Associate Director, Talent (Contract)

Digitas is the Networked Experience Agency, built on the vision that we create magnetic experiences that earn the right for brands to exist in human networks. Today, and tomorrow. We deliver Networked Experiences by leveraging comprehensive data, technology, creative, media and strategy capabilities. Digitas delivers ambitious outcomes via unique solutions that include Creative Experiences, Integrated Media, Addressable Relationships, Social Marketing and Total Commerce. Celebrated by AdAge as Data and Insights Agency of the Year, U.S Campaign’s Brand Experience Agency of the Year, Media Network of the Year and celebrated by Forrester and Gartner, Digitas serves the world’s leading brands through a global network comprised of more than 5,500 employees across over 65 offices in 43 countries.

We’re searching for a contract to hire Associate Director of Human Resources who is accountable for one or more large clients within a region. As a senior generalist, the HRAD manages generalists and HR project teams. The HRAD works with senior managers within their capabilities on all HR issues and delegates accordingly. The HRAD ensures proper day to day HR administration is completed, partners with the HR team to co-manage and/or own HR projects/initiatives.  

Daily tasks of an Associate Director of Talent/HR:

• Oversees day to day HR functional operations of assigned client teams and direct reports
• Acts as a trusted senior advisor to senior managers, aiding them with complex people issues and resolutions
• Coach and reverse mentors client senior managers on management skills and client team development. Partner with senior managers on business goal setting and objectives
• Provide strategic direction and tactical guidance on manpower planning, talent assessment and compensation decisions. Includes managing divestitures and acquisitions, provides change management support and makes necessary recommendation
• Communicates and markets HR programs and initiatives to senior managers for buy in and support
• Develops and leads major HR initiatives and programs. Project manages HR teams across the network to ensure timely implementation and delivery of all projects. Is a key stakeholder for owned project initiatives
• Designs and implement employee retention programs using “Best Practices” industry trends and the 4C’s values
• Works with senior managers to infuse diversity and inclusion values into employees
• Collaborates with Learning & Development to coordinate training & development opportunities for high potentials within office client teams
• Supports cross-geographical management structure, drives inclusive written and verbal communications among managers
• Manages multiple national HR initiatives with a matrixed HR team
• Manages generalists and associated client groups
• Seeks to provide development opportunities for direct reports, encourages self-development and looks to offer exposure to senior leadership   

Craft:

• Provides HR guidance to meet business objectives
• Ensures adherence to HR policies, procedures and practices
• Works with capability leads to effectively communicate and build excitement surrounding HR initiatives (calibrations, compensation)
• Resolves employee relation issues with professionalism in an unbiased manner
• Ensures that Digitas and the employees interests are thought through and that everyone is treated with dignity and respect
• Helps Digitas leadership adhere to the latest employment laws and regulations
• Demonstrates deep expertise in at least one functional area of HR
• Designs, develops and implements ways of attracting, retaining and motivating employees
• Maintains pulse on changes and trends in the area of their HR field of expertise
• Acts as a “trusted advisor” when coaching managers and capability leads on people issues and how to resolve them
• Translates Digitas corporate, capability and /or offering strategies into employee initiatives
• Demonstrates commitment to the value of diversity and inclusion
• Appropriately confidential

Business Management:

• Manages teams to deliver and execute complex programs/projects
• Displays strong financial and project management skills at the beginning stages of a program or project
• Researches proactively best practices from around the network and external sources to strengthen the team’s delivery 
• Pursues efficiencies, eliminating unnecessary work
• Understands the role of each team member
• Partners with senior managers and colleagues to set goals and plan for future fiscal year(s) 
• Proactively identifies process improvements and opportunities for costs savings via new process and creative team structures

Communications & Storytelling:

• Uses clear, concise writing skills to effectively communicate a story in a compelling fashion
• Possesses contagious passion for clients and their business, as demonstrated through oral and written work
• Drives professional, impactful standards within team for all written and verbal client contact
• Uses effective listening skills to react to and resolve issues, and identify opportunities to make improvements
• Mobilizes team to meet common, clearly defined goals
• Demonstrates effective coaching skills to help senior managers deliver timely and constructive feedback to their teams
• Provides ongoing feedback to team members to build competency
• Open to feedback which will fulfill their self-development
• Recognizes that every presentation is a selling/ advisory opportunity
• Demonstrates good judgment in choosing effective and efficient communication methods (i.e. team meetings, in-person visits, phone calls, e-mail)
• Keeps appropriate team members, capabilities, and clients aware of project details, status, implications, and impact on other components
• Persuasively articulates value of diversity and inclusion
• Asks the right questions to obtain necessary information or perspective
• Communicates point of view when appropriate
• Demonstrates agility in constructing insightful, meaningful “real time” dialogue with clients
• Effectively balances advisory and advocacy skills with clients and teams 

Power Partnership:

• Partners proactively and advises day-to-day clients
• Seen as “go to” resource for opinions
• Demonstrates critical thinking and perspective when solving client issues
• Understands fundamental economics of client’s business
• Helps managers balance the client demands and the employee needs
• Understands the key issues facing the client and helps leverage HR resources to co-develop with leadership recommended approaches 
• Demonstrates track record of work with senior leaders to shape priorities
• Helps Senior Leaders understand the implications to people in business decisions
• Possesses a solid knowledge of client’s business
• Develops HR strategies to anticipate potential needs of clients
• Recognizes when pushback is necessary

People/Team/Corporate Citizenship:

• Inspires team to strive for superior client work/ results
• Passionate, enthusiastic and professional “can do” attitude
• Acts as a mature, calm leader of the internal cross-functional team
• Helps to build Digitas intellectual capital (business initiative, corporate strategy, HR/People policies) and disseminate it
• Creates actionable development plans
• Leads effective, ongoing dialogue with team members
• Can multitask, comfortable with ambiguity and is resourceful
• Actively engages in feedback and difficult conversations
• Manages team to consistently embrace Digitas policies and procedures
• Embraces change management
• Demonstrates innovation through big ideas
• Demonstrates strong relationship with peers across all capabilities
• Facilitates the development of team norms, balancing team and individual accomplishments
• Supports decision making at the lowest possible level
• Acts as a Business Partner to Senior Leaders
• Partners with HR  leadership to determine HR vision and mobilizes everyone to meet the common goals
• Shows willingness to collaborate with others
• Acts as a mentor and/or teacher to junior employees
• Effective at building knowledge transfer within organization
• Champions direct report’s exposure
• Strives to participates actively and/or support the mentor program
• Motivates and fosters a positive team environment
• Identifies opportunities for direct reports’ growth and skill set development

• Four year degree
• 7-9 years of HR experience
• Team management experience 
• Strong business acumen with experience managing project budgets
• Familiarity with the digital marketing communication environment
• Strong knowledge of HR, legal and labor issues
• Demonstrated experience handling employee investigations
• Solid experience with performance management and compensation practices
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, detail oriented
• Project management experience
• Proficiency in MS Office
• Candidate must be open to travel as needed

Got what it takes? We’d love to hear from you.

Digitas is an equal opportunity employer.

Salary : $60 - $70