Media Planning & Activation Manager

Job Title: Media Planning & Activation Manager
Work Location: Malaysia

Background:

Digital is changing everything about how consumer goods companies go to market. At Unilever we were at the front of the media revolutions in print advertising in the 1890s, in radio in the 1930s and in TV in the 1960s. Now we intend to be at the front of the digital revolution.  At the heart of our response to this Digital Revolution are our DIGITAL HUBS – where our marketers come to work with a range of specialists to deliver data-driven marketing at scale.

There has never been a more exciting time in marketing and media than now. And as Unilever’s Media team, we pioneer the future of media and marketing communication through our global scale, expertise and iconic brands. To accelerate our journey at exponential pace we are looking for the best digital talent, fellow kindred spirits who have the passion for all things digital and are not afraid to break convention to be change catalysts within our business.

We are looking for a committed, enthusiastic and experienced professional who has proven digital media planning and deployment expertise. The person in this job will work in the Digital Hub and closely with the local media and marketing teams.

The Purpose of Role:

The role aims to drive the adoption and continued excellence of data driven marketing practices within Unilever and our partner agencies. This involves planning data led campaigns, owning the process of implementation and optimisation, and ensuring the health of the infrastructure in place to deliver these plans in a seamless, automated way.

This role involves close work with the market teams plus other agencies. There is extensive cross-functional, cross-market working with an extensive range of stakeholders. This role does not have any direct reports: rather, it requires one to manage a large external agency team and to co-work effectively with a wide range of colleagues. A part of the role is also to co-create and share training material and learning that will increase marketers’ capabilities in the changing environment.

There is extensive cross-functional, cross-market working with an extensive range of stakeholders. This role does not have any direct reports: rather, it requires one to manage external agency teams, media partners and to co-work effectively with a wide range of colleagues.

Team Structure:

• Reporting to: Head of Media MY SG

Key Responsibilities:

Who You Are and What You’ll Do 

A successful Media Planning & Activation Manager has a balance between logic and magic, operations, and strategy. The manager must be able to appreciate both (1) strategic/creative tasks and (2) day-to-day operational tasks. You will be handling multiple stakeholders, as this is a dual-reporting role as well as driven to manage his/her priorities and schedules. 

Team Structure: 

• Reporting to: Media Head MYSG

Your Role/Key Responsibilities:  

• Drive Best in class Holistic Media Planning and execution  

• Lead and coordinate and deliver best in class holistic media plans (offline and online) for the category that fully leverages data and insights to target media effectively.

• Responsible for driving digital media execution via the digital hubs in particular relating data driven marketing (including the use of 1P,2P,3P data), search and performance marketing. 

• Work with the Performance marketing / retailer media experts in the Hub to drive optimisations both on and off the retailer.  

• Drive efficiencies through rigour and relationships 

• Engage directly with external media owners to deliver the very best value for Unilever across all levers – price (annual deals, budget complexities, sponsorship deals), innovation, and best practice.  

• Lead the external media agenda and will include relationships throughout the industry both with traditional media players e.g. Media Prima/Astro and digital players e.g.: Meta, Google, TTD and TikTok

• Lead the ‘One Unilever’ country activities, including investment across Business Units within that country to negotiate best commercial rates and JBPs with Media Vendors. 

• Management of media agencies with core elements of media trading and contractual delivery, third-party audits, and management of resource and capability review. 

• Drive best practice and thought leadership 

• Dock into various cross functional disciplines (CRM/PRM, Technology/Uni-Ops, and CMI (Consumer and Market Insights). Land core cross functional capabilities and best practice locally. 

• Drive Media and digital media innovation – pioneering the future of media and data driven marketing through a continuous test, learn and scale approach. Areas will include connected TV, live streaming, social commerce, podcasts, DTC etc. 

• Designs category media plan and allocate budgets for holistic plans that covers all media and all platforms including retailer media . 

• Manages media activation based on marketing plan/ activity calendar incl. mobilising/coordinating digital hub channel specialists to deploy locally . 

• Collaborates with CD / dComm teams to ensure the full end-to-end plan works on and offline with key customers. 

• Work with the agencies / external partners to bring to media plan execution to life . 

• Maximise efficiencies via value extractions with external partners / agencies for market. 

Key Stakeholders:

Internal: Brands & CD

• External: Media agency, Media Networks, Tech Partners

Travel:

No travel is required.

Essential Experience/Skill/Knowledge:

• Passion for the social & digital world and its implications for business. Very high willingness to learn.

• High "bias for action" and leadership. Right Mental Attitude - open communication & walk the talk

• 5 or more years' experience and superior knowledge of media, digital, programmatic, performance marketing or similar. Probably gained in a leading multinational media agency, advertiser or global digital platform, E-com companies

• An excellent English language communicator with senior stakeholders, peers and reports (conversational and presentational).

• Excellent listening skills and the ability to understand and articulate customer needs in business and more technical vocabulary, e.g. to convert a Marketer's request into a stimulating media brief.

• Experience managing relationships in a large, multinational, matrix organisation.

• Experience working as or with marketing stakeholders/agencies and an understanding of their likely challenges and information requirements.

Desirable Experience/Skill/Knowledge:

• Experienced project manager, particularly in terms of project planning, forecasting demand and managing human resource accordingly.

• Hands-on experience of eCommerce and Social Commerce, from a media perspective.

• Facilitation and capability building skills. Able to contribute to a significant change program.

• Cross-cultural sensitivity and working capability.

• Organisational change-agent mind-set.

• Agile and Scrum experience is a plus.

How to Apply:

Please apply online and add your updated resume. Your application will be reviewed against our requirements and we will be in touch to provide you with an update on the status of your application if shortlisted.

For Internal only: Please apply online and add your PDPs and Talent Profile. Your application will be reviewed against our requirements and we will be in touch to provide you with an update on the status of your application. By applying for this vacancy, you are confirming that you have made your Line Manager aware of your application and that you are at a point in your career with Unilever where it is appropriate for you to be applying for other positions.

About Unilever:

Be part of the world’s most successful, purpose-led business. Work with brands that are well-loved around the world, that improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We promote innovation, big and small, to make our business win and grow; and we believe in business as a force for good. Unleash your curiosity, challenge ideas, and disrupt processes: use your energy to make this happen. Our brilliant business leaders and colleagues provide mentorship and inspiration, so you can be at your best. Every day, many Malaysian households use our products to feel good, look good and get more out of life-giving us a unique opportunity to build a brighter future.

Every individual here can bring their purpose to life through their work. Join us and you will be surrounded by inspiring leaders and supportive peers. Among them, you will channel your purpose, bring fresh ideas to the table, and simply be you. As you work to make a real impact on the business and the world, we will work to help you become a better you.

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.