Global Associate Director

Zenith; London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Associate Director to lead media services for a renowned global brand. This pivotal role involves managing client relationships, overseeing daily operations, and driving strategic initiatives to enhance media effectiveness. You'll collaborate with diverse teams and senior stakeholders, ensuring that innovative solutions are implemented across multiple regions. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of media strategy while fostering a culture of collaboration and high performance. If you are an experienced Account Manager looking for your next challenge, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

Opportunity to work anywhere for up to 6 weeks

Two additional paid leave days

24/7 helpline for personal and professional support

26 weeks full pay for family milestones

Birthday day off

Membership discounts with local retailers

Qualifications

• Experience in media agency roles managing accounts and projects.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to multitask effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations and ensure collaboration across teams.
• Build strategic relationships with key stakeholders at Nestlé.

Skills

Media industry experience

Project management

Client relationship management

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Media planning and research tools

Job description

Company description

We think big. And act bigger. Stay versatile and interconnected. We approach everything with an inventive spirit and rigorous mindset. Individually we’re great, but as a team we’re unstoppable. Together, we seek out opportunities, frame problems and solve complex challenges. Our collective brilliance exposes breakthroughs. Our capability unleashes creativity. We pursue a new perspective and deliver a new kind of ROI.

Zenith International is the central team, primarily based in London, supporting our local Zenith markets, leading new business efforts, developing thought-leadership, and driving network development for our 250 offices across 95 countries with over 8,000 staff worldwide.

We house a large team of multi-faceted communications planners, digital and innovation specialists and client leadership teams. Our global client portfolio comprises a range of category leaders including Adobe, Reckitt, TikTok, Edrington, Coty and Electrolux.

Our Commitment
At Zenith International, we believe that fostering an inclusive culture where all talent can thrive makes our company stronger and helps drive invention in the work we do for our clients better. We also believe it enables a greater idea exchange that fuels innovation and best reflects diverse consumer experiences.

We are committed to encouraging our talent to participate in Publicis Groupe’s wide variety of talent engagement and inclusion programming, which includes professional development experiences and participation in the company’s many business resource groups. These include VivaWomen!, Égalité, MOCA (Men Of Colour Alliance) and more than a dozen others that are thriving across our network.

Through advocacy, education and inclusion we foster greater collaboration among our people, which in turn inspires work that provides better experiences for our clients and their consumers.

Overview

About Nestle

At Nestlé, our purpose is simple yet powerful: unlocking the power of food to enhance quality of life, today and for generations to come. With a global presence, deep in-market expertise, and a diverse portfolio of iconic brands, we don’t just keep up with change—we drive it.

Through our Nutrition, Health, and Wellness strategy and our Creating Shared Value approach, we unlock new growth opportunities while making a real impact. Our Nestlé Virtuous Circle ensures that every efficiency we create fuels investment in our brands, helping us stay ahead in the marketplace and deliver profitable, sustainable growth.

From nourishing children and helping pets thrive to supporting healthy aging, we believe that good food is about more than taste—it’s about well-being, sustainability, and the future of our planet. But with 10 billion people to feed by 2050, the challenge is greater than ever. What’s good today won’t be good enough tomorrow, and that’s why we’re relentlessly innovating.

At Nestlé, we push the boundaries of what’s possible with food, beverages, and nutritional health solutions—because when we do, we don’t just create products. We create a healthier, brighter future for all.

As Associate Director, you will lead the day-to-day management and delivery of best-in-class media services across Nestles portfolio of brands which include Nescafe, Kit Kat, Nescafe Dolce Gusto, Starbucks Coffee at home, Maggi. Purina, Felix and many more.

Reporting directly to the Global Managing Director (and supported by the wider Nestle Global Account Team, including a Senior Account Executive), you will be expected to lead in fostering a strong team bond of collaboration and high performance.

Your role will be pivotal to the success of this account. You will build strong trusted relationships with key senior clients, working alongside various specialist teams within the broader Publicis Media organisation to deliver outstanding consistently.

You will be involved in managing and delivery of the Nestle Media transformation agenda globally, making sure that it is understood, implemented and tracked within our regions.

Lead, Influence, and Drive Impact at the Heart of Nestlé’s Global Transformation

This is more than just a role—it’s a unique opportunity to shape the future of Nestlé’s global media strategy. Sitting at the center of our global relationship with Nestlé, you’ll gain senior exposure, have your voice heard, and play a pivotal role in driving transformation across key regions.

