VP, Activation Operations

Business Overview 

Orion Worldwide is a global media company that generates value for our business partners. As the industry has evolved over the past two decades, so have we — expanding our global reach and product offering to deliver value for the world’s best brands, across nearly every category. The very best ideas are developed by people with diversity of background, thought and experience working together to develop customized solutions that best address our partners’ needs. A five-time winner of “Most Inclusive Climate” at the IPG Inclusion Awards, we scale our recruiting efforts beyond the traditional advertising candidate pool to find people who possess the passion, innovative thinking and collaborative skills needed to achieve our business goals and assist in cultivating a culture in which we can all be proud.

Position Summary

The VP, Activation Operations is a pivotal leadership role responsible for overseeing and optimizing capital activation workflows across all media channels, initially focusing on Digital and National Linear. As a key leader within the newly restructured Operations framework and maintaining a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Activation team, this role ensures seamless collaboration and alignment on strategic priorities. By championing initiatives such as the Future Digital Workflow (FDW) and establishing new approaches for National Linear capital activation, this position will foster innovation, drive operational excellence, and support the agency’s strategic objectives.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Set the vision and strategic direction for Activation Operations, ensuring alignment with the agency’s business goals and long-term objectives.
• Partner with the Activation team to identify and implement opportunities for workflow optimization and process standardization across all media channels.
• Lead key operational initiatives,  including the rollout of the FDW and future integration of Barter and Fixed Price buying into this process.
• Act as a catalyst for cultural change, promoting continuous improvement and operational innovation within the team.
• Define and track success metrics, ensuring the team’s outcomes drive efficiency, compliance, and client satisfaction.

Cross-Channel Workflow Activation:

• Oversee the execution of end-to-end capital activation workflows across media channels, with an initial focus on Digital and National Linear.
• Spearhead the implementation and scaling of Future Digital Workflow, coordinating pilot tests and engaging stakeholders to ensure seamless adoption.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to uphold compliance with taxonomies, templates, and contractual (T&Cs) standards.
• Manage the operational aspects of FDW, including invoice approvals, intercompany billing, and monthly reconciliation of orders versus invoices.
• Develop scalable processes and best practices to support long-term operational growth and efficiency.

Collaboration and Partnership:

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with the Activation team, Finance Operations, Investment team, and other internal stakeholders to drive alignment and shared accountability.
• Act as a strategic advisor to the Activation group, contributing to efforts that improve execution and operational efficiency across all media channels.
• Engage with external vendors and MB sister agencies to facilitate onboarding and ensure alignment with agency workflows and compliance standards.

Required Skills & Experience

• Demonstrated expertise in media buying and activation operations, with experience managing workflows across multiple media channels.
• Proven ability to lead operational transformation, streamline processes, and deliver measurable improvements in efficiency and effectiveness.
• Strong strategic thinking and leadership skills, with the ability to navigate complex cross-functional relationships.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, fostering collaboration and alignment across teams.
• Proficiency with key tools and platforms, including Prisma, MBOX, and other industry-standard systems.
• Deep understanding of compliance guidelines, financial processes, and best practices in the media industry.

 

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