Strategy Manager

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

Job summary

Join Mediabrands as a Strategy Manager, leading strategic initiatives for key brands like Dyson and Just Eat. You will drive transformative business growth, collaborate with diverse teams, and have opportunities for professional growth within a dynamic agency culture. The role emphasizes innovative thinking, collaboration, and client engagement.

Benefits

Flexi–leave, with 25 days annual leave

Free breakfast and lunch

Early finish on Fridays

Flexible start and finish times

Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme

Interest-free season ticket loan

Paid time off for volunteering

Group Income Protection

Private Medical Insurance or Health Cash Plan

Generous parental leave and pay

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Experienced in multi-media communications impacting client businesses.
• Eager to grow in strategic fluency with both autonomy and teamwork.
• Personable and able to foster good internal and external relationships.

Responsibilities

• Serve as strategic lead for clients such as Dyson and Just Eat.
• Craft strategic approaches for UK pitches and localize global strategies.
• Collaborate with teams across the Mediabrands network.

Skills

Creative thinking

Dynamic presentation skills

Leadership behaviors

Collaboration

Client interactions

Job description

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UM is a media agency designed to futureproof our clients’ businesses for the now and the next. We leverage the transformational power of rich business analytics and real-time intelligence to maximize growth and activate the full consumer journey across content and connections – all rooted in culture.

We believe in purposeful growth, and our Better World Media philosophy puts diversity, equity, and sustainability at the heart of our business operations. We are committed to investing in diverse and responsible media partners to drive more meaningful and authentic messaging for our clients.

As the leading global media network in IPG Mediabrands, UM operates in over 100 countries, with more than 3,000 people innovating on a roster of global clients. Here in the UK, we are proud to work with some of the world’s most exciting brands, including Accenture, American Express, Just Eat Takeaway, Johnson & Johnson, Mattel, MoneySuperMarket, and Spotify.

London is also the home of our UM EMEA Headquarters, providing the full spectrum of integrated media and marketing services to global clients across the region. Our in-house tools and technology capabilities, driven by a truly multi-national, talented, and passionate team of people, make us perfectly placed to create tailored, regional solutions for a diverse range of clients. As a regional hub, we act as a catalyst to integrate and connect – fuelling central strategies with both local insights and regional expertise. We have specialists across brand strategy, research & insight, data-driven analytics, 360 digital media planning, and content creation, bringing all these disciplines together to provide frameworks that optimize our clients’ advertising investment in each market.

Role Description

An exciting opportunity to join the most vibrant UM team. As Strategy Manager, you will be UM’s strategic lead for some of our most innovative & creative brands, including Dyson, Just Eat, and the newly won Levi’s. You will be responsible for ensuring strategic excellence that drives transformative business growth for each of your clients.

Beyond your day-to-day responsibilities, there are multiple opportunities across the business to stretch your creative and strategic muscles by making a positive impact on agency output. There is excellent potential for growth, working directly with the Managing Partner, Head of Strategy, and supported by the wider Strategy & Audiences Teams.

Your time will also be allocated to new business projects, crafting strategic approaches for UK pitches or interpreting/localizing global strategies for the UK market.

You will collaborate with multiple teams across the Mediabrands network. We have in-house creative, content, and production capabilities through UM Studios. You will be part of an integrated Strategy, Content, and Partnerships Team leading in developing effective and award-winning work.

Key Responsibilities

Our main goal as a team is to produce breakthrough work that delivers results. Creative thinking, inspiring teams, dynamic presentation skills, and leadership behaviors are critical to success in this role.

The Strategist is the driving force behind our propositions and execution for both existing clients and new business pitches.

We adopt an audience-first approach, committed to understanding consumer motivations as an integral part of strategic output. This includes identifying high-value audiences to achieve growth and surfacing insights that connect with them within our media strategies and plans.

Through our partnership with Acxiom, we build high-value audiences using first-party data and take these audiences through to activation.

The ideal candidate will confidently collaborate with our Planning and Data Solutions Teams to ensure ideas reach the right audiences, at the right times, with the right messages, on the right devices.

Opportunities for progression include advancing to Director and Strategy Partner roles, becoming a member of the UM London Leadership Team, and helping shape the future of our business in strategic product development, growth, client service, and fostering our unique culture.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Experienced in multi-media and able to articulate how communications positively impact our clients’ businesses
• Motivated, eager to grow in strategic fluency and flair, with autonomy and support from the strategy team
• Highly ambitious with a continuous learning mindset to deliver UM’s strategic excellence
• Personable, collaborative, and able to develop good internal and external relationships
• Committed to experimentation and collaboration, following best practices within the agency
• Confident in client interactions, leading meetings, and presenting to stakeholders, with support from the strategy & planning teams
• Aspiring to contribute to the broader agency culture and enhance UM’s industry reputation

Employee Transparency

At Mediabrands and Kinesso, we celebrate diversity and believe it strengthens us. We are equal opportunity employers committed to an inclusive culture that provides a sense of belonging for all. We do not discriminate based on age, disability, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, marital status, or any other protected characteristic.

Please contact our Talent Inclusion Specialist Jess at [contact info] for a confidential discussion about any adjustments needed to ensure an accessible recruitment process. Requesting adjustments will not affect your application.

The Perks

We aim to provide a supportive and enjoyable work environment where you can develop and benefit from a broad range of opportunities. When you join us, we want you to feel valued and rewarded. Our benefits include:

• Flexi–leave, with a minimum of 25 days annual leave, plus office closure between Christmas & New Year
• Free breakfast and lunch
• Early finish on Fridays
• Flexible start and finish times (Core Hours Mon-Thurs)
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
• Interest-free season ticket loan
• Paid time off for volunteering
• Group Income Protection
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical Insurance or Health Cash Plan (dependent on level)
• Group Personal Pension with 3-6% matched contributions
• Generous parental leave and pay
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free eye tests
• Flexible benefits including dental, travel insurance, cycle to work, gym discounts, and more