Senior Associate, Commerce Strategy

Business Overview

If you are looking for a people-first organization that can offer you the career you crave, UM is your home. We are the destination of choice for the world’s best talent, where every individual is empowered to unleash their limitless potential and do the best work of their careers.  

We are always searching for passionate team members who love media and live and breathe our core values of Curiosity, Courage, and Community. We seek out those who aren’t afraid to ask the tough questions, are excited to explore the nuances, and are hungry for personal growth and continuous learning. People who thrive at UM are collaborators by nature who pursue diverse perspectives because they understand that true innovation is driven by inclusivity. As a people-first agency, we provide the information, tools and technology, career development, and empowerment our people need to realize their potential and achieve their career ambitions.   

A global media network within the IPG Mediabrands family, UM operates in over 100 countries, with 3,000+ people innovating on a roster of powerful brands and our client campaigns have been recognized by the industry’s most competitive global showcases like Cannes Lions, Festival of Media Global, and WARC.   

As a result of our people-first commitment, UM has been celebrated as a FORTUNE Best Workplace in Advertising & Marketing in the US, a Campaign Best Place to Work in EMEA, a Campaign Asia Diverse & Inclusive Workplace in APAC, a top 3 agency in LATAM by The Effies, and ranked the number one agency in both Canada and MENAT by RECMA. 

Position Overview

We seek a junior strategist who will support the Commerce Strategy Director in developing communications strategy for key brands within our client portfolio. This role will identify insights across culture, category, consumer, and connections to form the basis for strategic planning. By focusing on why people think, feel and act the way that they do, the Sr. Associate, Strategy will help create communication strategies and ideas that build Cultural impact, Community relevance and Commerce connection for the brand.

Strategists at UM are ‘visionary architects’, building campaigns and insights at the intersection of science (data) and art (creativity), therefore this individual will be a strategic leader working in close partnership with team members across Planning, Analytics, Investment and Studios (content & partnerships) to deliver fully integrated campaigns. They will also collaborate with integrated client teams - including in-house creative, PR, etc.

This role will also secondarily support the Research Director on pursuing the ‘why’ and the ‘how’. They are responsible for ensuring projects are completed in a timely fashion, managing vendor relationships, and analyzing data to glean meaningful and actionable insights.

Responsibilities

• Become the expert and champion of UM’s proprietary data tools, syndicated research (Simmons-MRI, GWI, etc.) and have a knack for desktop research to uncover compelling insights within Culture, Communities and Commerce
• Support in the development of UM’s consumer profiling for core HVAs (high value audiences) including synthesis of consumer data and storytelling
• Maintain deep understanding of the business, brand, target audiences and category
• Support the Direction in developing Strategic Blueprints that articulate the insights, strategic pillars and media imperatives for campaigns
• Collaborate in the creation, selling and execution of activation ideas; Actively participate in ideation sessions with integrated planning team
• Assist in crafting RFPs (requests for proposals) that are both inspiring and strategic, and stay involved in evaluating/shaping partner submissions
• Partner with planning and investment teams to effectively pull-through strategy into media ideas and tactics
• Package insights, strategy, and activation ideas for simplicity and clarity and assist in crafting compelling narratives across any client-facing presentations
• Develop effective and inspiring working relationships within agency team and with senior clients

Required Skills and Experience

• Enthusiastic consumer of, and curiosity about, pop culture and the ever-changing media landscape
• Persuasive with outstanding written and oral communication skills
• Comfortable with pulling, analyzing and applying data to support their thinking
• Basic understanding of major desktop research tools (i.e. Google Trends) and qualitative research techniques
• UM does not require candidates to have a college degree

Desired Skills and Experience

• Previous experience at a media agency, creative agency or digital agency (1-2 years is ideal). That said, proven strategic comms ability and understanding of consumer behavior is most important
• Demonstrated creativity
• Independent, efficient and prospers in fast paced environment
• Proven ability to simplify the complex and focus on the points that matter most

We See You  

At IPG Mediabrands, we are unified behind a commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging. Together, we shine through a set of shared values and behaviors. We take pride in our responsibility to our clients, communities, and to each other. We embrace differences and recognize the unique value that each of us brings to our community.  

We encourage you to apply, as unique backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences are welcomed.   

We See You at IPG Mediabrands. 

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. To give you the ability to better meet your personal needs, and in support of your physical and emotional well-being, you will receive discretionary time off days and company-wide Appreciation Weeks and Wellness Days. 

We also offer a competitive Total Compensation package, including a competitive salary and eligibility for an annual discretionary incentive award or a relevant incentive award. 

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 the policy of Mediabrands, division 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. 

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 with Mediabrands, please email [email protected].

About IPG Mediabrands 

IPG Mediabrands is the media and marketing solutions division of Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). IPG Mediabrands manages over $47 billion in marketing investment globally on behalf of its clients across its full-service agency networks UM, Initiative and Mediahub and through its award-winning specialty business units Healix, Kinesso, MAGNA, Mediabrands Content Studio, Orion Holdings, Rapport, and the IPG Media Lab. IPG Mediabrands clients include many of the world’s most recognizable and iconic brands from a broad portfolio of industry sectors including automotive, personal finance, consumer product goods (CPG), pharma, health and wellness, entertainment, financial services, energy, toys and gaming, direct to consumer and e-commerce, retail, hospitality, food and beverage, fashion and beauty. The company employs more than 18,000 diverse marketing communication professionals in more than 130 countries. Learn more at www.ipgmediabrands.com.