About Us

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. 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.

Discipline Overview

New Business is the lifeblood of any agency, and success in the industry is usually born out of a proven track record of winning new business. As a result, Growth is at the heart of Initiative.

The EMEA Growth team is responsible for managing and executing the entire agency response to a pitch brief (whether this is to defend an existing client or a pitch for a potential new partner). They are also responsible for building Initiative’s reputation in the marketplace, liaising with key influencers such as intermediaries, media owners, clients, and prospective clients.

Reporting to the EMEA Growth Director and the EMEA Head of Growth you will be supporting EMEA and global new business pitches and high-profile local market pitches. The role will require you to lead RFIs, support RFPs and lead the project management function for multi-market pitches. It will also require network management and relationship building. Through liaising with markets to keep up to date with the latest market news, ensuring local credentials are up to date, providing support on the role of global creds in local markets and working with the local teams to ensure all reporting is up to date.

You will have the opportunity to contribute to the biggest client pitches, giving you a real insight into how we help grow both our clients’ businesses and our own. From searching for new clients to helping to produce best-in-class theatrical pitch productions, this role offers wide-ranging opportunities to improve your creative, strategic, commercial and project management skills. It is a role that combines creativity with business acumen, offering a diverse and immersive environment to learn and grow from - an exciting and unique opportunity where your creative flare and business acumen will be equally valued.

Role Responsibilities

Pitch Management & Delivery

• Work alongside the Head of Growth & Growth Director to project manage the pitch team by establishing a clear process for delivery of all required elements.
• Create pitch timing plans and budget sheets, manage the sign-off with the leadership team, and track accordingly alongside the internal finance process, e.g. creating POs, managing invoices, and reconciling costs.
• Lead RFIs with the support of the Head of Growth & Growth Director.
• Support RFP responses and help steward pitch check-in meetings and pitch logistics.
• Work with the pitch team to prepare pitch briefing materials, including business background research, internal kick-off decks, and client intel.
• Brief and manage design teams to deliver key documentation and pitch theatre/collateral/mock-ups/video elements for pitch responses.
• Proofread pitch responses.
• When required, travel to other markets for regional and local pitches.

Organic Growth and Reporting

• Support in managing new business database – organising and archiving RFI responses, brand assets, company information and key contact records – both internal and external.
• Communicate regularly with leadership and teams through weekly emails and communication
• Support on external and internal CRM new business reporting.
• Build relationships with RECMA and COMvergence – ensuring our business success is captured accurately.

Market Engagement

• Build relationships with local markets & key personnel across the agency.
• Connect with EMEA’s priority markets on monthly calls and become the point of contact for market queries/questions.
• Prospect Marketing
• Help develop the EMEA business development strategy and implementation.
• Ensure local markets are actively prospecting and synchronising relevant opportunities to ensure there isn’t duplication of work and that we’re approaching new lead development intelligently and proficiently.

Desired Skills & Experience

We are looking for someone who matches our hunger to succeed as well as having personality and creative flair to make a positive difference to a team that is often as pressurised as it is fun.

You will need an understanding of the media and marketing sector and experience with media agencies and/or media owners. The environment you will be immersed in is busy, focused and supportive.

You will be working in a fast-paced environment requiring a dynamic can-do attitude. Our ideal candidate would be an ambitious, creative, energetic person who is naturally curious and eager to learn.

• Proactive in nature with a growth mindset
• Extremely organised and a self-starter.
• A passion to always deliver the very best, individually and as part of a team.
• Extensive experience in media, ideally with past New Business experience.
• Be approachable, helpful and easy to work with.
• An understanding of how to deliver projects with multiple stakeholders and demanding deadlines.
• Intermediate to Advanced PowerPoint skills & Excel Skills
• Experience with Salesforce would be an advantage
• Excellent written and spoken English

Employee Transparency

At Mediabrands and Kinesso, we celebrate difference and believe this makes us stronger. Mediabrands and Kinesso are equal opportunity employers and committed to championing an inclusive culture that provides a sense of belonging for all our employees. We do not discriminate against any applicant based on age, disability, race, colour, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, belief, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please reach out to our Talent Inclusion Specialist Jess at Jess.Richardson@mbww.com if you would like to have a confidential conversation regarding any adjustments that would ensure our recruitment process is accessible for you. Please note requesting a reasonable adjustment will not affect your application.

The Perks

We aim to provide all our people with a supportive and fun work environment where you can develop your full potential and benefit from the broad range of opportunities within the agency. When you join us, we want to make sure you feel valued – and that you are rewarded for your fantastic work. So, we also offer a range of benefits:

• Flexi–leave, with 25 days annual leave to be taken as minimum. In addition to your holiday entitlement, the office usually closes between Christmas & New Year
• Free breakfast and free lunch
• Early finish Fridays
• Core Hours (Mon-Thurs, flexible start/finish times)
• Retail discounts
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifices car scheme
• Wellbeing programme, including Headspace & flu jabs
• Interest free season ticket loan
• Paid time off for Volunteering
• Group Income Protection
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical Insurance or Health Cash Plan (dependent on level)
• Group Personal Pension Plan with matched contributions from 3-6%
• Generous Parental Leave & Pay
• Independent mortgage advice
• Financial education
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free eye tests
• Flexible benefits including Dental, Travel insurance, Cycle to Work, Gym Discounts and many more!