Operational Associate Director , Intelligence & Insight

Burson; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Burson is seeking a Commercial & Operations Lead for its UK Intelligence function. You will drive growth, performance, and day-to-day operations, partnering with practitioners and market leadership to align pipeline, revenue, and capacity with strategic priorities.

You will bring deep understanding of communications intelligence and experience translating business needs into operational action, reporting to the Intelligence and Insights MD, UK.

Qualifications

• Understanding of the communications data and intelligence landscape.
• Experience with value-based pricing, margin management, and rate cards.
• Track record of managing multi-disciplinary teams and resource planning.
• Commercial awareness of how specialist intelligence teams operate for client value.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide visibility of Intelligence pipeline, revenue performance and growth opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to expand Intelligence services across clients.
• Track business performance against growth objectives with leadership.
• Oversee resource demand, utilisation and capacity across the Intelligence team.
• Ensure practitioners are deployed effectively against client priorities.
• Operationalise delivery of intelligence product offerings to boost delivery and growth.

Skills

Intelligence landscape knowledge

Commercial pricing

Leadership & teams

Stakeholder management

Job description

Who We Are

Burson, part of WPP, is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. When you work at Burson, you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation.

Who We Are

Burson, part of WPP, is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. When you work at Burson, you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation.

WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP) is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unitecutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counselin a single company –powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open,to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com

For more information visit bursonglobal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

More About The Role

As Commercial & Operations Lead for our UK intelligence function, you will play a central role in supporting the growth, performance and day-to-day operation of Burson's Intelligence business. Working closely with Intelligence practitioners, growth leads and market leadership, you will create visibility across pipeline, revenue, resourcing and business performance, helping ensure the practice is positioned for sustainable growth.

Success in this role requires more than commercial acumen. You will bring an understanding of the communications, media intelligence, social intelligence, measurement and research landscape, enabling you to partner effectively with practitioners and translate business needs into operational action.

This role will report into Fred Macleod, Intelligence and Insights MD, UK

What You'll Do

Support the Growth of the Intelligence Business

• Provide visibility of Intelligence pipeline, revenue performance and growth opportunities.
• Help identify opportunities to expand Intelligence services across existing and prospective clients.
• Work with Intelligence leadership to track business performance against growth objectives.
• Maintain oversight of resource demand, utilisation and capacity across the Intelligence team. Demonstrate ability to run client work and projects to scope and budget, with minimal if any over service.
• Help ensure practitioners are deployed effectively against client and business priorities.
• Operationalise the delivery of intelligence product offerings enhancing delivery and growth opportunities
• Identify delivery risks, capability gaps and operational challenges before they impact growth.
• Build relationships across the Burson global network and WPP
• Contribute to the growth of the practice by identifying new opportunities, refining methodologies, and strengthening relevant stakeholder relationships

Experience That Contributes To Success

• A strong understanding of the communications data and intelligence landscape, including areas such as media intelligence, social listening, reputation measurement, research, or analytics.
• Proven experience in commercial pricing of intelligence or analytics services, with working knowledge of value-based pricing, margin management, and rate card development
• A track record of managing and developing multi-disciplinary teams, including resource planning, capacity management and performance oversight
• Commercial awareness combined with an appreciation of how specialist intelligence teams operate and deliver value to clients.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing abilities.
• The ability to work effectively with both commercial leaders and specialist practitioners.

You Belong At Burson

Our vision is for Burson to be the leading ‘academy company’ for creative communications professionals and emerging leaders. We provide a dynamic environment where ambitious colleagues come to elevate their skills, expand their networks, and ultimately, produce the best solutions for today’s leading brands. Our commitment to your growth is reflected in our robust benefits and people programs, which include professional development opportunities, mentorship programs with industry leaders, a vibrant and inclusive company culture fostering collaboration and innovation and packages designed to reward and retain top talent. We invest in our people because we believe their success is our success.

At Burson, we’re an agency of learn-it-alls. We recognize that the things we do best, creativity and communications, require a level of nuanced understanding. That’s why it’s imperative for us to hire extraordinarily talented people of all backgrounds and identities. Without that we can’t do the essential work of inspiring bold ideas, fostering constructive dialogue, cultivating meaningful experiences, and driving innovation and creativity for our partners. Your unique point of view—your talent—is what makes you a #BursonPerson, and it’s how we deliver exceptional results for our clients, together.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.