Associate Director, Communications Design

Business Overview

We believe in the power of media to reshape our industry and orchestrate a brand’s entire consumer experience, by balancing both what unites people and what makes them different. When brands unite people in culture, they build Fame, and when brands connect individuals to their unique journeys, they build customer Flow. Initiative builds Fame & Flow for brands like Nike, Amazon, Merck, and T-Mobile. Media responsibility is at the forefront of everything we do, whether it’s creating media plans that reflect the diversity of our communities, promote brand safety, and foster sustainability. Our agency celebrates diversity in an inclusive environment where all of our 6,000+ strong talent across 90+ markets feel seen, heard, and valued. Our vision is to create not only a better media company, but also a better media industry, and maybe even a better world.

We make a promise to our people that we double down on seeing, celebrating & elevating all the things that make you, uniquely you. And just as we do for our brands and clients, we connect our people to the journeys that matter in building a meaningful career.

There are four I’s in Initiative and these represent our core values and behaviors.

INDIVID[YOU]ALITY – you bring your genuine and unique self to and into the work, every day.

INSTINCT – you’re tuned in and armed with intelligence; you have a bias for action – shit happens when you’re around.

IMPACT! – you care deeply about the impact you have on our clients, their customers, our community, the media landscape and our world at large.

IMAGINATION – your ability to imagine and bring to life the ideas, solutions, and the future of Initiative, makes us THE create media agency in the world.

Position Overview

As Senior Communications Designer, you are an important part of the creation of the most appropriate communications plan for your client to achieve their business goals. You are responsible for helping to strategize, produce and make sense of the key media, consumer and market intelligence required to your clients’ connections plan. You have a passion for brands, media and ideas, and within the team are considered the go-to-person on the latest news and innovations going on in media. You are an important part of the idea design, and the development of the communications architecture and tactics.

In this role, you produce and analyze consumer, brand and marketing intelligence for the communications plan development. You have a good understanding of the communications planning process, and are able to help mine through tools like MediaTools and audience and competitive data from MRI, client and desk research, and Kantar, to set the most appropriate communications goals for a given task, and understand the right channels and approaches to take. However, you don’t stop at the fundamentals, and are also able to use social listening data, search trends, wider audience trend information and other ideas as dynamic inputs to the communications approach.

Responsibilities

· Contribute to impactful communications plan development to meet client needs and deliver communications idea

· Responsible for accurate ongoing management and team dissemination of client owned and shared asset audit to enable true OESP planning

· Provide communications and audience intelligence and data inputs through the application of syndicated and proprietary systems for communications design goal setting and decision making

· Work with media vendors and partnership team to maintain and share intelligence regarding media opportunities as it relates to client’s audiences and categories, for use in planning and ideation

· Support the Communication Design Directors in researching relevant innovations, audience trends & Partnerships opportunities with the ability to provide the Strategy team with actionable insights

· Contribute to the ideation team sessions in conjunction with the Strategy team and relevant Specialty Business Units to generate creative & compelling connections idea

· Contributor to Specialty Business Units revenue growth through planning outcomes

Required Skills and Experience

· Experience in an integrated planning role in media, publisher/vendor, or communications discipline (digital, content)

· Excellent written, verbal communication and presentation skills

· Proven ability to develop and maintain strong professional relationships with clients, colleagues, and vendors

· Required PC proficiency and solid working knowledge of Microsoft Office (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)

Desired Skills and Experience

· 2+ years relevant experience

· Category or audience experience as relevant per assignment

· Strong time-management and organizational skills

· Experience analyzing data and market research

· Experience delegating assignments to junior staff

Wage and Benefits

We offer a Total Rewards package that includes medical and dental coverage, 401(k) plans, flex spending, life insurance, disability, employee discount program, employee stock purchase program and paid family benefits to support you and your family.

The salary range for this position is posted below. Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position, market considerations, budgetary considerations, tenure and standing with the Company (applicable to current employees), as well as the employee’s/applicant’s skill set, level of experience, and qualifications.

Employment Transparency

It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. The job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and other job functions are subject to modification. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

For applicants to jobs in the United States: In compliance with the current Americans with Disabilities Act and state and local laws, if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position, please email [email protected] .

Salary Range

$95,000—$120,000 USD