Associate Director, Platform

Company description

in the UK

Spark Foundry, the Acceleration Agency

We help brands to identify, learn and respond to opportunities faster than the competition

Every client has an area of their business they need to accelerate, from short-term goals to long-term transformation

We’ve proven our approach during the most difficult year on record

Now we’re using it to provide a launchpad for their future

Come be an accelerator with us

How we accelerate Planning: an approach that works in practice rather than theory, arming planners with the ability to create cutting edge campaigns Intelligence: a suite of tools that give definitive answers to big questions, and uncovers actionable insights about real people Trading: a model built on flexibility and trusted relationships, underpinned with bold guarantees Relationships: a culture of asking challenging questions to better understand the brief – we are not a ‘yes’ agency People: a strong history of recruiting talent from diverse backgrounds and accelerating their careers Our Commitment We are diverse though our experience, people and the clients we look after - and we celebrate that diversity

Our people hold us accountable to our beliefs and via regular surveys and our grass roots D&I team, The Collective, and internal next generation board, Firestarters, we hold regular events and work continually towards generating ideas, initiatives and educating our people to ensure we are a diverse and inclusive agency

As part of our dedication to create an inclusive and diverse workforce, Spark Foundry is committed to equal access to opportunity for people without regard to race, age, sex, disability, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion

Overview The Audience Design team is at the core of what we do at Spark Foundry

The Data & Platforms team of data and marketing technology specialists have deep expertise in the ever-changing universe of ad technology, data management, data-driven marketing, and enable a data-first strategy throughout our planning and buying process

The Associate Director will be integral in driving ad/mar tech and data integration conversations and strategies on behalf of our clients and then implementing these strategies with the Strategy, Activation, and Operations teams as well as clients themselves

The Associate Director will become an expert in the data landscape and will consult with internal teams and clients on partner/vendor selection, data onboarding, platform integrations, audience activation and testing framework, and audience reporting/insights

This highly motivated, detail-oriented individual will work with both the client and internal stakeholders to educate them on the myriad uses of data and to drive innovation in the use of data and technology for the client, think things like clean rooms, CDPs, advanced audience strategies, full-funnel measurement, etc

They will also generate insights and audience profiles to align with strategic planning and will work with third-party data vendors and publishers to maximize the data opportunity for the client and go beyond what is currently available

Successful candidates will have a well-rounded knowledge base of the digital advertising and data landscape and a passion for working with marketers to drive advertising value

Role Objectives: Manage data strategy for advertising clients, communicating strategies/recommendations to clients using a consultative approach Understand how platform/data technologies work and offer the ability to explain technical concepts in ordinary terms (be technically savvy - understand the opportunities and limitations) Identify opportunities – industry learning, meet with vendors and provide a POV, with a client lens and in desired format -- education/evangelize the findings Oversee relationship with the Identity Resolution platforms, CDPs, or other AdTech solutions and project manage the deployment and activation of data technology solutions Partner with internal Programmatic and media investment arms to support campaign activation as well as advanced data use cases Oversee, author and/or constructively edit and review the writing of media documents (timelines, POVs, RFPs, plans, agreements, client memos, and correspondence from within and outside the agency)

Share knowledge with client and internal teams regarding audience insights and results to impact business needs Provides input to client business-related decisions Client

: Ownership of day-to-day client relationship (mid-level) Anticipates risks and prepares multiple resolutions Actively manages client care strategies Builds strong client relationships Management

: Accountable for manager and associate level deliverables Provides clear and concise direction and messages Has “Intellectual Capital”, understands people want to hear a point of view Showcases the ability to manage & mentor others Accountable for onboarding and team readiness

: 5+ years of prior digital advertising experience in a client-services capacity 2+ years managing 2+ direct reports In-depth technical knowledge of ad and marketing technology, including ad servers, rich media, dynamic creative, streaming video, OBA, ad verification, customer data management platforms, identity resolution solutions, DSPs, etc Strong project management skills and keen ability to delegate Strong understanding of digital media planning and management processes Expert knowledge and experience with Identity Solution tools (eg

Epsilon, Liveramp, Neustar) Expert understanding and usage of CDP (eg

Salesforce, Adobe, Treasure Data) Expert understanding data flow within adtech/martech ecosystem. #LI-IM1 Additional information Spark Foundry offers a wide range of

to support our employees

Full details are shared when you join, but highlights include core

such as Pension, Life Assurance, and Private Medical cover, alongside enhanced policies like Reflection Days and Shared Parental Leave

You’ll also have access to a range of additional initiatives, including: 📖 Please check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive

and our EAG’s (Employee Action Groups)

Publicis Groupe works primarily from the office or our clients' office four days per week

At Spark Foundry, we are proud to be an equal opportunities employer

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, disability, age, citizenship, relationship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic

We are committed to providing a fair, accessible, and inclusive recruitment process

If you have any access needs - for example, related to disability, neurodivergence, or a health condition - please let us know

We’ll work with you to ensure the process works for you

Sharing this information will never impact your application

Guided by our values, we listen with empathy, uplift each other, take responsibility, and embrace change - building a culture where everyone feels seen, respected, and genuinely included.