As a leader, you’ll wear many hats—steering the team, leading high-profile meetings, and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. You’ll be the driving force behind keeping the team focused and delivering against ambitious timelines. Beyond operations, you’ll work closely with Nestlé’s senior stakeholders, ensuring their transformation agenda is successfully executed across LATAM, MEAP, and China.

This fast-paced, high-impact role requires someone who thrives on strategic problem-solving, cross-market collaboration, and operational excellence. Your exceptional project management skills, ability to build strong client and agency relationships, and leadership in navigating complex global structures will be key to success.

This role is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Account/Client Manager looking for the next step in their career!

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities

• Lead the Charge: Oversee the day-to-day operations, ensuring seamless execution and collaboration across teams.
• Strategic Partnership: Work hand-in-hand with the Global Managing Partner to drive the overall management of the Nestlé relationship.
• Be the Trusted Advisor: Build deep, strategic relationships with Nestlé’s key stakeholders, understanding their evolving needs and proactively driving solutions.
• Engage Senior Leadership: Foster strong connections with regional decision-makers, including Managing Partners, Client Leads, and CEOs, to align strategies and drive impact.
• Collaborate Across Publicis: Work closely with teams across Publicis to leverage cross-functional expertise and enhance delivery.
• Harness the Power of One: Strengthen partnerships across the Publicis network, identifying new opportunities and unlocking additional value for Nestlé.
• Shape the Future of Media: Lead the creation and implementation of media guidelines that drive consistency and excellence across Nestlé’s business units.
• Financial Oversight & Accountability: Manage financial processes and reporting to ensure transparency, efficiency, and alignment with business objectives.

What will lead to success in this role?

• Knowledgeable in all media channels gained from experience in a media agency.
• Able to multi-task and prioritise, with exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail, even when under pressure.
• Able to establish and maintain effective relationships with clients and gain their trust and respect.
• Able to both lead some work streams as well as take direction as part of a team.
• A confident and adaptable communicator.
• Action oriented and full of energy for the things you see as challenging.
• A team player, committed to the collective success of the entire team and network.

Qualifications

• Media industry experience in an account or planning role and demonstrated ability to work across projects and teams.
• Experience coordinating and managing multiple projects at once, ability to work both collaboratively and with autonomy.
• Can confidently manage multiple clients.
• Strong written and oral skills - able to come across clearly and succinctly in email or over the phone.
• Able to produce insightful, innovative and clearly articulated presentations.
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to quickly spot mistakes and inconsistencies in data.
• Experience working with media planning and research tools as well as strong knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint is essential.

Additional information

Zenith International has fantastic benefits on offer to all of our employees. In addition to the classics, Pension, Life Assurance, Private Medical and Income Protection Plans we also offer;

• WORK YOUR WORLD: opportunity to work anywhere in the world, where there is a Publicis office, for up to 6 weeks a year.
• REFLECTION DAYS: Two additional days of paid leave to step away from your usual day-to-day work and create time to focus on your well-being and self-care.
• HELP@HAND BENEFITS: 24/7 helpline to support you on a personal and professional level. Access to remote GPs, mental health support and CBT. Wellbeing content and lifestyle coaching.
• FAMILY FRIENDLY POLICIES: We provide 26 weeks of full pay for the following family milestones: Maternity, Adoption, Surrogacy and Shared Parental Leave.
• FLEXIBLE WORKING, BANK HOLIDAY SWAP & BIRTHDAY DAY OFF: You are entitled to an additional day off for your birthday, from your first day of employment.
• GREAT LOCAL DISCOUNTS: This includes membership discounts with Soho Friends, local restaurants and retailers in Westfield White City and Television Centre.

Full details of our benefits will be shared when you join us!

Publicis Groupe operates a hybrid working pattern with full time employees being office-based three days during the working week.

We are supportive of all candidates and are committed to providing a fair assessment process. If you have any circumstances (such as neurodiversity, physical or mental impairments or a medical condition) that may affect your assessment, please inform your Talent Acquisition Partner. We will discuss possible adjustments to ensure fairness. Rest assured, disclosing this information will not impact your treatment in our process.

Please make sure you check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG’s (Employee Action Groups).

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