Position Summary

The Vice President (VP), Client Business Partner is responsible for leading teams of media professionals to devise innovative, scalable, measurable media solutions that drive highly engaging consumer experiences. Digital marketing is a key vehicle and would be infused throughout the entire campaign solution. The Vice President (VP), Client Business Partner is responsible for maintaining an efficient team that achieves strong profitability and building strong working relationships with clients at all levels, and partners (i.e. creative agencies, ancillary businesses). Inspiring creative media solutions that are grounded in insight is a key requirement.

Key Responsibilities

Assume overall responsibility for the team's total media product from strategy to tactical recommendation
Look for and deliver new and innovative solutions to client business issues and challenges
Oversees development of plans consisting of building media strategies tied to brand marketing objectives and strategies, across channels
Provide thought leadership and help develop strategic direction for media planning and buying across traditional and digital mediums
Cultivate an ongoing understanding of client business, operations & marketing strategies and how these relate to media & communication strategies
Provide media solutions and thought leadership to executive level client leaders
Ensure that client relationships continue to be strengthened by high quality work and continual innovation
Collaborate with creative agencies, media planning, and activation partners to develop ideas aligned to client strategy
Partners with analytics and research teams to develop Point of Views (POVs) on research and measurement solutions for clients
Evangelizes the strategic planning process and FBDS positioning and ensures that media plans are informed by these values
Play a key role in the negotiation of client agreements including scope of work and corresponding efficient staff plans
Continually monitor and identify areas of both opportunity and risk with regards to achieving business objectives
Drive organic growth by proactively identifying opportunities to deepen our relationship with clients via Mediabrands’ Speciality Business Units (SBUs)
Inspire and lead the team in the development of creative and innovative and on-strategy media solutions grounded in insight
Seamlessly integrate all groups (investment, digital, strategy) and collectively drive against client and business objectives
Participate in new business activities as needed

Desired Skills & Experience

Bilingual (English/French)
Executive level of progressive experience in media planning within an agency environment, or a combination of media agency and client-side marketing/media experience
Senior level of experience managing and developing large staffs across multiple teams
Experience leading the media product for a matrixed, complex client with multiple LOB’s, varied Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and related stakeholders
Change Leadership: adaptable and resilient; able to guide teams through transformation, growth, or restructuring.
Demonstrated business and financial acumen, with strong business planning experience
Proven ability to cultivate strong professional relationships with clients, colleagues, and media partners
Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills
Ability to influence and negotiate win-win solutions
Exemplary leadership and people-management skills
Demonstrated critical thinking and problem solving abilities
Operates with a collaborative approach and a ‘can do’ mindset
Creative and adaptive thinker who enjoys learning, taking on unfamiliar challenges, and shaping new strategic approaches and frameworks
Proven ability to drive strategic solutions
Previous experience leading new business planning and presentations

UM Canada

Open Positions

VP, Client Business Partner