Associate, Planning

Business Overview 

If you are looking for a people-first organization that can offer you the career you crave, UM is your home. We are the destination of choice for the world’s best talent, where every individual is empowered to unleash their limitless potential and do the best work of their careers.  

We are always searching for passionate team members who love media and live and breathe our core values of Curiosity, Courage, and Community. We seek out those who aren’t afraid to ask the tough questions, are excited to explore the nuances, and are hungry for personal growth and continuous learning. People who thrive at UM are collaborators by nature who pursue diverse perspectives because they understand that true innovation is driven by inclusivity. As a people-first agency, we provide the information, tools and technology, career development, and empowerment our people need to realize their potential and achieve their career ambitions.   

A global media network within the IPG Mediabrands family, UM operates in over 100 countries, with 3,000+ people innovating on a roster of powerful brands and our client campaigns have been recognized by the industry’s most competitive global showcases like Cannes Lions, Festival of Media Global, and WARC.   

As a result of our people-first commitment, UM has been celebrated as a FORTUNE Best Workplace in Advertising & Marketing in the US, a Campaign Best Place to Work in EMEA, a Campaign Asia Diverse & Inclusive Workplace in APAC, a top 3 agency in LATAM by The Effies, and ranked the number one agency in both Canada and MENAT by RECMA. 

 

The Associate, Planning is an entry-level position that plays an important role in the media planning process. In this role, you will learn the fundamentals of media planning and how to leverage media to help deliver on our client’s business objectives. The ideal candidate is an energetic and proactive problem-solver who is detail-oriented and has an unmatched passion for the advertising industry. In this critical role, you will support the planning team in partnering with the world’s leading brands and learn from industry leaders at a top media agency.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

CLIENT SERVICE AND STEWARDSHIP

• Gain understanding of client business and best practices in client service excellence
• Develop ability to translate data points into insights that will help substantiate recommendations against business goals
• Support the team in managing client requests in a timely manner

 

INDUSTRY, AGENCY, TEAM EXPECTATIONS

• Attend and participate in brainstorming sessions within the agency to generate creative & compelling ideas
• Exhibit a curiosity of the media ecosystem and develop a perspective on trends and opportunities that could be leveraged by the agency
• Maintain professional decorum and build positive rapport with others both internally and externally
• Participate in departmental projects as requested, including new business

 

DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES

• Support the team in the creation of omnichannel media plan recommendations, including but not limited to TV, Print, Radio, Digital, OOH, and Emerging Media opportunities, informed by qualitative and quantitative inputs
• Compile research data to help ensure that client campaigns are reaching intended audiences
• Develop a mastery of syndicated research sources, planning tools, and media math
• Use qualitative and quantitative research to develop consumer insights and budget allocations
• Develop and maintain the accuracy of tactical components of media plans such as flow charts, spreadsheets, and budget summaries
• Collaborate with internal and cross-functional teams to ensure that projects are on track and deliverables are accurate
• Proactively keep up to date with media and technology trends
• Develop strategic POVs (point of views) of media partner offerings and technology as it relates to client objectives
• Learn how campaign reporting and analysis is done

 

THE QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to quickly learn proprietary tools and processes
• Exhibits a positive attitude that would complement the UM culture
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office: Excel, Word, PowerPoint
• Able to effectively manage time and work in a fast-paced environment
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of an integrated team
• UM does not require candidates to have a college degree

 

 We See You  

At IPG