Agency: Initiative

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Function/Craft: Client Operations

Position Title: Associate Director

Business Overview

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. Initiative builds Fame & Flow for brands like Nike, Amazon, Merck, and T-Mobile. 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.

We make a promise to our people that we double down on seeing, celebrating & elevating all the things that make you, uniquely you. And just as we do for our brands and clients, we connect our people to the journeys that matter in building a meaningful career.

There are four I’s in Initiative and these represent our core values and behaviors.

• INDIVID[YOU]ALITY – you bring your genuine and unique self to and into the work, every day.

• INSTINCT – you’re tuned in and armed with intelligence; you have a bias for action – shit happens when you’re around.

• IMPACT! – you care deeply about the impact you have on our clients, their customers, our community, the media landscape and our world at large.

• IMAGINATION – your ability to imagine and bring to life the ideas, solutions, and the future of Initiative, makes us THE create media agency in the world.

Position Overview

We are currently seeking an experienced Associate Director, Client Operations to join our dynamic team dedicated to the Intuit Global Business Solutions (QuickBooks and Mailchimp) account. Working closely with the Managing Director, Head of Client Operations and Craft Leads, the successful candidate will be an integral player across the matrixed team and play a key role in managing individual projects within our comprehensive program related to the Intuit business and tying back to the larger goals of the Omnicom Media organization. In partnership with the MD and Craft Leads, this role will be responsible for establishing a clear, effective blueprint for streamlined ways of working – with the ultimate goals of increased team efficiency account-wide and flawless project completion & delivery. This person will work cross-functionally to identify opportunities for optimization & standardization across the teams as a whole– i.e. sharing resources, eliminating duplicate workstreams, making recommendations to help keep our disciplines connected and operating at highest capacity, etc. The Associate Director will be responsible for project management (Asana/Workfront), team support, meeting support, process and governance plans, and acting as an AI Champion across the team.

Responsibilities include:

PROJECT MANAGEMENT STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICES

• Drive Operational Excellence across the business, inclusive of brilliant basics, standardization of processes, automation of various workflows, and application of PM methodologies.

• Partner with business leadership and craft leads to help manage annual roadmap of key projects and planning timelines and ensure full internal agency team has line of site into craft specific deliverables and any appropriate client action items.

• Maintain the agency team's "Hot Sheet" to ensure everyone, including business lead, is aware of key meetings, deliverables, and overall team status; support leadership in prioritizing weekly deliverables; highlighting any potential risks and remove blockers to success
• Oversee and project manage twice-monthly financial and budget processes (incl. being the liaison between internal activation teams and INI Client Finance) ensuring deliverables and deadlines meet client requirements and quality standards.
• Establish and reinforce departmental standards for project management excellence across all projects

WORKFLOW OPTIMIZATION AND IMPROVEMENT

• Team up with department leads to optimize project workflows and ensure alignment with organizational goals and processes.
• Identify and address inefficiencies in project activation processes, while working collaboratively with stakeholders to identify and implement optimizations.

• Lead the definition and implementation of new processes to enhance operational efficiency across campaigns, in adherence to organization’s processes

• Champion all agency Tech & Tools (AI, Asana & Omni) and support workflow improvements through their use

DOCUMENTATION & GOVERNANCE

• In collaboration with team leads, refresh onboarding and training materials to support the ongoing development of the team.
• Responsible for the creation and maintenance of the Intuit Operations playbook, documenting any & all internal and cross-agency ways of working.

• Develop and implement clear communication standards and protocols to streamline project-related communication.
• Refresh and Maintain SLA’s across crafts
• Bi-Annual Meeting Audit to re-align calendars and attendees ensuring teams have proper focus time to deliver on client needs

MISCELLANEOUS

• Connect and cross-share best practices for Initiative x Intuit account across Global Hubs (some working hours may vary to accommodate global call times PST/EST/GMT)

• Support team Events and Travel with oversight of team T&E approvals and management, Event/Offsite/Workshop Planning and Coordination.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Subject Matter Expert in media Project Management tools like Asana, or other relevant Project Management software. Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications (Sharepoint, Powerpoint, Excel, etc) and the Google Suite (Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, etc).

• Core understanding of Media Planning Tools and Tech including: MediaOcean (DDS/MediaOX, Prisma, etc), AdOps Trafficking Processes, Creative workflow and management
• Strong direction and team management skills, with the ability to connect, inspire and guide project teams.

• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, negotiation, and decision-making skills.

• Collaborative and team-oriented leadership style, with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships across the organization.

• Detail oriented with strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Adaptable and able to work in a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Exceptional time management skills.
• Some Travel Required (<5%).

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Wage and Benefits

We offer a Total Rewards package that includes medical and dental coverage, 401(k) plans, flex spending, life insurance, disability, employee discount program, employee stock purchase program and paid family benefits to support you and your family.

The salary range for this position is posted below. Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position, market considerations, budgetary considerations, tenure and standing with the Company (applicable to current employees), as well as the employee’s/applicant’s skill set, level of experience, and qualifications.

Employment Transparency

It is our policy 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.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. The job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and other job functions are subject to modification. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

For applicants to jobs in the United States: In compliance with the current Americans with Disabilities Act and state and local laws, if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position, please email accommodation@mbww.com.