Retail Media Strategist

GroupM; London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Retail Media Strategist to lead innovative media planning and activation strategies for top-tier clients. This dynamic role requires a deep understanding of retail ecosystems and the ability to translate business objectives into impactful campaign strategies. The ideal candidate will oversee a cross-functional team, leveraging data and tools to optimize performance across various media channels. With a focus on driving growth and enhancing customer experiences, this position offers an exciting opportunity to shape the future of retail media in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus birthday off

Ongoing training opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Career and personal development

Private healthcare

Excellent pension scheme

Opportunities to attend industry events

Qualifications

• Experience in media activation with platforms like Criteo and Citrus.
• Strong understanding of retail commercial elements and trends.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic direction of Retail Media planning and activation.
• Collaborate with teams to maximize data-driven brand campaign results.

Skills

Media Activation

Retail Media Platforms

Data Analysis

Project Management

Team Leadership

Understanding of Retail Trends

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Criteo

Citrus

Data Impact

Profitero

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Role Objective

This role is designed to lead the strategic direction of all Retail Media planning and activation across the Unilever account, ensuring rigorous test and learn to develop both onsite and offsite business growth, driving forward best practice in activation channels and leading a team of Retail Media practitioners working across a range of retailer partners and platforms, including grocery, health and beauty, quick commerce, and bid management platforms such as Criteo and Citrus.

About the role

The Retail Media Strategist will have a deep interest and appreciation for the uniqueness of retail and marketplaces, using their expertise to deliver excellence in biddable retail media platforms, on-retailer and off-retailer data-led offerings. They will ensure seamless integration of performance-led retail media efforts into a holistic commerce and brand strategy, delivering best-in-class results for clients.

This role will lead a cross-functional team and oversee, inform, shape, and implement advanced performance-led strategies and solutions to unlock new growth opportunities across the retail media ecosystem for Unilever and other CPG clients within the agency.

Partnering with clients, the strategist will translate business objectives into campaign strategies and test-and-learn opportunities, drive integration across commerce media channels, and leverage data and tools for effective optimization. An entrepreneurial spirit with a bias for action and problem-solving is essential for success in this role.

Responsibilities

• Define and agree on ways of working with Strategy and Planning teams across brand campaigns, including direction for brand briefs to Exchange and provision of Retail Media info for responses.
• Embed retailer data within Unilever brand campaigns by collaborating with strategists, media planners, and activation teams on targeting and buyable audiences using retailer data.
• Work closely with Group M on testing new retailer data and targeting capabilities.
• Work with clients to develop annual strategies for each business unit and brand, translating objectives into media deliverables.
• Collaborate with Live Planner to ensure due diligence on measurement of data-driven brand campaigns.
• Track and evaluate retailer maturity.
• Work with activation teams to synthesize data, identify trends, and recommend activities to maximize results and enhance customer experience.
• Document key learnings for application to other retailers and future campaigns.
• Drive tool utilization to support planning, reporting, optimization, and automation.
• Enhance the profile of Mindshare's retail media team through events and speaking opportunities.
• Maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders to maximize promotional opportunities and navigate the commerce activation landscape.
• Stay updated on marketplace dynamics, ad products, technology, and measurement across retail media touchpoints.
• Manage the activation team.

About you

• Experience in media activation, ideally including Citrus and Criteo platforms.
• Understanding of retail commercial elements like profit margins, inventory, forecasting, and demand planning.
• Knowledge of how different media channels and retail partners' ecosystems work together.
• Strong drive to understand retail trends and commerce media.
• Experience with retail bid management platforms, preferably Pacvue.
• Experience with digital shelf tools such as Data Impact, Profitero, Gradient, or similar.
• Experience with retail planning tools.
• Experience working with retailers like Dunhumby and Nectar 360 to derive insights for planning and testing.
• Experience managing a team of direct reports.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external partners.
• Self-starter attitude suited to a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent project management skills across multiple teams and functions.

What we can offer you

• Competitive salary based on experience.
• 25 days annual leave plus your birthday off.
• Ongoing training opportunities.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Opportunities to attend industry events.
• Career and personal development.
• Private healthcare.
• Excellent pension scheme.

About Mindshare

Mindshare is a leading global marketing and media services network with billings exceeding £23 billion worldwide. We work with renowned brands like Unilever, Ford, KFC, Marks & Spencer, and TK Maxx. Our network comprises 116 offices across 86 countries, dedicated to creating competitive marketing advantages for our clients.

Our approach

We aim to drive Good Growth for our clients—growth that is enduring, considerate of people and the planet. We use media responsibly, ensuring decisions are trusted, inclusive, and sustainable, placing people at the heart of our strategies.

Our values of Energy, Empathy, and Impact underpin our ambition to achieve Good Growth, inspiring industry and agency-wide change.

Working for Mindshare

Our people are our strength. We invest in their development and create inspiring environments, such as our annual event, Huddle, which fosters learning and sharing across borders.

Committed to Diversity & Inclusion

We aspire to be the most inclusive workplace in the country. We have Employee Resource Groups like Roots, PrideM, Women in Business, Enable, Declassify, 0Borders, ADAM, and Working Parents, which promote inclusivity and support initiatives that foster a welcoming environment.

(Please note this is a UK-based role and requires the right to work in this location.)