Description

About EssenceMediacom

Essence, part of GroupM, is a global data and measurement-driven media agency whose mission is to make advertising more valuable to the world. Clients include Google, Flipkart, NBCUniversal, L'Oréal and the Financial Times. The agency is more than 2,000 people strong, manages $4B in annualized media spend and deploys campaigns in 121 markets via 21 offices in APAC, EMEA and North America. Visit essenceglobal.com for more information and follow us on Twitter at @essenceglobal.

About the role

The Japan Head of Media is responsible for leading overall media strategy, planning, and activation capability in Japan.  With oversight of the media team, the position is responsible for our core media service delivery across Google, and pushing industry leadership.  To succeed and ensure best-in-class capabilities, the role requires close partnership with other MFG teams (client service, analytics, investment etc) along with other GroupM constituents.

MFG is a full-service, data-led media agency, and your core responsibilities will span across all media channels.  Extensive experience in media strategy and planning, with deep focus on digital media, and fluency in emerging media (programmatic, addressable, biddable (search/social), gaming, etc.) are integral in this role.  Most critically, applying a broad understanding of the marketplace to drive innovation and creativity across our client deliverables is central to the role.

As the most senior media officer for Google, thought-leadership, engagement with industry partners/associations, and ongoing senior client provocation will be expected.  This includes working with colleagues across regions and disciplines to craft leading-edge POVs on topics that are front-and-central to our clients. 

You will report into the MFG JP Lead, be accountable to the EssenceMediacom JP MD for new initiatives.

Some of the things we’d like you to do:

• Lead a team of 40+ across the Japan business (planning, strategy, & activation)

• Ensure operating model and work product consistency 

• Stay one-step ahead of the marketplace and bring the latest solutions to help our client win (use of new channels, methods, techniques, tools and systems.)

• Provide regular, ongoing engagement at the senior-most client level to establish strategy buy-in and develop approach for successful delivery

• Drive strategy, planning and activation teams to imagine, invent and create ambitious ideas with our partners that are strategically connected from insight to implementation

• Synthesize trends and marketplace developments for internal teams and external clients.

• Participate in thought-leadership opportunities to establish Essence as a leader in the industry.

• Inform GroupM and Essence tool and technology development priorities

• Work with Learning & Culture team to assemble, update and deploy ongoing training and development initiatives

• Oversee media department growth by assisting with recruitment/ interviewing/hiring

• Partner with Client Service and Resource Management to oversee project scope, budget, timelines, assets, approval, post-mortems, etc.

• Partner with client and Essence research & analytics teams to identify key insights and implement relevant and effective measurement solutions.

A bit about yourself:

• Deep integrated media strategy and planning experience.

• Deep understanding of the Japanese client and agency dynamics in advertising;  

• Robust understanding of digital media including data and targeting solutions.

• Experience with addressable offerings.

• Adept problem-solver and with a natural ability to prioritize tasks.

• Ability to lead and manage initiatives, while driving collaboration across internal cross-functional teams, with multiple external partners.

• Extensive storytelling and presentation skills.

• Familiarity with Google collaboration tools (GSuite), external 3rd party data platforms, and presentation software.