Head of Trading - Independents

Talon Outdoor; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading out-of-home advertising company is seeking a Head of Trading – Independents to oversee the independent UK agencies, ensuring the best buying outcomes and a consistent investment approach across teams. This role demands extensive negotiation skills, strong leadership in managing teams, and a deep understanding of the OOH market. You'll work closely with various stakeholders to align investment strategies with commercial objectives, develop innovative solutions, and foster relationships that drive performance.

Qualifications

• Highly confident negotiator with a proven ability to secure optimal outcomes.
• Exceptional people management skills, capable of leading high-performing teams.
• Strong commercial acumen with understanding of market dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Oversee independent UK agencies to ensure best-in-class buying outcomes.
• Negotiate and execute all independent agency bookings.
• Align investment strategies with commercial objectives.

Skills

Negotiation skills

People management

Commercial acumen

Presentation skills

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional team collaboration

Job description

The Head of Trading – Independents at Talon oversees the company's independent UK agencies, ensuring best‑in‑class buying outcomes and a consistent investment approach across all agency teams.

Day in the Life

• Ensure Talon’s investment approach is applied consistently across all independent business operations.
• Partner with the Director of Investment and fellow Head of Trading to drive innovation in OOH investment.
• Design and implement tailored investment strategies for agencies and clients.
• Hold overall responsibility for negotiating and executing all independent agency bookings, ensuring adherence to pricing commitments.
• Deliver pricing agreements in collaboration with the Director of Investment.
• Align investment strategies with Talon’s commercial objectives, working closely with the commercial team.
• Maintain deep knowledge of OOH products, pricing structures, and market dynamics.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of barter and inventory trading models.
• Build and sustain relationships with key media owner contacts, Investment Leads, and Managing Directors.
• Develop and nurture relationships with agency investment teams.
• Establish and maintain connections with OOH media auditors.
• Lead and manage the Investment Team (Business Directors), driving their development and progression plans.
• Act as a role model for Talon’s values and behaviours, fostering a positive culture and setting the tone across the organisation.

Leadership and Culture

• We embrace change.
• We challenge respectfully.
• We lead the way.

Company Values

• We are human – diverse collective of changemakers valuing respect, fairness, and integrity.
• We value collaboration and togetherness.
• We are empathetic.
• We embrace individuality.
• We are smart – trailblazing spirit and learning‑centric culture ensuring maximum value for clients.
• We grow and learn.
• We are trusted.
• We believe in mission possible.

Qualifications and Experience

• Highly confident and skilled negotiator with proven ability to secure optimal outcomes.
• Strong, established relationships with OOH media owners and industry stakeholders.
• Exceptional people management skills, capable of leading and motivating high‑performing teams.
• Organised and methodical approach to investment planning and execution.
• Strong commercial acumen with clear understanding of market dynamics and profitability drivers.
• Independent decision‑maker with sound judgement and strategic thinking.
• Collaborative team player who can lead and work effectively within cross‑functional teams.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, able to deliver compelling narratives to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to shape and execute investment strategies that align with business objectives and client needs.
• Proactive in identifying new technologies, tools, and approaches to enhance investment performance.
• Thrives in a fast‑paced environment, managing multiple priorities with composure and clarity.
• Demonstrated experience managing and developing an Investment Team of 3 or more people.
• Proven track record of servicing a diverse portfolio of clients and media owners at a senior level.
• Experience delivering pricing commitments and negotiating agreements with media owners.
• Skilled in presenting to clients and agencies, influencing and inspiring confidence.
• Strong background in influencing and negotiating with internal and external stakeholders to achieve strategic objectives.
• Deep understanding of the OOH market, including pricing structures, product offerings and emerging trends.

About Talon

At Talon, our mission is to unlock the full potential of out‑of‑home advertising, making it more effective, creative, measurable and sustainable. We are passionate about OOH and are on a mission to drive the growth of this sector within the media industry. Over a decade, we have grown to a team of over 450 people in key cities across the globe. Talon is an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive.