Global Agency & Media Strategy Executive

UCB; Atlanta (GA); Hybrid; USD 184,000 - 241,500; Full time

Job summary

UCB seeks a strategic, relationship-driven procurement leader to serve as Director, Agencies & Media – Global. This hybrid role is based in Atlanta, GA, and will own global strategy, sourcing, and relationships across the Agencies & Media category, overseeing US and EU teams under one global model.

You will manage $600M in annual agency/media spend, drive value creation and ROMI with Marketing, and standardize commercial terms and governance across regions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred, in business, marketing, or a related discipline.
• 12+ years of experience in marketing/agency procurement, media, or agency-side leadership, including 10+ years leading teams.
• Experience managing global or multi-region agency/media portfolios at significant spend scale.
• Demonstrated knowledge of agency commercial models: FTE-based, fee-based, media commission, and performance-based structures.
• Experience negotiating with major holding companies (e.g., WPP, Omnicom, Publicis, Dentsu, Havas) and independent agencies.
• Ability to influence senior-level stakeholders through clear, concise, executive-ready communication.
• Direct experience with media transparency, media auditing, and value-recovery (rebates/AVBs), with familiarity with principal-based media buying and programmatic risks.

Responsibilities

• Lead global category strategy for agency and media procurement, including creative, media buying/planning, production, and digital/social agencies.
• Standardize commercial models, rate cards, rebates, and fee structures across U.S. and EU to close gaps in terms and drive cost efficiency.
• Establish media transparency, audit, and value-recovery as core disciplines; govern agency trading practices; manage risks in digital/programmatic.
• Partner with Marketing to improve ROMI using media-mix and effectiveness insights for allocation and incentives.
• Lead or oversee major agency reviews, RFPs, and renewal negotiations for global and regional rosters.
• Serve as executive sponsor for top-tier agency relationships and media holding company partnerships.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, legal, and policy requirements across agency contracts, including data privacy and anti-bribery reporting.

Skills

Leadership

Global procurement

Agency & media procurement

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business or marketing

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

UCB seeks a strategic, relationship-driven procurement leader to serve as Director, Agencies & Media – Global. This hybrid role is based in Atlanta, GA, and will own global strategy, sourcing, and relationships across the Agencies & Media category, overseeing US and EU teams under one global model.

You will manage $600M in annual agency/media spend, drive value creation and ROMI with Marketing, and standardize commercial terms and governance across regions.