Associate Director, Strategy

Comms Planning & Strategy New York, New York


Description

Position at Wavemaker

 
Overview: 
At Wavemaker, we believe in positive provocation, using media, content and technology to drive growth for clients through strategies that reshape their business. Our name is both our mission and our method. You will be the engine for that provocation, translating it into actionable strategic recommendations to guide planning and campaign activation with the guidance of senior strategic leadership.  
The Associate Director of Strategy is an integral part of the strategic process, being fully embedded in one or more client teams and involved with strategic development from the pre-brief discovery all the way through to campaign execution and measurement. You are the day-to-day client’s go to advisor, and you are critical to ensure that Wavemaker’s positive provocations are understood and put into action both internally and externally.  
We know you aren’t just looking for growth for your clients, but also for yourself professionally. As you settle and develop, you will take on more of the leadership of an account, increasing the seniority of your client relationships, the scale of your thinking, and the impact you can make on a client’s business.  
Key Responsibilities: 
  • Lead the strategic direction of an account with support from a Group Strategy Director 
  • Create thought leadership and ensure innovation within strategy, as well as leading brainstorms and participating in new business pitches 
  • Oversee senior strategists and strategists on an account and guide their development 
  • Distill, challenge, and translate client briefs into inspiring insight led media strategy and communication briefs, with clear objectives and insights 
  • Create concise and compelling stories around a strategy to inspire teams and clients 
  • Build knowledge of a client’s business, brand, category and communication strategy to make strategic recommendations for growth, in partnership with the insights team 
  • Create strategic recommendations with consideration for emerging media and consumer behavior opportunities  
  • Build insightful points of view into consumer audiences, behaviors and attitudes, including provocations on audience prioritization, growth opportunities and the purchase journey 
  • Partner with planning and executional teams to ensure the strategy translates into tactical decisions reflecting the thinking, told in a compelling way  
Requirements:  
  • 7+ years overall media or advertising industry experience in a strategic capacity 
  • Understanding of the principles of media and ability to think across marketing, advertising and media, including media concepts and terms, creative and budget requirements 
  • Superior written and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly engage stakeholders with a strategy 
  • Collaborative approach to working, which works across a variety of disciplines and personality types 
  • Active interest in advertising, media strategy, technology, and as relevant, a client’s business and category 
  • Solid time management skills, including the ability to manage project deadlines and to proactively investigate opportunities in downtime.  
  • Ability to manage multiple projects and requests from different groups 
Life at GroupM

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. GroupM employees can tap into the global GroupM & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.    

GroupM is WPP’s media investment group and the world’s leading media investment company with a mission to shape the next era of media where advertising works better for people. The company is responsible for more than $60 billion in annual media investment, as measured by the independent research bureau COMvergence. Through its global agencies Mindshare, Wavemaker, EssenceMediacom, and T&Pm, and cross-channel performance (GroupM Nexus), data (Choreograph), entertainment (GroupM Motion Entertainment) and investment solutions, GroupM leverages a unique combination of global scale, expertise, and innovation to generate sustained value for clients wherever they do business. Discover more at www.groupm.com.

GroupM provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race; color; sex; gender identity; sexual orientation; religious practices and observances; national origin; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; status as a protected veteran or spouse/family member of a protected veteran; or disability.

GroupM is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with GroupM, please send an e-mail to GroupM Leave Administration at [email protected] or call (212) 297-8507 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
 
The base salary for this position at the time of this posting may range from $75,000 to $180,000. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including business needs, experience, level of responsibility and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, please visit https://www.wpp.com/people/wellbeing/benefits-at-wpp-in-the-us for more details.