the ideas, solutions, and the future of Initiative, makes us THE create media agency in the world.

This role is an Associate Director of Strategy at Initiative, a media agency that believes in the power of media to reshape our industry and orchestrate a brand's entire consumer experience by balancing both what unites people and what makes them different. Initiative has built the strongest strategic capability of any agency in the market, sitting within our agency craft model - inclusive of Client Advice and Management, Strategy and Communications Design. Core to this strategic capability is an obsession with culture and how brands can pivot from brand advertising (which is forgettable) to cultural branding (which is highly memorable).

As a member of the strategy craft, you will be a steward of our proprietary "Fame and Flow" approach, a way of working centered on the belief that when brands unite people in culture, they build Fame, and when brands connect individuals to their unique journeys, they build customer Flow.

You will be responsible for developing strategic recommendations that solve client challenges and contribute to the agency's goal of being the best media agency in the world. The role is dedicated to servicing a portfolio of products for some of the fastest growing beer brands in the United States. In addition to daily account service, you will also have the opportunity to work across many other accounts and clients, striving to produce outstanding communications strategies recognized through awards, client satisfaction, and innovation.

• Strategic Output & Client Leadership:
  • Lead the strategic development for our portfolio of beer clients alongside the Group Director, ensuring all work aligns with Initiative's Fame and Flow framework while addressing the unique nuances of the alcohol category.
  • Deliver innovative, insight-driven strategies that inspire innovative solutions and ensuring best-in-class work across the client portfolio.
  • Act as a strategic advisor to clients, confidently articulating the impact of media strategies on our audiences, brand performance, and market share.
  • Ensure strategies are actionable and measurable, designing campaigns that deliver across an ecosystem of media touchpoints and driving tangible results.
  • Demonstrate understanding of client needs, contribute valuable insights during meetings, deliver innovative thinking that inspires award-winning work, and arm the client team with the knowledge to speak confidently about the strategic direction.
• Category Expertise & Industry Insights:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the alcohol category landscape, including key trends, competitive knowledge, and relevant industry news & innovations.
  • Identify and interpret industry shifts (both media-specific and larger consumer or cultural trends) and articulate their implications for strategies.
  • Leverage insights into consumer experiences to design multi-channel campaigns that optimize toward our client's Fame & Flow objectives, and ultimately drive business goals.
• Pitching & New Business:
  • Lead strategy for small to medium-sized pitches for the agency, uniting cross-functional teams to develop cohesive and compelling responses.
  • Confidently present strategic thinking to prospective clients, demonstrating Initiative's expertise in relevant categories and the value of our Fame & Flow approach.
  • Actively contribute to larger pitch processes, providing strategic insights and solutions that help win new business.
• Innovation & Product Development:
  • Drive innovation by contributing to the development of tools, processes, and products tailored to the needs of our clients.
  • Identify opportunities to bring forward-thinking solutions to client challenges, including leveraging emerging technologies, digital trends and data solutions in our clients' categories.
  • Drive & support crafting compelling award submissions and contributing to the agency's award cycles, including research, writing, and presentation development.
• Team Leadership & Development
  • Lead training initiatives such as strategy craft & product introductions with new clients, category thought leadership sessions, and industry or trend updates.
  • Act as a role model for strategic excellence, fostering collaboration, curiosity, and high performance across the Strategy Craft and junior team members.

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent work experience
• 6-8 years in an integrated planning role in media, creative, innovation, or communications disciplines (digital, content, invention, social, activation)
• Proficiency with strategic tools and frameworks (ex: MRI/Simmons, GWI, YouGov)
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to inspire confidence and influence clients and internal stakeholders
• Experience managing and mentoring junior team members, fostering their development and building a high-performing team

• Ability to think differently (creative and adaptive, entrepreneurial, independently-minded) with a creative and collaborative mindset able to work effectively across department, external partners, and partner agencies
• Deeply immersed in cultural understanding and driven by a desire to know more about the world and to better understand people's motivations and behaviors in a shifting landscape.
• Experience in multicultural marketing, specifically with Hispanic audiences and/or brands, with a deep understanding of cultural nuances and sensitivities and proven ability to craft impactful advertising messages that resonate with diverse audiences
• Experience developing and executing successful sports marketing campaigns, inclusive of knowledge of the sports landscape; audience behaviors; and activating concepts for sports brands / in sports environments
• Experience in alcohol category preferred

At IPG Mediabrands, we are unified behind a commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging. Together, we shine through a set of shared values and behaviors. We take pride in our responsibility to our clients, communities, and to each other. We embrace differences and recognize the unique value that each of us brings to our community.

We encourage you to apply, as unique backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences are welcomed.

We See You at IPG Mediabrands.

We offer a Total Rewards package that includes medical and dental coverage, 401(k) plans, flex spending, life insurance, disability, employee discount program, employee stock purchase program and paid family benefits to support you and your family. To give you the ability to better meet your personal needs, and in support of your physical and emotional well-being, you will receive discretionary time off days and company-wide Appreciation Weeks and Wellness Days.

We also offer a competitive Total Compensation package, including a competitive salary and eligibility for an annual discretionary incentive award or a relevant incentive award.

The salary range for this position is posted below. Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position, market considerations, budgetary considerations, tenure and standing with the Company (applicable to current employees), as well as the employee's/applicant's skill set, level of experience, and qualifications.

It is the policy of Mediabrands, division of the Interpublic group, to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. The job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and other job functions are subject to modification. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

For applicants to jobs in the United States: In compliance with the current Americans with Disabilities Act and state and local laws, if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position with Mediabrands, please email accommodation@mbww.com.

About IPG Mediabrands

IPG Mediabrands is the media and marketing solutions division of Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). IPG Mediabrands manages over $47 billion in marketing investment globally on behalf of its clients across its full-service agency networks UM, Initiative and Mediahub and through its award-winning specialty business units Healix, Kinesso, MAGNA, Mediabrands Content Studio, Orion Holdings, Rapport, and the IPG Media Lab. IPG Mediabrands clients include many of the world's most recognizable and iconic brands from a broad portfolio of industry sectors including automotive, personal finance, consumer product goods (CPG), pharma, health and wellness, entertainment, financial services, energy, toys and gaming, direct to consumer and e-commerce, retail, hospitality, food and beverage, fashion and beauty. The company employs more than 18,000 diverse marketing communication professionals in more than 130 countries. Learn more at www.ipgmediabrands.com.