Paid Social Account Director - EMEA

Paid Social Account Director, EssenceMediacom – EMEA Activation Hub (UK Based)

EssenceMediacom is GroupM’s newest and largest agency, committed to delivering marketing breakthroughs for brands. It has disrupted the old models across media, creative, innovation and analytics to find new opportunities for advertisers and deliver truly integrated media solutions.

Born out of two pioneering agencies, EssenceMediacom fuses Essence’s performance, data, analytics, and creative technology DNA with MediaCom’s scaled multichannel audience planning and strategic media expertise.

As part of WPP, the world's largest marketing communications services group, and GroupM, WPP’s consolidated media investment management arm, we have access to the richest data, most robust benchmarks, and most advanced capabilities in the market. This helps us provide comprehensive solutions to all marketing challenges.

Our ‘breakthrough’ ambition is underpinned by our commitment to ‘continuous learning.’ We aim to ensure our people fulfil their potential by investing in their whole-person wellbeing, careers, and capabilities, which in turn helps grow our clients’ businesses.

EssenceMediacom, with 10,000 people across 120 offices in 96 markets, is one of the world’s leading communications specialists, with billings of more than US$21 billion (Source: COMvergence, 2021). Its global client roster includes adidas, Coca-Cola (TCCC), Dell, Google, Hasbro, Mars, NBC Universal, P&G, Richemont, and Sony.

Find out more at www.essencemediacom.com. Alternatively, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

Reports to: Paid Social Senior Associate Director

The role

We are the EssenceMediacom Worldwide Paid Social team, servicing both centrally executed campaigns in multiple languages as well as coordinating and supporting strategic directions across markets.  We work on a mix of blue-chip clients for both direct and brand led initiatives including but not limited to: The Coca Cola Company, Uber, Shell, EY, Dell, adidas & Sony. 

We are looking for a driven and enthusiastic Paid Social specialist to join EssenceMediacom Worldwide as a Paid Social Account Director.  This is an opportunity will involve the creation and execution of Paid Social strategies. Client servicing to the highest standards is an integral element to this role, not only to serve existing clients, but to also grow new business pipelines. It will also involve the management of more junior team members, nurturing their paid social skill sets, with the expansion of further resources based on client successes.  You will need a proven track record in paid social, ideally for a blend of direct response & brand client base.  Having worked in the delivery of paid social strategy and operations, managing individuals, and fostering strong client relationships.

The successful candidate will be able to develop their career with EssenceMediacom as they will be enabled to continually improve and expand on their paid social skills, with growth opportunities both upwards and sideways.   The candidate will also have the opportunity to work across a diverse client base and help to shape and inform client strategy.

Accountabilities include:

Strategic Skills

• Ensuring that Social best practice and frameworks are adhered to and be able to demonstrate continued account evolution.
• Understanding and advising on the difference between brand vs direct response campaigns
• To understand Social within the wider marketing mix, its strategic importance throughout the customer journey.
• Create/design Social biddable media strategy for client portfolio with managers
• Ensure strategy is clear and most appropriate to the client's objectives and KPIs with managers
• Ensure the quality of delivery and that strategy is effectively implementable by the team
• To identify areas of, and present back, opportunities (or limitations) that exists for the clients business. Seeking opportunities to innovate.
• Build and maintain relationships with social tools and third-party technology partners
• Build and own relationships with media owners including Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr and others

Client Account Management

• Manage the relationship with the client principle and ensure client and agency aspirations are aligned
• To manage both internal and external stakeholders understanding of Paid Social, through education and relevant communication.
• To act as a representative of the Paid Social department and MediaCom at all times. To build relationships throughout the company, identify opportunity for client growth
• To manage client output (reports, PCAs, plans), prioritisation of tasks, and ensure communications are tailored to the audience and the requirements of the brief.
• Constantly feedback to line Manager and wider Account team relating to client developments, opportunities and pressures.
• Build and sustain professional and collaborative working relationships with clients
• Receive and respond to client briefs using data and insight to inform strategy, targeting and KPI’s together with Associate Director

Operating and Technical Requirements

• Overseeing planning, optimisation, uploading, reporting and campaign management across all social media channels
• Ensure robust operational process and workflow across paid social media advertising campaigns in line with MediaCom internal process and industry best practice
• Managing the effective day to day running of the accounts that sit within your remit
• Ensuring financial accuracy, through the planning and buying process, and reconciliation of spends, including client terms and associated Social fees.
• The integration and understanding of Social and other biddable channels within the wider context of client business and media mix, by both internal and external stakeholders.
• The appropriate use of tools to drive operational efficiencies and actionable business insights;
• Act responsibly and professionally at all times, representing the team, department and company.
• Be responsible for 100% accuracy in media bookings and invoices;
• Monitor, identify and test new FMP or third-party technology platforms as appropriate
• Build strong partnerships with vendors to ensure up-to-date knowledge of platform changes, product roadmaps and beta test opportunities

People Management

• Manage, motivate and train individuals, in line with business requirements, resource, and development needs
• Ensure individuals workloads are managed and prioritised in line with client needs
• Support and nurture junior employees, ensuring their training and development needs are constantly evaluated and fulfilled.
• Clearly outline tasks and objectives with the Associate Director, with specific deliverables and timelines for progression.
• Have identified training requirements with Line Manager, and a formal plan for delivery over 3-6months.
• Be responsible for the team’s development (their 360’s and task & objectives), and to be tied in to their own objectives.
• Manage the day to day running of the team with the support of Associate Director
• Highlight great teamwork, and client initiatives. Demonstrate examples of Social best practice to the wider team and contribute to department and wider agency.
• Diarise weekly ‘WIP’ catch-ups, and regular task reviews.
• Complete weekly time sheets, holiday/sickness forms, CPD

New business

• Support Head of Paid Social responding to RFIs and RFPs
• Participate in pitches and help with new business wins

A bit about your skills and experience:

•          An advanced understanding of Paid Social principles

•          An understanding and passion for social media, content & creative best practises.

•          Moderate level of experience in optimising digital media across one or more channels including Google Display Network, Google AdWords, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

•          Excellent Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint skills.

•          Excellent project management skills

•          Effective and efficient working style

•          Language skills desired

•          Reporting experience and understanding of analytics tools

•          Highly organised

•          Team player

•          Excellent written & verbal English language skills/grammar; a strong communicator

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