Activation Manager

Starcom; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wholeself program

Publicis Liberté flexibility

Global Marcel AI platform access

Extensive learning & development

Career Conversations program

Diversity & Inclusion initiatives

Job summary

Starcom in Melbourne is seeking an Activation Manager to lead the implementation, optimisation and performance of integrated media campaigns across a diverse client portfolio.

You'll work across screens, audio, out-of-home and cinema, partnering with clients and internal teams to deliver campaigns that drive awareness, consideration and measurable business outcomes. mentoring junior team members and contributing to a collaborative culture are key.

Qualifications

• Experience across Screens (Broadcast TV & Online Video).
• Total Audio (linear radio to digital audio).
• Out of Home including programmatic OOH.
• Ability to develop media plans for awareness and consideration.
• Strong benchmarking and performance measurement knowledge.
• Proven campaign implementation, optimisation and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end delivery of multi-channel media campaigns.
• Develop media plans aligned to client objectives and KPIs.
• Monitor, optimise and report on campaign performance.
• Deliver post-campaign analysis and actionable recommendations.
• Coach Activation Coordinators and Executives.

Skills

Cross-channel planning

Stakeholder management

Campaign optimisation

Mentoring juniors

Education

Experience in media advertising

Tools

CM360

DV360

MOVE

Audology

Vistar/Broadsign

Job description

As part of Publicis Groupe, we unleash the power of creativity, data, and media to deliver personalized experiences at scale. We have one of the most robust data sets in the industry and world-class marketplace connections and buying scale. You can’t escape it.

Our moment is as complex as it’s ever been. An era of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it that’s always whizzing, scrolling, streaming by. And it’s not slowing down.

Yet instead of staying connected — moving people with real human insight — marketers feel even more disconnected. Frantically optimizing with only the next few minutes in mind. Trying to solve this ever-evolving puzzle with a short-term focus.

Instead of pioneering an ever-expanding universe . .

. . And all the creative solutions that await us.

At Starcom, it’s never scared us when the kaleidoscope of marketing added another shiny mirror. We’ve seen this as an opportunity since Leo Burnett first reached his hands to the stars. To move the brands we support every day by truly knowing the real people who support them. Responsibly unlocking possibilities across new channels, new technologies, new data opportunities, and beyond.

It’s our opportunity to pioneer the next new world for your business. And to prove that media . . is always the message. We know the next ten years will look a lot different. So will the ten after that. That’s where our expertise comes in to explore and decipher it all alongside you. Our people help you navigate what’s next, moving your business forward to the future by moving your customers forward today.

These days it’s no longer what you shout from the mountaintops. It takes true insight to move people at the human level — in a powerful, lasting way.

Because how you move people moves your business for good

About the Role:

We're looking for an Activation Manager to lead the implementation, optimisation and performance of integrated media campaigns across a portfolio of clients in Melbourne.

This role would suit a Senior Activation Executive or Associate Manager ready to take the next step in their career. You'll work across a broad mix of channels, partnering with clients, internal teams and media owners to deliver high-quality campaigns that drive awareness, consideration and business outcomes.

You'll also play an important role in mentoring and developing junior team members while contributing to a collaborative, high-performing team culture.

Key Responsibilities:

Campaign Activation & Planning

• Manage the end-to-end delivery of media campaigns across multiple channels.
• Develop and implement media plans aligned to client objectives and KPIs.
• Monitor, optimise and report on campaign performance.
• Identify opportunities to improve campaign effectiveness and maximise investment outcomes.
• Deliver post-campaign analysis and actionable recommendations.
• Maintain high standards of accuracy across activation, reporting and financial processes.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships with clients and become a trusted day-to-day contact.
• Present campaign updates, optimisations and performance insights.
• Collaborate with media owners, platform partners and internal specialists to deliver integrated solutions.
• Evaluate opportunities, innovations and partnerships that create value for clients.
• Support, coach and mentor Activation Coordinators and Executives.
• Foster a positive, collaborative and solutions-focused team culture.
• Share knowledge and best practice across the wider team.
• Help improve processes and ways of working.

Commercial & Operations

• Manage budgets, invoicing, forecasting and reconciliations.
• Ensure financial accuracy and governance requirements are met.
• Identify and elevate risks or issues when required.

