DescriptionPosition at GroupM Associate Director (Investment)GroupM provides products and services to the GroupM agencies. These range from technology solutions through to training programmes. Conceptually the GroupM team exists to facilitate efficiencies in the Agencies themselves and provide thought leadership to them. The Trading team is one of the core units in GroupM with a primary focus on negotiating, managing and delivering all the media deals for all MediaOwners. People within our team deliberate and formulate trading strategies, technology innovation, deal efficiencies and new revenue across the all media working closely with the different Agency teams. The core aim is to allow agencies to have their individual USPs whilst using the size and buying power of the combined group to drive more cost-effective and better managed deals. The Role ObjectiveThis role will sit within the GroupM trading and investment team MENA; responsible for supporting the Head of investment in drafting media strategies and reviews as well as managing a team. The ideal candidate will be a confident communicator – a person with strong analytical and negotiation skills who is able to identify potential obstacles and opportunities and challenge for a positive outcome as well as a whizz at excel. ResponsibilitiesKnowledge – To develop a client education & knowledge enhancement program in terms of media – Excellent grasp of communications strategy with a full understanding of how advertising works and key advertising principles – A full understanding of the agency’s thinking model and the ability to activate it – A full understanding of clients’ business sales, competitors, customers, objectives/and a sympathetic incorporation of these considerations into the communications strategy – A sound understanding of trading issues and how these impacts on media strategy. – Expertise in all research data, including client research such as: Sales Data, Awareness tracking, Competitive Data etc – A thorough knowledge of the media marketplace and opportunities available and build constructive relationships with key media owners where relevant – To manage effective meetings i.e. chairing, agendas, call reports, produce minutes, action points, etc. Product- To develop and sell communication plans either as the lead planner or as part of a planning team, depending on the size and complexity of the business. – To ensure internal & external marketing of the agency’s work in the regional and international awards – To ensure a thorough use of the agency’s thinking model involving all relevant divisions, i.e., bringing specialists’ expert knowledge into the planning process early and ensuring thorough liaison with the Investment teams to maximize return on the clients investment People- To monitor day to day aspects of junior employees’ work to ensure high quality output. – To provide on the job training and learning opportunities for junior employees in your teams – To be a strong team-player within Account/Planning teams, buying and specialist teams – Build a good rapport with GroupM colleagues across all divisions, clients, other agencies, and media owners Experience, Skills and Behaviours· Minimum 6-8 years experience in a similar role within a media agency, · Strong verbal & written communication skills; personable, charismatic and quick to form relationships · Sound people management skills. · Commercially minded; able to recognise opportunity · Solution-orientated – someone who assesses and is comfortable to challenge where required · Effective time management skills and goals oriented – ability to prioritise and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment · Strong analytical and numeracy skills – evidence of having approached problems from a mathematical perspective and working through to a solution in a logical way · Strong sense of initiative and personal ownership