Strategy & Innovation Account Director

GROUPM; London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media organization in London is seeking a Culture & Innovation Strategy Director to drive creativity and innovation across global marketing strategies. This role requires 6+ years of experience in research or strategy, with a strong focus on culture marketing. Candidates should be proactive problem-solvers with strong presentation skills. The position offers a hybrid working approach and various employee benefits.

Benefits

Competitive medical insurance

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Mental health days

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in Research and/or Strategy.
• Experience working with Senior Stakeholders.
• Creatively minded with the ability to turn insight into strategy.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to insight and foresight reports related to culture marketing.
• Develop strategic guidance related to culture marketing.
• Collaborate closely with other parts of Capabilities.

Skills

Research

Strategic thinking

Presentation Skills

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Job description

Description

About WPP Media

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients, and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com.

WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com

About Mindshare: A Leading WPP Media Brand

Mindshare delivers Good Growth for its clients. As “Growth Architects,' we drive growth that benefits all stakeholders — better for people, planet, and business — by using media with intention. This approach creates more meaningful connections with consumers, increases consumer trust in the brand, and delivers better outcomes for all stakeholders.

Role Summary and Impact

Culture & Innovation Strategy Director

The Worldwide Invention team at Mindshare drives creativity & innovation in and beyond media by excelling in culture, community, and innovation. Through a balance of deep expertise and creative thinking, we guide our clients to think outside of the box, using channels and mechanics that drive growth beyond their existing realms of focus (e.g., partnership, sponsorship, branded or social content, influencer, emerging technologies, sport, gaming, etc.).

We aim to elevate creativity in media by designing media-agnostic ideas; develop thorough research and inspirational thought leadership; deliver culture & creative programs; and be deep experts in areas of specialisms. These are primarily: cultural strategy, partnership, sponsorship; community strategy, influencers, creators, social content; innovation strategy, creative tech & emerging technologies. Our knowledge spans various areas of culture, with specific focus on gaming, sport, film, and entertainment.

We are looking for a Culture & Innovation Strategy Director to join the global Unilever team, working across the Global Marketing Organisation and their portfolio of billion-dollar brands—Dove, Rexona, Persil, Hellmann’s, and more. Responsibilities include working as part of the global Capabilities team and collaborating with Unilever’s global marketing team to identify how marketing is evolving and how culture and innovation will impact Unilever and its brands.

Your responsibilities will include:

1. Contributing to the development of insight and foresight reports related to culture marketing and innovation in communications and media, conducting research and analysis to inform findings.
2. Developing strategic guidance and actionable recommendations related to culture marketing and innovation in communications and media, translating insights into practical applications.
3. Serving as a key resource and source of insights for the Strategy & Capabilities team as well as Unilever’s Global Marketing Organisation, sharing expertise and best practices.
4. Collaborating closely with other parts of Capabilities (Commerce, Data Strategy, Audience, Joint Business Partners, etc.) to support the operationalization and implementation of culture marketing and innovation across all parts of Unilever’s media and marketing efforts.
5. Leveraging and cultivating relationships with Joint Business Partners (Google, TikTok, etc.) to gather insights and inform strategic recommendations.
6. Supporting the building of capabilities and education initiatives for global and local teams (both agency and client side) to facilitate the adoption of the overall vision of culture and innovation globally.
7. Partnering with the wider Invention team to integrate and leverage expertise and resources related to innovation and culture from across WPP Media / WPP.
8. Contributing to discussions and thought leadership around culture and innovation across WPP Media.

Skills and Experience

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role, it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values:

• Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.
• Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
• Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.

Requirements include:

• 6+ years of experience in Research and/or Strategy, ideally within an Innovation or Culture-focused agency or specialist shop.
• Media experience is preferred but not mandatory.
• Experience working with Senior Stakeholders is important.
• A proactive self-starter with a problem-solving attitude and the ability to meet deadlines.
• Creatively minded with the ability to turn insight into strategy.
• Ability to learn new tools and systems across WPP / WPP Media (audience, insight, etc.).
• Hands-on approach to servicing client relationships and confident managing multiple stakeholder relationships.
• Strong presentation skills and attention to detail.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re committed to employee growth and responsible media investment. Benefits include competitive medical, retirement plans, vision, dental insurance, paid time off, partner discounts, and mental health days.

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and fosters a culture of respect where everyone feels they belong and has equal opportunities for career progression.

We adopt a hybrid working approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. Please discuss any accommodations or flexibility needs during the interview process.

This is a UK-based role requiring the right to work in the UK. For more info, read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy).

While we appreciate all applications, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.