Business Overview

Initiative is different to other media agencies.

Initiative unlocks business growth for the world’s most ambitious brands. 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, LEGO, 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.

Position Overview

NIKE Inc. is the world’s leading designer, marketer, and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories. Founded by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight in 1972, Nike has grown over the last 50 years into one of the most valuable, most loved and most emulated brands in the world, singular in its ability to create cultural conversation within the world of sports and fashion and far beyond. 

Nike’s mission is to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world; a mission expressed every day through product design, digital and physical retail consumer experiences, and brand communications. 

Initiative has recently been appointed Nike’s agency of record for Global Media, responsible for strategy, integrated media planning, and paid/organic social strategy and activation for Nike’s and Jordan Brand’s multi-region integrated brand and product campaigns.

Partnering with Nike and Jordan is an extraordinary opportunity requiring extraordinary talent. Our vision is to build the best integrated team connecting brand and performance to deliver best in class outcomes. The Initiative team will be highly diverse, attracting the sharpest emerging and established media experts across all disciplines in the industry. With the chance to grow and do great work people all over the region will see, admire, and respond to. 

*If you have a body, you are an athlete.

As Global Group Director, Communications Design you are at the forefront of bringing the next generation of planning to life. As the Design leader of your client group, you are responsible for ensuring the adoption and adherence of communications design principles across your client base, ensuring your team consistently delivers best in class idea led, culturally empowered communications ecosystems that drive effectiveness.

Client 

• Act as lead design counsel for clients at key periods (eg. annual planning) or across key projects (eg. New launches) 
• Responsible for communications design product excellence across major planning initiatives across designated client base 

Internal 

• Responsible for team’s adoption of best in class communications design approaches and innovation, and adherence to planning process 
• Oversee collaboration with external partners (creative agency), and internal strategy and partnerships teams through the planning process to ensure creative excellence, strategic fit and commercial feasibility of the Connections Design approach 
• Oversight of connections architecture development, analytics strategy and ecosystem delivery across owned, earned, shared & paid (OESP) 
• Responsible for best in class quality and consistency of every output from the communications design client team they oversee, in line with the communications design discipline vision 
• Responsible for ensuring team is effectively resourced, and talent has the right training and support to operate at the required level 

Commercial 

• Responsible for ensuring profitable integration of Specialty Business Unit (SBU) leadership within design team 
• Oversee opportunities to grow scope to appropriate communications design staffing levels and up-leveled talent on client assignments 

New Business 

• Manage the product outcomes for new business efforts across pitches for Communications Design resource, including casting talent, running brainstorms, integrating with partnerships & SBU’s on

Required Skills and Experience

• 10+ years in integrated planning role in media, publisher / vendor, or communications discipline (digital, content) and 5+ years managing and motivating a team
• Category or audience experience as relevant per assignment 
• Ability to lead strategic thinking for integrated marketing communication plans encompassing traditional and non-traditional media strategies 
• Ability to ensure consistency and best practices across all projects; strong project management skills 
• Strong organizational, analytical and leadership skills 
• Proven ability to develop and maintain high level professional relationships with senior clients, colleagues and vendors 
• Ability to assess client needs for utilization and development of planning and research tools and resources 
• Technical proficiency, particularly with media systems and MS Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Initiative does not require candidates to have a college degree

Desired Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving abilities  
• Ability to work successfully with teams, handling multiple projects and meeting tight deadlines under pressure 
• Detailed awareness of client business issues, industry trends, consumer trends, promotional resources, market status, and competition 

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We See You

We embrace diversity, and our responsibility to maintain an inclusive environment is core to our culture and values. We see diversity of people and experiences as fuel for creativity and innovation needed to bring about the best experiences and services. A diverse workforce means we can grow together, be better problem solvers, and bring about long-term, meaningful change where we will achieve above and beyond our business goals. We are better together.

When you join Mediabrands, you join a global community and are valued for who you are – your lived experiences, the contributions you make, and the distinct perspectives you bring. Here, what you think and who you are is just as important as what you do. As we recruit, we are dedicated to looking beyond what a resume can show. If you think you’d be a great addition to the team but don’t have the exact experience or skills, we encourage you to apply and share your unique background with us. We see you at 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 $xxx to $xxx.  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 Initiative, 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. 

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 accommodation 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 Initiative, please email [email protected].

About Mediabrands:

IPG Mediabrands is the media and marketing solutions division of Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). Mediabrands manages approximately $40 billion in marketing investment globally on behalf of its clients and provides strategic services and solutions across its award-winning, full-service agency networks UM and Initiative and through its innovative marketing specialist companies Reprise, Magna, Orion, Rapport, Healix, Mediabrands Content Studio and the IPG Media Lab. Mediabrands clients include many of the world’s most recognizable and iconic brands from a broad portfolio of industry sectors. The company employs more than 13,000 marketing experts in more than 130 countries representing the full diversity of humanity. For more information, please visit our website: www.ipgmediabrands.com.