Planning and Activation Lead

About Us 

KINESSO is the technology-driven performance marketing agency that sits at the very heart of IPG Mediabrands, providing actionable growth for both our agency partners and clients. We turn 'action' into 'outcome' for our clients, leveraging our unique capabilities in optimization, analytics, AI, and experimentation. KINESSO has brought together the collective power of what was formerly Matterkind, Reprise, and Kinesso under one collective entity that will serve as the most powerful delivery engine in the industry. We have extensive offerings spanning performance marketing and data and technology. Fuelled by a deep understanding of consumer behaviour, we offer an end-to-end engine of planning and optimization while also delivering on data-driven strategy for social platforms, actionable growth in e-commerce, and creating curated marketplaces specific to each client's function and needs. The company has more than 6,000 employees operating in more than 60 countries. Learn more at www.KINESSO.com.

Client Description

Volvo Cars – Driving Change Together

Many brands talk about purpose, but Volvo embodies it. Its values, deeply ingrained in its identity, drive its success. Volvo places its brand and purpose at the core of its business. The guiding principle, For Life, reflects its mission to provide freedom of movement in a personal, sustainable, and safe way.

Personal – For Life
Life is precious, and so is living. Volvo helps people embrace life, celebrating individuality and the freedom to be themselves. The company strives to simplify life, reduce stress, and enable joy and peace of mind. Rooted in Swedish values, Volvo prioritizes quality of life as much as life itself.

Sustainable – For Life
Volvo protects people and the planet, aiming for net-zero emissions and a circular economy. Its commitment to sustainability improves lives globally.

Safe – For Life
Since 1927, when co-founder Gustaf Larsson declared, “Cars are driven by people. The guiding principle behind everything we make at Volvo, therefore, is and must remain, safety,” Volvo has been synonymous with safety. It continues to pioneer the safest, smartest mobility technologies to protect lives.

Missions
Volvo’s five missions drive its business:

People: Empower employees to live the company’s values, positively impacting customers, partners, and society.

Product: Deliver people-centered, fully electric products by 2030.

Technology: Develop innovations benefiting people and the planet.

Customers: Foster growth through strong consumer relationships and omni-channel approaches.

Digital: Build secure digital infrastructure to enable scalability and efficiency.

Volvo Cars is advancing toward full electrification. Electric and hybrid models now make up nearly 50% of sales, making this a pivotal time to help shape the future of mobility with Volvo’s inspiring teams. Our job as Volvo’s global media agency partner – as part of a fully integrated team with Initiative - is to help them meet their ambitious sales and electrification goals in 31 countries worldwide.
 
ABOUT THE ROLE 

This role ensures planning and activation across regional teams are aligned, integrating biddable and non-biddable efforts across levels. It involves maintaining communication with key stakeholders on actions, pacing, performance, and optimization approaches. The lead collaborates with search, social, and programmatic specialists to evaluate budget reallocations based on performance. Additionally, the role oversees the creation of market-specific media plans informed by global and local audience insights. It ensures adherence to strategic and activation playbooks, manages updates to plans, and mitigates timeline and content variances to enhance cross-disciplinary communication and minimise asset development inefficiencies.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Team management and development
• Resource management and allocation, including offshore hub management and solutions
• Identifying and implementing opportunities for improving efficiency and effectiveness
• Proactively identifying future risks and actively proposing solutions to leadership
• Standardisation and adoption of Quality Assurance controls
• Ensuring flawless execution of Media activities
• Ensuring the team deliver perfect financial management and adherence to IPG Mediabrands workflows and deadlines
• Ensuring clear understanding of products and services with agency partners, clients, and internal teams
• Identifying areas of efficiency improvement and creating clear project plans for adoption
• Supporting with Strategic responses and key client deliverables
• Developing and maintaining strong, positive relationships with key agency stakeholders
• Developing and maintaining strong, positive relationships with key client contacts
• Development of operational processes and workflows that increase efficiency and effectiveness while mitigating risk to our business
• Standardisation and adoption of Quality Assurance controls
• Maintaining strong, positive relationships with Media Owners, to driving value and innovation for our business and clients
  
  

ABOUT YOU

• Expert in Digital and Performance marketing
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Previous experience managing a team
• Strong people management skills
• Experience managing offshore resource
• Track record of consistently achieving commercial and operational objectives
• Proven record of defining and implementing original approaches, processes, and ways of working
• Experience producing business cases
• Commercial experience with regard to scoping, staff plan development and negotiations  
• Experience driving the adoption of technology solutions
• Experience developing strong relationships with senior client stakeholders
• Expert in stakeholder management

Employee Transparency 

At IPG Mediabrands, we celebrate differences and believe this makes us stronger. IPG Mediabrands is an equal-opportunity employer and is 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 the 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!