Group Activations Director

UM Worldwide; Sydney; On-site; AUD 260,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

UM is seeking a Group Activations Director to lead strategic activation across a major client portfolio, shaping digital strategy and delivering measurable business impact. You will manage and develop a team of Activations Directors, Managers and Specialists, overseeing campaigns across Search, Social and Programmatic.

As a senior leader, you will partner with Client Leadership, Media, Strategy and Product teams to drive innovation, best-in-class execution and strong client partnerships across

Qualifications

• Senior activation leadership experience across digital media
• Proven track record leading large client portfolios and teams
• Strong strategic planning, investment and performance measurement
• Exceptional stakeholder management and client leadership skills
• Comfort driving innovation and platform capability across activations

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic client engagements and executive-level discussions
• Set activation strategy across Search, Social and Programmatic
• Oversee investment planning, testing frameworks and optimisation roadmaps
• Drive data-informed recommendations grounded in audience insights
• Mentor Activations Directors, Managers and Specialists to build capability

Skills

Executive leadership

Client relationship management

Strategic planning

Investment optimization

Stakeholder management

Coaching & development

Communication & presentation

Problem solving

Tools

DV360

The Trade Desk

Amazon Ads

Google Ads

SA360

Meta

TikTok

LinkedIn

Snapchat

Job description

Join UM as a Group Activations Director.

As a senior leader within the business, you will be responsible for driving activation excellence across a significant client portfolio while leading and developing a team of Activations Directors, Managers and Specialists. You will play a critical role in connecting media, technology, data and audience strategy to deliver measurable business outcomes for clients and create competitive advantage.

Working closely with Client Leadership, Media, Strategy and Product teams, you'll shape activation strategy, champion innovation across digital channels, and ensure best-in-class execution across Search, Social and Programmatic.

This is an opportunity to influence agency-wide capability, develop high-performing teams and contribute to the future direction of UM's digital activation offering.

About the Role

As Group Activations Director, you will oversee the strategic direction, implementation excellence and commercial performance of a large client portfolio while fostering strong client partnerships and leading activation capability across the agency.

Strategic Client Leadership

Build and maintain senior client relationships, acting as a trusted strategic advisor across activation, performance and digital media strategy.

• Lead executive-level client engagement and strategic conversations.
• Drive activation strategies that align with broader business and marketing objectives.
• Partner with senior agency stakeholders to deliver integrated media solutions.
• Identify opportunities for growth, innovation and improved client outcomes.
• Develop strong relationships with publishers, platforms and technology partners to unlock market-leading opportunities.

Lead the planning and investment approach across Search, Social and Programmatic while ensuring campaigns are designed to deliver measurable business impact.

• Provide strategic direction across branding and performance media campaigns.
• Oversee investment strategies, testing frameworks and optimisation roadmaps.
• Ensure activation recommendations are grounded in data, audience insights and commercial outcomes.
• Drive innovation through emerging technologies, media products and platform capabilities.
• Ensure activation teams are delivering best practice implementation and investment management.

Leadership & Capability Development

Create a culture of excellence, collaboration and continuous development across the activation function.

• Lead, mentor and coach Activations Directors, Managers and Specialists.
• Establish clear development pathways and succession planning across the team.
• Build capability through training, coaching and knowledge sharing.
• Foster an accountable, high-performing and inclusive team culture.
• Champion UM's values and leadership behaviours across the business.

Industry Leadership & Innovation

Act as a leader within the agency and broader industry, helping shape the future of digital activation.

• Champion innovation and emerging media opportunities.
• Educate clients and internal stakeholders on evolving platform capabilities and industry trends.
• Contribute to agency thought leadership, new business opportunities and capability development initiatives.
• Collaborate across Mediabrands and partner teams to share learnings and best practice.

About You

You are an experienced activation leader with a passion for developing people, delivering outstanding client outcomes and driving innovation through media, data and technology.

You bring:

• Extensive experience across Search, Social and/or Programmatic media.
• Proven success leading large client portfolios and high-performing teams.
• Strong strategic planning and investment expertise across performance and brand campaigns.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and client leadership skills.
• Strong commercial acumen and experience managing investment outcomes.
• The ability to influence senior stakeholders internally and externally.
• A passion for coaching and developing future leaders.
• Excellent communication, presentation and problem-solving skills.

Hands-on familiarity with multiple activation platforms is essential, including experience across three or more of the following:

DV360, The Trade Desk (TTD), Amazon Ads, Google Ads, SA360, Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn and Snapchat.

Why UM?

At UM, we believe in empowering our people to grow, challenge convention and create meaningful impact.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Lead some of Australia's most recognised brands.
• Shape activation strategy at scale.
• Work alongside some of the industry's most talented media professionals.
• Access industry-leading learning and development opportunities.
• Build a long-term leadership pathway within UM and Mediabrands.
• Thrive in a culture that celebrates collaboration, innovation and continuous growth.

If you're ready to lead, inspire and drive the future of digital activation, we'd love to hear from you.