Paid Social Business Director

Publicis Groupe UK; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading marketing agency in the City Of London is seeking an experienced individual to lead paid social strategy across platforms like Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat. This role involves strong client relationship management, team leadership, and a focus on data-driven outcomes. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in paid social and the ability to drive strategic initiatives while fostering a collaborative culture. Competitive benefits and a hybrid working pattern offered.

Benefits

Work your world opportunity

Reflection days for well-being

24/7 helpline and mental health support

Family friendly policies

Flexible working options

Local discounts

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in paid social, strategy, team management, and client service.
• A proactive leader who champions best practice and operational excellence.
• Strong collaborator who brings people together to solve problems.

Responsibilities

• Develop paid social strategies across Meta and other platforms.
• Lead media planning and strategic responses to global briefs.
• Coach mid-level talent and support their growth.

Skills

Leadership

Client relationship management

Paid social strategy

Data analysis

Team management

Education

Degree in Marketing or related field

Job description

Overview

What will you be doing?

Our client is one of the most prestigious brands in the world, and one of the most prestigious clients within Publicis. They are a genuinely unique business: structured as a charitable foundation with no shareholders to answer to, and with products in such high demand that they consistently sell every item every year, many with long waiting lists. All of this means that most of the common objectives of an agency client - sales, revenue, margin - are infrequent considerations. Instead, they seek to "perpetuate the myth", ensuring that the dominant position they hold within their market, the almost ubiquitous aspiration to ownership and their unique synonymity with excellence are sustained, not just for the sales quarter or the financial year, but for the very long term.

You will drive the paid social strategy and tactical execution across the account. You\'re focus will be primarily across Meta, but you\'ll have the experience and knowledge across the wider social ecosystem such as TikTok, Snapchat and Pinterest. You will also be responsible for ensuring implementation and optimization goals are managed and delivered efficiently and to a high standard.

You'll manage senior client stakeholders, guiding them through a changing media and tech landscape while ensuring that paid social delivers clear, measurable brand impact.

The role requires experience in leading a large team of social specialists, fostering a culture of excellence and people. You should be adept in translating the big vision into practical, actionable steps for you team, while also helping to translate tactical tests and pilots back into the overall vision. You will be responsible for a key part of the account so will need to strike the right balance of attention to detail and top level communication.

Responsibilities

Strategy & Media Planning

• Develop paid social strategies, ensuring implementation is actioned to a high standard across the team.
• Lead upfront media planning and strategic responses to global briefs
• Identify, scope and propose relevant new Paid Social opportunities that are aligned to broader business goals
• Collaborate with agency and other internal Client teams to align social with other broader media and owned channels (Search, YouTube)
• Represent paid social confidently and expertly in client meetings and leadership forums
• Lead quarterly reviews and strategic updates
• Hold platform partners to account on client service, performance, and innovation.

Leadership

• Build strong client relationships and present clear, strategic thinking
• Support and guide local market activation teams, aligning with global strategies

• Coach mid-level talent, support their growth through feedback and training.

• Maintain high standards of delivery, process, and performance

• Act as a visible and supportive leader, set the tone for a high-performing and inclusive culture.
• Recognise team wins and create an environment where people feel valued and motivated.
• Act as a role model for behaviour, quality and professionalism.

Data & Insights

• Partner with Reporting + Insights team to develop and track measurement frameworks that align paid social with client KPIs.
• Ensure the team can interpret, action, and communicate insights across social platforms.
• Translate data and insights into clear, actionable media optimisations and recommendations

Operations

• Implement processes that ensure quality team output, including campaign planning and QA.
• Own and reinforce Financial Quality Assurance processes within the team.
• Continuously review team ways of working, improve team efficiencies and team wellbeing.
• Collaborate with internal teams to remove blockers and support cross-functional initiatives.
• Develop media investment frameworks across channels
• Set and run testing agendas to inform media recommendations
• Apply test learnings to optimise performance and guide planning cycles

Qualifications

What are we looking for?

• Extensive experience in paid social, strategy, team management, and client service. Experience working client side on paid social, a bonus
• A proactive leader who champions best practice and operational excellence.
• Comfortable navigating complex clients and large projects
• A strong collaborator who brings people together to solve problems and deliver great work.

Additional information

Starcom has fantastic benefits on offer to all of our employees. In addition to the classics, Pension, Life Assurance, Private Medical and Income Protection Planswe 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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