Senior Investment Associate

Role Summary

The Senior Investment Associate handles day to day management (negotiating, managing and executing) of the integrated and digital video spend and negotiations for their assigned clients. You will provide strategic market insights, trends and pricing benchmarks, oversight and management of spending across major vendors while monitoring client budgets and adherence to KPIs. Work closely with Planning teams to ensure that final buys deliver on the approved plan objective and strategy. As the Senior Associate, Client Investment, you will implement media negotiations and buying/activation for one or more assigned accounts. You will provide strategic market insights, trends and pricing benchmarks, oversight, and manage spending across major vendors while monitoring client budgets and adherence to KPIs. You will also work closely with Planning teams to ensure that final buys deliver on the approved plan objective and strategy.

Responsibilities

• Integrate with the Communication/Strategic Planning team to gain insights on objectives, KPIs, strategies, audiences, etc. to ensure tactical buys deliver against goals.
• Participate in vendor RFP selection
• Help manage RFP process (all digital channels, where applicable)
• Help centrally manage negotiations/rate tracking/planning costs/benchmarking/ budget management of assigned account(s)
• Demonstrate better pricing, efficiencies, and impact by consolidating buys across partners, Agency and WPP Media
• Manage vendor relations (Inventory avails, IOs, notify if included/excluded from buy) 
• Develop Partner Scoring Model (ranking for buy development)
• Gain approval for all supply sources on tactical buys internally
• Develop tactical buy with larger Investment team
• Assist the Associate with entering the partner buys into Buy platforms, sending out IO/Contracts and preparing campaign for launches (trafficking, setting up ad serving, etc.)
• Ensure all buys are entered correctly into Prisma (naming conventions, budgets, placements, compliance, updates, etc.), campaign launches, and delivery/pacing is occurring
• Build relationships and meet with vendors on an ongoing basis to provide updates and/or recommendations
• Create Partner POVs
• Keep current on partner and marketplace innovations, ad models, and technologies
• Proactive in following up on client team requests with a key awareness of client deadlines
• Follow key investment tenets around KPIs
• Actively participate in department projects/committees
• Estimate, update and adjust all ratings per demographic, per quarter.
• Analyze upfront network proposals and create recommendation books. 
• Issue order letters.
• Negotiate all rates, special placement and added value per the determined strategy.
• Negotiate optimum buys in terms of cost efficiency, goals delivery and vendor agreements.
• Ensure the documentation of all negotiations, makegoods and credits.
• Ensure the accuracy of Donovan inputting, buys and order forms.
• Analyze buy performance, i.e. post-buys, positioning reports.
• Collaborate with Analytics to identify and activate buy optimizations
• Track media expenditures to ensure agency and budget compliance.
• Manage monthly billing
• Run commercial time period rotation and pod position reports.
• Oversee management of commercial inventory allocation and maintenance process, including monitoring audience delivery, and negotiating makegoods.
• Maintain communication with Communications Planning team to ensure timely delivery of requests.
• Maintain working relationships with vendors to ensure quality buys.
• Collaborate with the media team members to resolve media billing issues.
• Attend media presentations internally and outside the Agency.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of the national broadcast marketplace and its opportunities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, business administration, and communications; OR equivalent professional work experience.
• 1+ years of prior digital or Video investment experience desired
• Assist the Associate and help guide them on their roles and responsibilities, their workload and development
• Build and maintain strong relationships with media, technology, analytics and internal teams as well as media and technology publishers
• Foster camaraderie within the Investment team and with all key stakeholders they support
• Educate media teams on the investment process
• Provide guidance to team members and nurture/promote team environment
• Train employees on tools and best practices
• Be capable of working successfully within a team as well as independently
• Thorough understanding of the media landscape and fast-moving digital trends
• Strong quantitative and analytical/results-oriented skills
• Strong understanding of interactive research tools
• Solid negotiation skills and tactics
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work in a team environment that promotes collaboration
• Adept at communicating effectively across all levels
• Ability to multi-task, work successfully with teams, and work under pressure
• Excellent time-management and follow-through skills
• Advanced proficiency in Excel with intermediate PowerPoint and Word skills
• Strong understanding of interactive research tools 

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment to Be Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We also Lead Optimistically, firmly believing in and Championing Growth and Development for every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees to leverage the extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build vital professional connections, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising.  We Create an Open environment built on trust and respect, where everyone feels they belong and has opportunities to progress. This inclusive culture is fostered through a variety of employee resource groups and frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment, including competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in this open and supportive environment. That's why we've adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. Please note that while our philosophy is the same across WPP, benefits may vary by office/country.

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