Group Activations Director

Omnicommediagroup; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

UM is seeking a Group Activations Director to set strategic direction and oversee a large client portfolio. You will lead Activations Directors, Managers and Specialists to deliver activation programmes that connect media, data and technology to measurable outcomes.

You will shape activation strategy, champion innovation across digital channels, and ensure best-in-class execution across Search, Social and Programmatic, while building strong client partnerships and agency-wide capability.

Qualifications

• Extensive senior leadership experience in digital activation across multiple channels.
• Proven ability to lead large client portfolios and high-performing teams.
• Strong strategic planning and investment decision-making across performance and brand campaigns.
• Excellent stakeholder management and client leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee strategic direction and operational excellence of a large client portfolio.
• Lead Activations Directors, Managers and Specialists to deliver activation programmes.
• Shape activation strategy and drive innovation across digital channels.
• Ensure best-in-class execution across Search, Social and Programmatic.

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.

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 a 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.

Activation Strategy, Planning & Investment

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.

Operational Excellence

Ensure consistent delivery of high-quality work through effective resource management, governance and process optimisation.

• Oversee portfolio-wide activation implementation and operational performance.
• Drive workflow efficiencies and continuously improve ways of working.
• Ensure teams are delivering campaigns accurately, efficiently and to the highest standards.
• Support forecasting, resource planning and commercial performance management.
• Maintain strong governance and quality assurance processes across all activation activity.

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.