About Us

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.
We’re not the biggest agency in town, so rather than outsize our competitors we must outsmart them. That’s why we’ve built the strongest strategic capability of any agency in the market. Core to this strategic capability is an obsession with culture and how brands can pivot from brand advertising (which is forgettable) to cultural branding (which is highly memorable).
Our new world model is comprised of four central “craft centers” – Client Advice and Management, Strategy, Communications Design and Partnerships.
Here is a brief description of each center.

Client Advice & Management

Client Advice acts as both business partner to the client and internal leader to brief, inspire, motivate and drive our teams to deliver the highest quality integrated solutions across a full spectrum of communication disciplines – Strategy, Communications Design, Partnerships and Mediabrands Specialty Business Units in areas like Social, Programmatic, Mobile, Search and Innovation.

The authority on all Initiative and IPG Mediabrands services, Client Advice is responsible for regularly identifying unmet client needs and challenges, for bringing forth specialized services and solutions to meet those needs, and for growing Initiative’s client relationships in both revenue and profitability. Importantly, Client Advice must also ensure that reasonable, achievable and business appropriate KPI’s are in place to ensure a positive and mutually beneficial relationship between agency and client.

PARTNERSHIPS

The Partnerships team is the next generation marketplace team of experts that identify, broker and manage the relationship between media, partners and culture vehicles for a given brand. This team leads partner evaluations, makes strategic investment recommendations and manages in-market KPIs. Partnerships works closely with Strategy and Communications Design to bring communications experiences to life and drive innovation. This team ensures we are supporting and executing against the overall corporate initiatives as well as drive maximum value for our clients.

Each craft center is as important as the other, because only when they are effectively combined can we produce a truly creative and integrated product for our clients.

We strive for world-class work on every client, every time.

We believe that good enough is not good enough. We hope you do too.

We are excited to have you and your unique talent helping us to realize our ambition to be the best media agency in the world.

Initiative is building the most streamlined and integrated Partnerships teams in the industry. We do not operate in silos. As such, our best and brightest Partnerships leaders from both Traditional and Digital backgrounds are charged with leading the Partnerships teams and delivering on the following:

• Marketplace landscape experts internally and with clients
• Media partner evaluation, selection and recommendations leveraging strategic /consumer insights, marketplace insights, and Initiative’s proprietary partner selection data and toolsets
• Strategic partnership solutions, negotiation/go‐to-market strategies, and audience—focused strategies, designed to deliver on client objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Innovation and emerging partner test opportunities to drive client KPIs
• Support MAGNA aggregate negotiations across all media channels
• Support and facilitate IPG Mediabrands corporate, agency and external media initiatives

ROLE OVERVIEW: MANAGER, PARTNERSHIPS (PRINT & CINEMA)

The Manager (Print & Cinema) is a base-level management role on the partnerships team, responsible for the strategic planning, execution, and optimization of national and regional print and cinema advertising campaigns. This includes overseeing all aspects of campaign development, from initial planning and negotiation to post-campaign analysis and reporting. The Manager is responsible for maximizing the effectiveness and efficiency of print and cinema investments, ensuring campaigns align with client objectives and deliver measurable results. The individual is tasked with developing and maintaining strong relationships with both internal teams and external partners, including other SBU teams, client teams, and media owners. A confident communicator and team player, the ideal candidate will be proactive, detail-oriented, and possess a deep understanding of the print and cinema advertising landscape.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Client

• Operate as the back up to the Associate Director relating to client relationships
• Collaborate with Comms Design, Client Advice and Management and media partners to ensure alignment with and delivery against client KPI’s
• Update status documents for client meetings
• Prepare e-mail recommendations, buy presentations and present to clients
• Write POVs for targeted opportunities on an on-going basis for clients to further drive their business
• Stay knowledgeable about client’s business and its competitors to determine sufficient advertising and media needs and ensure plans are properly executed and delivered

Internal

• Support direct reports in the day-to-day activities and provide direction
• Provide superior negotiations delivering the maximum strategic value and efficiency, using IPGMB benchmarking capabilities to ensure best in class rates and efficiency
• Oversee the execution of media negotiations
• Collaborate with media partners to develop promotional and other amplification opportunities to enhance each investment
• Responsible for smooth running of day-to-day activities
• Manage internal relationships with client teams
• Resolve issues with media partners (Negotiation of added value, other discrepancies etc)
• Prepare and deliver proposals to various audiences
• Work with and manage internal comms with SBU stakeholders where appropriate, working effectively and collaboratively
• Maintain market knowledge, arrange internal media owner meetings for the team/wider agency teams.
• Train negotiators and associates in all the nuances of negotiation as well as all internal programs/services and how to use them
• Provide senior-level guidance and overseeing of client briefs, media plan development, rationale, PCA’s and client presentations to ensure quality and client-readiness

Commercial

• Develop and maintain media partner relationships
• Negotiate pricing that reflects efficiencies and meets clients objectives
• Ensure understanding of MAGNA negotiation priorities

Prioritization:

• 20% Client
• 80% Internal

Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s):

- Client
• Manager is seen by client as key liaison for marketplace intelligence, negotiation and partnership needs
• Ability to successfully manage team’s response to client requests and help guide and steward process and plan changes
• Ability to lead team in developing buys that are strategic, deliver on client objectives and meet goals

Internal

• Successful stewardship of all work done by Negotiators, Sr Negotiators and Associates
• Participates in agency and external personal growth & education initiatives
• Seen by internal stakeholders as first level of “management” for the team
• Adherence to / use of agency processes and tools
• Positive collaboration partner to MB SBU's
• Ability to ensure proper delegation and workflow for team on all projects

Commercial

• Supports and delivers on MAGNA agency-wide media partnership targets
• Ensures and advocates for agency partner relationships
• Seeks ways to deliver best in class pricing through strategic negotiations

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor degree in related field or equivalent work experience
• 4+ years of buying network, cable and syndication with a Media company or experience within the Media Industry
• Experience in negotiation
• Proven leadership ability and/or prior experience in supervising a team preferred
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven superior customer service skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Desktop software, specifically Excel and Word, PowerPoint preferred
• Proficient with the following applications - Prisma, DDS/MX Explorer, MX Stats, Telmar
• Knowledge and understanding of the Print & Cinema UK landscape
• Demonstrated ability to think and execute “out of the box” ideas
• Developed relationships with key media partners
• Ability to work successfully within a team, handling multiple projects and meeting tight deadlines under pressure
• Strong analytical abilities and quantitative skills, including math proficiency
• Ability to effectively utilize media research and reporting resources

It is the policy of Initiative and IPG Mediabrands, divisions of the Interpublic Group, to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law

Employee Transparency

At IPG Mediabrands, we celebrate differences and believe this makes us stronger. IPG Mediabrands are equal-opportunity employers 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 sacrifice 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!