Group 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. 

As Group Director, Communications Design you are at the forefront of bringing the next generation of planning to life. As the Design leader of your client group, you are ensuring the adoption and adherence of communications design principles across your client base, ensuring your team consistently delivers best in class idea led, culturally empowered communications ecosystems that drive effectiveness.

• Act as lead design counsel for clients at key periods (e.g. annual planning) or across key projects (eg. New launches)
• Responsible for communications design product excellence across major planning initiatives across designated client base
• Lead the team’s adoption of best-in-class communications design approaches and innovation, and adherence to planning process
• Oversee collaboration with external partners (creative agency), and internal strategy and partnerships teams through the planning process to ensure creative excellence, strategic fit and commercial feasibility of the Connections Design approach
• Oversight of connections architecture development, analytics strategy and ecosystem delivery across owned, earned, shared & paid (OESP)
• Responsible for best-in-class quality and consistency of every output from the communications design client team they oversee, in line with the communications design discipline vision
• Responsible for ensuring profitable integration of Specialty Business Unit (SBU) leadership within design team
• Oversee opportunities to grow scope to appropriate communications design staffing levels and up-leveled talent on client assignments\Manage the product outcomes for new business efforts across pitches for Communications Design resource, including casting talent, running brainstorms, integrating with partnerships & SBU’s on

• Experience in an integrated planning role in media, publisher / vendor, or communications discipline (digital, content)
• Experience with high budget clients that participate in the linear video and CTV Upfront
• Skilled at utilizing tools for optimizations
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Proven ability to develop and maintain high level professional relationships with senior clients, colleagues and vendors
• Strong organizational, analytical and leadership skills
• Strong experience/involvement in new business planning and presentations skills

• 10+ years relevant experience with 5+ years leading, managing and motivating a team
• Category or audience experience as relevant per assignment
• Ability to lead strategic thinking for integrated marketing communication plans encompassing traditional and non-traditional media strategies
• Ability to ensure consistency and best practices across all projects; strong project management skills
• Ability to assess client needs for utilization and development of planning and research tools and resources

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.   

It is the 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].