Paid Search Associate Director, EssenceMediacom – EMEA Activation Hub (UK Based)

EssenceMediacom is GroupM’s newest and largest agency, committed to delivering marketing breakthroughs for brands. It has disrupted the old models across media, creative, innovation and analytics to find new opportunities for advertisers and deliver truly integrated media solutions.

Born out of two pioneering agencies, EssenceMediacom fuses Essence’s performance, data, analytics, and creative technology DNA with MediaCom’s scaled multichannel audience planning and strategic media expertise.

As part of WPP, the world's largest marketing communications services group, and GroupM, WPP’s consolidated media investment management arm, we have access to the richest data, most robust benchmarks, and most advanced capabilities in the market. This helps us provide comprehensive solutions to all marketing challenges.

Our ‘breakthrough’ ambition is underpinned by our commitment to ‘continuous learning.’ We aim to ensure our people fulfil their potential by investing in their whole-person wellbeing, careers, and capabilities, which in turn helps grow our clients’ businesses.

EssenceMediacom, with 10,000 people across 120 offices in 96 markets, is one of the world’s leading communications specialists, with billings of more than US$21 billion (Source: COMvergence, 2021). Its global client roster includes adidas, Coca-Cola (TCCC), Dell, Google, Hasbro, Mars, NBC Universal, P&G, Richemont, Shell, Sony, and Uber.

Find out more at www.essencemediacom.com. Alternatively, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

About GroupM Nexus

GroupM Nexus UK is a community of more than 1,000 specialists comprised of Search, Social, Programmatic & Display, and Ad Tech Ops Practice Squads from across the GroupM agencies.

GroupM Nexus is designed to accelerate GroupM clients’ businesses by leveraging the power and capabilities of GroupM and its agencies, through partnerships with the world’s leading digital platforms, advanced accreditations for digital practitioners, and continued development and deployment of industry-leading benchmarks.

Reports to: Paid Search Senior Associate Director

The role

We are the EssenceMediacom Worldwide Paid Search team, servicing both centrally executed campaigns in multiple languages as well as coordinating and supporting strategic directions across markets.  We work on a mix of blue-chip clients for both direct and brand led initiatives including but not limited to: The Coca Cola Company, Uber, Shell, EY, Dell, adidas & Sony. 

We are looking for a driven and enthusiastic Paid Search specialist to join EssenceMediacom Worldwide as a Paid Search Associate Director.  This is an opportunity to become part of a specialist planning & buying team with an international remit across truly global advertisers. We have an integrated approach to planning, and you would gain exposure to all media channels with the opportunity to feed insights back into Paid Search strategies. The day to day responsibilities includes project managing the output of the team as well as liaising between major stakeholder groups: the centralized Mediacom planning teams, local markets & the client. It is essential that the person in this role expresses an interest in the industry and is confident in discussing complex elements of Paid Search to senior stakeholders.

The successful candidate will be able to develop their career with EssenceMediacom as they will be enabled to continually improve and expand on their Paid Search skills, with growth opportunities both upwards and sideways.   The candidate will also have the opportunity to work across a diverse client base and help to shape and inform client strategy.

The Candidate

Essential:

• Strong commercial mind-set, leading on delivery of services in line with client objectives, service level agreements and terms of business
• Leadership skills, strong leader with previous experience of leading a successful team
• Communication skills, can convey complex topics to different stakeholder types
• Strong presenting skills, able to present confidently in front of large audiences
• Advanced Knowledge of Paid Search with a passion to proactively test the boundaries of this discipline
• Passion for Paid Search, demonstrated by a proven track record of driving performance for clients
• Numerate, analytical, and administratively competent with strong attention to detail

Desirable:

• Additional language capabilities
• Industry Vertical Knowledge
• Proficient use of bid management technologies available in the industry
• Abreast of Key Industry updates which could translate to strategy for the client
• In – Depth knowledge of Google Shopping
• Experience working with clients with large budgets

Accountabilities include:

General Tasks:

• Work closely with the client planning teams & specialist teams
• Act as a representative of the Paid Search department and EssenceMediaCom. Build relationships throughout the company, identify opportunity for client growth.
• Build strong & collaborative client relationship
• Ensure all meeting outcomes are reported & delivered against by team.
• Shape & inform client strategy & client services.
• Have an ability to be highly motivated, numerate, and articulate, both when speaking to clients, writing documents and analysing results.
• Financial accuracy through the planning & buying process.
• Assist with P&L Management
• Creation and maintenance of Scope of Works.

Search specific tasks:

• Responsible for continued development of search accounts and other biddable channels within own team and wider department
• Advanced understanding of search & biddable principles and applying it to the client verticals.
• Advanced experience with bid management, analytics & competitive insights tools available in the market
• Show initiative and pro-activity in growing the accounts, increasing efficiencies, and identifying new client opportunities.
• An in-depth understanding of the biddable landscape as it relates to various channels including display and video.

People/Team Responsibilities

• Responsibility for team, which includes ensuring clear KPIs and delivery against targets. 
• Clear split of role & responsibilities, awareness of team’s tasks & deliverables.
• Enable Resource Management
• Ensure training for team based on their level and identify their strengths & weaknesses for their further career development.