GroupM Nexus | Head of Search

Description:

About GroupM Nexus GroupM Nexus is the world’s leading global media performance organisation that unites GroupM’s global performance Talent & Technologies. Nexus unites GroupM Practices (search, social, programmatic, ad-ops, commerce) and Solutions (ATV, ADOOG, APROG and Goat) into a single unit. The global organisation is underpinned by a new cross-channel performance platform, AI and international delivery hubs to set new benchmarks for innovation, effectiveness and efficiency for GroupM’s agencies and clients. We have a clear vision for our business, to lead the next era of media performance. We believe that this spans how we make advertising work better for our people, our planet, our communities, and our clients. Our Nexus mission statement is to place transformative technology at the centre of human experiences. We’ll achieve this by connecting our technology, talent and thinking. We recently launched Nexus Connect, our ongoing commitment to our People. Our goal is to make Nexus the best place to work, learn and grow. We’re passionate about learning & development, empowering our people with fantastic resources such as GroupM University and Career Navigator. Nexus Connect brings forth a bespoke mentoring program that connects our talent to leadership across all facets of the business. We’ve also embedded a ‘Better for All’ initiative to ensure GroupM Nexus attracts the most diverse and representative mix of talent where everyone feels welcome and has equal opportunity to grow.Your role in a nutshell The Head of Search role is to lead, with overall responsibility for the direction, workflow, and quality of Search Implementation for the agencies we work with. The role is deeply technical and craft-obsessed role, supported by agency operations teams to create space to operate in an elevated and future-focused manner, to be client-facing, and to sit with and lead the agency teams.This role will focus on Product

• Taking the primary lead on defining the success metrics for the Search department, incorporating best-in-class quality assurance approach with continual improvement.
• Serve as leadership voice with external partners and vendors, with a strong focus on identifying and scaling innovation opportunities.
• Oversee the master delivery of effective, bespoke, and future fit channel activation for clients, both for short term and long-term growth.
• Collaborate effectively with Discipline leads across the agency, to ensure channel strategies span beyond media, into rich areas of content, data, and technology.
• Broad knowledge in media planning principles (e.g. scheduling, flighting, recency, effective reach theories, seasonality, market prioritisation, roles of all communication channels) and exceptional ability to utilise agency and industry tools to enhance and support planned recommendation.
• Fosters a culture of innovative thinking and creativity, leveraging your senior relationships with publishers to bring local, regional and global insights and case studies from across the market, to the agencies to inspire client strategies.
• Develop, in conjunction with Client leads, robust and automated reporting and ways of working.
• Seek to find, communicate, and implement improvements in all aspects of the role.
• Deliver a well-informed POV in every meeting, offering innovative strategic insights by acting as an expert in your craft.
• Work with global and regional counterparts, and agencies, to define the optimal process to ensure quality, efficiency, and accuracy in all search delivery.
• Identify and implement tools, technology, data, and automation solutions through the group.
• Maintain strong vendor and publisher relations including:

• Reviewing potential new search products & partners, and communicating a clear POV (including to external press and partners)
• Representing GroupM’s needs to existing partners through both formal reviews and day-to-day interaction.
• Engage with our media partners to retain rich knowledge of the media landscape and a deep understanding of core media principles and the capabilities of each media touchpoint. And ensure that industry developments are quickly and concisely communicated across the group.

• Collaborate closely with Nexus ExCo and SLT to shape the direction of our division, building solves for today and influencing change for the future.
• Ensuring we have the right structure for the Nexus @ Agency teams that you lead and that we are retaining and attracting the best Performance talent for a future fit agency.
• Set the rhythm for regular department meetings and collaborate with agency meetings.
• Openly communicate and collaborate with all internal key stakeholders and reports regularly.
• Hold regular performance evaluation meetings with reports throughout the year, setting SMART KPIs and creating a clear career development plan with them.
• Review your team's training needs to make sure their career plans are aligned to their progression. Responsible for training and development of all members of the team.
• Create and foster a cohesive team environment through agency activities and cultural moments.
• Responsible for the overall delivery of Search investment, including leadership and development of a team that is consistently flawless in delivery & accuracy across all aspects.

• Establish an understanding of themed client challenges, objectives & initiatives through collaboration with the Client Partners.
• Help build on the agency's reputation for outstanding client service.
• Help to offer innovative strategic insights by acting as an expert on the client's business, industry, and competitors. Present these through the client teams, or in collaboration with.
• Seek out reformist ways to keep clients informed on relevant developments and changes to media landscape and media partners. Stay informed on agency priorities and client partnership opportunities. Lead the communication of search market trends, developments or any changes that will impact any buying performance.
• As required, responsible for client media audits, media negotiations and billings forecasting, working hand in hand with your key stakeholders to deliver to goals and client KPI’s.

• Be a GroupM Nexus spokesperson on industry subjects with a strong, high profile and positive reputation and personality in the market. Be a positive face of GroupM Nexus at industry events.
• Build the group’s reputation and distinct proposition via the contribution of thought leadership across owned assets (Website, Social, EDM’s etc.) and via the submission into relevant industry awards for great client work and great professional achievement.
• Support the CEO and the ExCo on new business pitches.
• Collaborate closely with key stakeholders to identify, collate, and highlight examples of clever work from within the group, both internally and externally.
• Share relevant and insightful commentary internally, for the broader group.
• Maintain, in collaboration with Nexus SLT, a view on key commercial indicators and work proactively on areas of improvement.
• Work as a partner to agency Chief Digital and Product/Growth Officers in leading the creation and commercialisation of agency search capabilities.
• Troubleshoot and proactively manage business challenges.
• Show expert grasp of the commercial, strategic, and technical elements of all relevant products and services.