Associate Director, Client Operations (12-month Maternity Cover)

About Us

IPG Mediabrands is the media and marketing solutions division of Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). Mediabrands manages approximately $40 billion in marketing investment globally on behalf of its clients and provides strategic services and solutions across its award-winning, full-service agency networks UM, Initiative and Mediahub and through its innovative marketing specialist companies Kinesso, Magna, Orion, Rapport and Mediabrands Content Studio. Mediabrands clients include many of the world’s most recognisable and iconic brands from a broad portfolio of industry sectors. The company employs more than 13,000 marketing experts in more than 130 countries, representing the full diversity of humanity. For more information, please visit our website: .

Client Operations Associate Director - 12 month maternity cover

The Operations Associate Director is responsible for driving operational excellence across planning, reporting, workflow management, and data governance processes. The role focuses on four key areas: Dashboard Management, Monday.com Operations, Media Plan Template Governance, and Commercial Reporting.

Working closely with Planning, Activation, and Data, Technology & Analytics (DTA) teams, this role ensures consistency, accuracy, compliance, and effective communication across markets and client teams.

Key Responsibilities

1. Dashboard Management

• Coordinate with local planning teams to collect quarterly and annual planning and actualised data within agreed timelines.
• Ensure data templates are completed accurately and consistently across markets.
• Partner with Data, Technology & Analytics (DTA) teams to provide guidance, troubleshooting, and training to local teams.
• Lead communications with client teams regarding data governance progress, milestones, and completion status.
• Maintain and update documentation related to data acquisition, governance, and reporting processes.
• Collaborate closely with Planning, Activation, and DTA teams to support operational alignment.
• Work collaboratively with Planning, Activation, and DTA teams to develop and implement a strategic roadmap for operational improvements, driving greater efficiency, consistency, automation, and process optimisation
• Train local teams on dashboard upload processes, ensuring accurate data submission and adherence to procedures

2. Commercial reporting

• Liaise with Initiative market teams to ensure timely and accurate submission of commercial data.
• Hours utilisation
• Budgets and spend tracking
• Commissions and fees
• Out-of-scope project reporting
• Consolidate and validate reporting outputs for stakeholder review.
• Support financial visibility and operational accountability through accurate reporting practices.

3. Media plan template governance

• Own and manage the global media plan template process.
• Update templates with new media vendors and requirements as requested by local teams.
• Monitor and enforce adherence to approved template usage across teams.
• Partner with dashboard teams and clients on template updates, rollouts, and process improvements.
• Ensure the media plan template remains accurate, scalable, and fit for purpose across markets.

Key Skills & Experience

• Strong operational and project management skills.
• Experience coordinating cross-market or regional teams.
• Strong attention to detail and process governance capabilities.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, including with senior client stakeholders in Global Planning and Analytics teams
• Experience with reporting, workflow management tools, and data governance processes.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative approach with experience working across Planning, Activation, Finance, and Analytics teams.

Employee Transparency

At IPG Mediabrands, we celebrate differences and believe this makes us stronger. IPG Mediabrands are an equal-opportunity employer committed to championing an inclusive culture that provides a sense of belonging for all our employees. We do not discriminate against any applicant based on age, disability, race, colour, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, belief, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please reach out to Ninette at [email protected] , if you would like to have a confidential conversation regarding any adjustments that would ensure our recruitment process is accessible for you. Please note requesting a reasonable adjustment will not affect your application.

The Perks

We aim to provide all our people with a supportive and fun work environment where you can develop your full potential and benefit from the broad range of opportunities within the agency. When you join us, we want to make sure you feel valued – and that you are rewarded for your fantastic work. So, we also offer a range of benefits:

• Flexi–leave, with 25 days annual leave to be taken as minimum. In addition to your holiday entitlement, the office usually closes between Christmas & New Year
• Free breakfast and free lunch
• Early finish Fridays
• Core Hours (Mon-Thurs, flexible start/finish times)
• Retail discounts
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifices car scheme
• Wellbeing programme, including Headspace & flu jabs
• 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 Plan with matched contributions from 3-6%
• Generous Parental Leave & Pay
• Independent mortgage advice
• Financial education
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free eye tests
• Flexible benefits including Dental, Travel insurance, Cycle to Work, Gym Discounts and many more!