Associate Director, Communications Design

WHO WE ARE

We are IPG Mediabrands , a CLIENT-FIRST, CONSULTING-LED, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN group of 18,000 media and marketing specialists in over 130 countries on a mission to ensure our clients win in the marketplace. In 2007, Mediabrands or MB was born in the global arena under the parent company InterPublic Group (NYSE: IPG) which is currently headquartered in New York City, USA.

Through our portfolio of brands, and culture of collaboration, we offer the media and marketing capabilities it takes to invest smarter and grow our client’s businesses now and in the future. Through our diverse community of people and leaders, we offer teams of experts who thrive in a culture of excellence and equity. Through our commitment to brand values and media responsibility, we offer leadership to help our clients always act in the best interests of the communities they serve.

In the Philippines, IPG Mediabrands was founded in 2015 by the late and beloved Venus Reyes-Navalta and is registered in SEC as IPG Mediabrands Philippines, Inc. We are structured in the country as an umbrella company of a number of brands or business units such as UM (media agency), Initiative (media agency), Magna, Orion, MediaBrands Content Studio (MBCS) plus our now affiliates Kinesso, Reprise (performance marketing) and Matterkind (programmatic / addressable media) which unified into one business unit still called Kinesso that incorporated its own company in 2021 to form Kinesso Philippines, Inc.

We are looking for an ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS DESIGN who can join our INITIATIVE (media agency) team:

ABOUT THE TEAM

INITIATIVE is different to other media agencies.

We are not trapped by a legacy structure primarily centered on paid advertising. Instead, we are liberated by a new world structure designed to deliver highly differentiated and highly effective communications strategies for our clients.

Communications Design is the discipline and practice of crafting how a brand idea will be delivered through communications across an owned, earned and paid ecosystem in order to achieve a desired behavioral outcome.

There are 4 central behaviors that bind all INITIATIVE employees together. These behaviors are always encouraged and rewarded by the agency. We are:

Fearless in our approach.

Be fearless. Push back on clients when appropriate. Have the courage to take bold ideas to the table. If you believe in something don’t take “no” for an answer. Remember, fortune really does favor the brave.

Brilliant in our work.

Everything you do for the agency and our clients must be of the highest standard. Good enough is not good enough. Be obsessed about producing brilliant work. Every day. Every time. No exceptions.

Dynamic in our design.

Be dynamic and agile. Design these things into your plans for clients. Remember we must keep pace with technology and consumers. Don’t be afraid of change, run towards it.

Seamless in our execution.

We sell solutions not services. Always “stitch” together the various services of Initiative and IPG Mediabrands in a way that is seamless for clients. We operate as one united IPG Mediabrands and never in siloes. We will not tolerate “turf wars” across business units and expect you to play nicely in the sandpit as you collaborate with others.

THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS DESIGN ROLE

As Associate Director, Communications Design you are responsible for designing the blueprint for cultural ideas to spread through communications planning excellence, integration and growth performance on your clients and brands. In your role you are responsible for translating the communications strategy into the actionable idea platform (in collaboration with creative partners) that will deliver behavioral change at all connection points.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Client

• Responsible for the delivery of accurate, impactful inputs that power the client’s communications plan to grow their businesses
• Responsible for the timely, accurate delivery of day to day requests from the team
• Responsible for regular trend identification, culture and competitive analysis for client (Prepares post-campaign reports, media reviews, etc.)
• Oversee client education program around Communications Design relevant marketplace trends.
• Present the Communications Design idea and recommendations to the client

Internal

• Work with the Communications Design Director and Partnerships team to develop the best possible plan for the communications idea
• Manage the team output and development of the flowchart/VMS grounded in the communications idea, including oversight of the plan being accurately produced to address the business goals.
• Ensure the communications ecosystem extends beyond paid through the integration (and quantification) of owned, earned and shared impacts
• Lead the best practice production of audience and communications data and intelligence for the development of the communications plan, utilizing relevant tools and techniques across both traditional and digital media (e.g. Nielsen Arianna, Nielsen CMV, etc.)
• Lead the ideation team sessions in conjunction with the Strategy team and relevant SBU to generate creative & compelling connections idea (e.g. MOS presentations; media amplifications, etc.)
• Internal brand expert
• Basic to advance knowledge of digital strategy and planning (Meta, Google, TikTok, programmatic, etc.)
• Abreast with various digital innovations , advancement
• Knowledge of how e-commerce platforms work
• Meet several client demands
• Diligently responds to client emails and requests
• Able to build rapport easily with client (client go-to point person)

Commercial

• Ability to track, monitor and ensure profitability of primary accounts handled and involvement of SBUs
• Ability to spot and sell opportunities to clients for new revenue streams across the diversified services of the whole group

New Business

• Participation in new business as required

Prioritization

• 30% Client
• 30% Internal
• 20% Commercial
• 20% New Business

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Client

• Positive client relationships; understands clients' business and challenges (High and stable TRR scores/rating)
• Measurable client business KPIs met
• Lead and contribute key media inputs for best in class communications planning solutions that propel the communications idea from brief to executions
• Able to effectively lead the management of the client’s communications budget to successful outcomes
• Accurately and effectively manage client’s day to day communications design product requirements
• Delivers thought leadership & communications design expertise across clients
• Responsible for the successful sell-in of innovative communications design ideas & solutions
• Produce at least 1 campaign that can be entered into awards

Internal

• Can demonstrate excellence across all communications design tools and techniques
• Communications design plans consistently and strongly reflect strategic intent
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with internal and external partners
• Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate the team

Commercial

• Specialty Business Unit revenue growth via communications design (client base)
• Organic revenue growth from communications design scope (client base)

New Business

• Contribution to new business success (local market)
• Positive contribution to new business performance

DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent work experience
• 5-8 years in integrated planning role in media , publisher/vendor, or communications discipline (digital, content)
• Category or audience experience as relevant per assignment
• Ability to delegate and oversee direct reports
• Proven ability to develop and maintain strong professional relationships with clients, colleagues and media partner vendors
• 2+ years of experience in managing or developing staff
• Strong time-management and organizational skills
• Strong presentation skills
• Required proficiency and solid working knowledge of Microsoft Office (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Proven problem-solving ability
• Ability to work independently and as part of an integrated team, handling multiple projects and meeting tight deadlines under pressure
• Experience/involvement in new business planning
• Amenable to a flexible hybrid work arrangement with at least twice a week office reporting at Two NEO, BGC, Taguig City.

If you believe that the team and this role might be perfect for YOU, go ahead and click on LinkedIn's "Easy Apply" to start the process.

IPG Mediabrands is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in the workplace. We encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

Thank you in advance for your interest in IPG Mediabrands Philippines, Inc.!