Group Business Director

About us

Initiative unlocks business growth for the world’s most ambitious brands. We believe in the power of media to reshape our industry and orchestrate a brand’s entire consumer experience, by balancing both what unites people and what makes them different.

About the role

The Group Business Director is a pivotal leadership role, responsible for steering an integrated team and serving as a trusted strategic advisor to clients. This role oversees the day-to-day leadership of both the team and client relationships, ensuring the agency delivers exceptional work, meets financial objectives, and maintains strong client satisfaction.

As a senior leader, the Group Business Director is expected to embody Initiative’s core values, drive excellence, and foster a culture of collaboration and high performance. Working closely with discipline leads and SBUs, this role ensures the development and execution of comprehensive, business-driven solutions tailored to client needs.

What you will be doing

Client:

• Cultivate and maintain strong, strategic client relationships with deep business understanding.
• Drive continuous improvements in client satisfaction and advocacy, exceeding TRR benchmarks.
• Develop and execute insightful Client Action Plans to enhance strategic impact.
• Oversee client reporting, budget management, authorization, and billing with precision.
• Ensure seamless alignment with client KPIs, collaborating effectively with internal teams.
• Foster and expand senior client relationships across strategy and communications.
• Inspire innovation within client strategies and execution.
• Serve as a key advisor on marketplace intelligence, negotiations, and strategic partnerships.

Internal:

• Lead client briefings, translating client needs into actionable strategies for Strategy, Communications Design, and Investment teams.
• Apply a client-centric lens to all Initiative solutions, ensuring business relevance and KPI alignment.
• Educate teams and senior leadership on industry trends, client culture, and business priorities.
• Guide media negotiations, securing optimal outcomes through stakeholder collaboration.
• Drive consistency and best practices across all media channels, including digital.

Commercial:

• Deliver financial objectives across the client portfolio, ensuring profitability.
• Proactively enhance margin performance, working cross-functionally to drive efficiencies.
• Lead forecasting efforts, including cost planning, market projections, and financial rationale.
• Support business growth through organic opportunities and new revenue streams.
• Regularly review client contracts to ensure profitability and timely renewals.
• Provide quarterly updates on utilization, profitability, fees, and scope compliance.
• Maximize effectiveness and integration across Mediabrands agencies.

Team Leadership:

• Take full accountability for team performance and deliverables.
• Foster a high-performing, positive, and motivated team environment.
• Ensure efficient workflows and high-quality client output.
• Promote an inclusive culture where diverse perspectives are valued.
• Oversee performance management, setting clear KPIs and providing structured feedback.
• Apply Manager Blueprint best practices to support professional development.
• Equip team members with the skills and tools needed for career growth.
• Drive agency-wide initiatives on talent, culture, and collaboration.
• Lead recruitment efforts to build a strong, capable team.

Agency Leadership:

• Strengthen partnerships with client agencies, ensuring seamless collaboration.
• Play an active role in new business pitches, driving agency growth.
• Facilitate strong client relationships across Strategy, Communications Design, Investment, and SBUs.

About you

• 13+ years’ experience in Marketing and/or Advertising and Media
• 7+ years’ experience in leading, managing and developing a multi-dimensional team
• Ability to drive projects from conception to completion; project management experience
• Detailed awareness of client business issues, industry trends, consumer trends, promotional resources, market status and competition
• Understanding of the principles of marketing and advertising, as well as an understanding of media concepts and terms, creative and budget requirements
• Superior written and verbal communication and presentation skills
• Ability to work successfully with teams, handling multiple projects and meeting tight deadlines under pressure.

What’s on offer

Initiative respects that everyone has something unique to contribute to the agency an prioritise an inclusive and diverse work culture. We offer our people a range of life benefits including:

• Flexible working arrangements
• We love our leave days - enjoy bonus annual leave days, wellness days & birthday leave
• 4pm FriYAY finish
• Access to mental health initiatives - EAPs and wellbeing sessions
• Culture clubs, gym access and breakfasts
• Take leave when you don’t have leave balance with Leave+
• Think more and do less admin through automation
• Birthday leave – because no one should work on their birthday
• Recovery from personal loss leave and family planning contribution

If you think this role is a good fit for you, please do not hesitate to apply now, or reach out for a confidential conversation.

We value unique backgrounds and experiences to encourage and celebrate diversity. First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQ+, people of all ages, people with disabilities, and people who are culturally and linguistically diverse are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the community in which we live. We further acknowledge there are unique barriers for trans & gender-diverse applicants.