What We're Looking For:

This role is ideal for someone stepping up from a Senior Executive or Associate Manager position with strong cross-channel planning and activation experience.

• Strong experience across:
• Screens (Broadcast TV and Online Video)
• Total Audio (linear radio, digital audio and audio partnerships)
• Out of Home, including programmatic OOH
• Experience developing media plans across awareness and consideration campaigns.
• Strong understanding of channel benchmarking and performance measurement.
• Experience managing campaign implementation, optimisation and reporting.
• Confident presenting recommendations, campaign results and optimisation opportunities to clients.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Passion for coaching and developing junior team members.

Platform & Tools Experience:

• SMD experience is essential.
• Strong knowledge of the evolving Screens landscape.
• Experience with CM360, with DV360 highly regarded.
• Audio experience including media owner relationships and tools such as Audology.
• Experience buying and managing cinema campaigns.
• Experience using MOVE and at least one programmatic OOH platform such as Vistar or Broadsign.
• Understanding of value-based or principle-based trading approaches is advantageous.
• Experience working with media partners across multiple markets.
• Proven ability to improve team processes and workflows.
• Curiosity and eagerness to learn new channels and technologies.
• Experience presenting campaign reviews, WIPs, recommendations and optimisation updates.
• Interest in leveraging AI, automation and emerging tools to improve workflow efficiency.

What You'll Bring:

• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Curiosity, initiative and a passion for media and marketing.
• A collaborative approach and desire to help others succeed.

This is an exciting opportunity to take the next step in your media career, work across a diverse channel mix, and help shape campaigns that deliver meaningful results for leading brands.

Publicis Groupe benefits: Be a part of the Publicis Groupe family, recent winner of the Employer of Choice Awards and one of the world's most progressive and dynamic modern communications businesses. You can learn more about us at www.publicisgroupeanz.com.

Enjoy all the perks that come with our network offering:

• A comprehensive Wholeself program supporting physical, mindful, and financial wellbeing.
• A creative, lively, and rewarding office environment where people love working with each other, supported by our Publicis Liberté flexibility approach — "working your way with us."\
• Access to our Global AI Platform Marcel, connecting Publicis Groupe employees with opportunities for career mobility and collaboration across our global network.
• Extensive Learning & Development opportunities including more than 15,000 learning programs via our online learning platform, Marcel Classes.
• A culture of open feedback and support to reach your goals through our Career Conversations program.
• A committed Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion strategy driven through our Viva Women, Égalité, enABLE, EmbRACE, and Écologique committees.
• Leave benefits including Birthday Leave, Flexible Public Holidays, and an additional 5 days of leave after 2 years of service.
• Work Your World program enabling employees the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world for up to 6 weeks per year.
• Parental leave policy with up to 18 weeks based on tenure, paid primary carer leave, secondary carer swap, and Cub Care leave.
• Access to counsellors, psychologists, and professionals through Sonder, an all-in-one digital wellbeing technology platform designed to support psychological, medical & safety needs.
• A workplace that stands together to provide a more open, supportive, and recovery-forward culture for all employees with life-threatening illnesses. Read more about our Working With Cancer Pledge: https://workingwithcancerpledge.com/
• Proud partners of Diversity Council Australia, Pride in Diversity, Family Friendly Workplaces, Supply Nation, and the Australian Disability Network.

If you don't tick every box in this ad, please don't rule yourself out. Research suggests that women and other people in underrepresented groups tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. We focus on hiring people who share our values of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, fearlessness, and integrity rather than ticking boxes — so if this role resonates with you, please apply.

Diversity. Inclusion. Equity. More than just words; these are part of our DNA. At Publicis Groupe, we are committed to the inclusion and recognition of all people regardless of race, age, culture, ability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, and religious affiliation. We believe that to deliver the best solutions to our clients, our people need to reflect the diverse communities in which our clients operate. We value diversity and the skills, knowledge, and experience that difference brings to our culture and solutions.

Uniqueness is powerful; without it, we wouldn't be where we are today. So be you — we like it that way.

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for people with disability or those that require additional support throughout the application process. If you need any assistance or adjustments, please contact us via recruitmentpublicisgroupe.com; your personal information will be kept confidential.