Director, Digital Partnerships

Business Overview

Initiative is different to other media agencies.

Initiative unlocks business growth for the world’s most ambitious brands. 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, LEGO, 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.

Position Overview

The Director, Digital Partnerships oversees the Partnerships strategy, go-to-market approach and team for all pure-play digital channels including Display, Video, Social, Mobile, Gaming and Search. The Director should be well-versed in all of the above digital channels and able to articulate the role of each channel and how they are able to bring a client’s strategy to life and meet client’s business objectives. By using their extensive digital landscape knowledge, performance of past campaigns, and research, the Director should have the ability to justify investment recommendations.

Responsibilities

Client

• Direct communication with clients for all marketplace intelligence, negotiation and partnership needs and take ultimate accountability for team’s day-to-day responsibilities
• Maintain, develop and grow relationships with appropriate client level contacts
• Collaboration with Strategy, Analytics and Client Advice teams to ensure alignment with and delivery against client KPI’s
• Oversee investment plan development, recommendation and implementation, incorporating necessary and appropriate rationale and research for client buy-in
• Serve as Digital marketplace landscape experts internally and with clients

Internal

• Oversee the development of go to market strategy, recommendations and POVs
• Develop the staff through performance management and giving consistent feedback, while helping them work toward their professional goals
• Promote an open working environment where opinions, views and ideas can be shared
• Maintain and grow key marketplace relationships, including senior-level media owner and technology platform contacts
• Partner selection recommendation and justification designed to deliver on client KPI’s using the most sophisticated use of data and analytics, via multi-faceted, strategic partnerships, while delivering maximum strategic value and efficiency
• Oversee investment plan development, recommendation and implementation, incorporating necessary and appropriate rationale and research for client buy-in
• Responsible to ensure marketing direction and advertising strategy is provided, thorough and clearly understood by the entire team
• Identify and present new and emerging partners and opportunities in the marketplace

Commercial

• Support and facilitate all Initiative and IPG MB new business, revenue and industry initiatives
• Facilitate organic growth opportunities with current clients not only for Initiative, but across IPG MB
• Provide Partnerships support for various New Business pitches, from authoring RFP submissions to developing and presenting cross-channel solutions to prospective clients.
• Support and collaborate with all MB SBU’s for maximum effectiveness and seamless integration onto client business
• Support MAGNA aggregate negotiations across all Digital media channels

New Business

• Participate in new business development and presentations
• Prepare RFP responses
• Develop costs for pricing exercises

Required Skills and Experience

· Excellent quantitative skills

· Ability to interpret analyze data to inform go-to-market strategies

· Strong marketplace relationships with senior sales people at major media companies

· Creative approach to defining deal terms including pricing models and value based on client objectives

· High level of comfort presenting to clients and internal team members

· Proven track record with client relations and growing existing business

· Solid understanding of marketing/communications proces