Head of Investment

About Innocean

Innocean is the biggest agency you’ve never heard of. With 31 offices and more than 3000 employees in 21 countries. We’re the fastest growing agency network in the world.

Opening doors in Australia in 2008 with two foundation clients; Hyundai and Kia. Since 2020, the Sydney business has been on a mission to diversify our roster which now includes FMCG, NGO, Medical, Tourism and Technology brands, not to mention our own Gender Equality not-for-profit division called Fck the Cupcakes.

We’re a proud and ambitious group of over 50 creatives, strategists, account people, technologists, analysts,  producers and media experts who work together in a collaborative environment. Our passion and focus is building strategic media and creative solutions across all touchpoints on a consumer’s journey to a brand.

We’re proudly Korean, uniquely Australian; striving to create a culture that embraces a Korean concept called ‘Jeong’- an ineffable but mutually warm feeling of attachment between people who share a relationship and common purpose.

This feeling of connection underpins everything we do. It’s how we create bonds between brands and consumers, and between us and our clients. Think of us as an extension of the marketing team- one with strategic, creative, media and CX capabilities, delivering brilliant work that builds brand, changes perceptions, drives connections and delivers results.

About the Role

The Head of Investment will be responsible for leading and managing the media investment function across all channels (TV,  print, radio, out-of-home, and digital alongside our digital specialist agency.). This senior leadership role requires a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of the media landscape, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to drive innovation while ensuring that the agency’s media buying is optimised for efficiency and effectiveness. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of building strong relationships with media partners, maximizing buying power, and delivering exceptional value for clients. This is predominantly Hyundai and Genesis right now, with some other new business on the horizon. 

Responsibilities

Develop & Implement Investment Strategy

• Design and oversee the agency's overall investment strategy, ensuring alignment with clients' business objectives and the agency's growth goals.
• Create buying frameworks that maximise value and ensure effective utilisation of the media budget across all channels.

Vendor Negotiations & Relationship Management

• Lead high-level negotiations with media owners and vendors to secure the best possible rates, terms, and added value for clients.
• Cultivate and manage long-term partnerships with key media vendors to ensure the agency has access to the best opportunities and innovations in the market.

Oversight of Media Buying Activities

• Oversee the entire media buying process, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and effectiveness across all campaigns.
• Work closely with the trading, planning, and strategy teams to ensure that media buying aligns with strategic objectives.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and inspire the investment team, including Investment Directors and team members, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.
• Provide ongoing mentorship and professional development to ensure the team operates at its highest potential.

Financial Oversight & Budget Management

• Manage the agency’s overall media investment budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and strong ROI for clients.
• Track media spend across campaigns, identifying areas for improvement or optimization.

Client Engagement & Reporting

• Act as a senior point of contact for clients regarding media investment strategies and performance.
• Provide clients with regular updates, performance reports, and insights on how their media investments are being optimised.

Performance Monitoring & Optimisation

• Oversee the tracking and reporting of media buy performance, ensuring campaigns meet or exceed client expectations.
• Lead efforts to continually optimize investments to maximize campaign performance and media efficiencies.

Continuous Improvement

• Stay up to date on industry trends and advancements.
• Lead and actively participate in team meetings and share ideas and feedback.

WHS

(Work, Health & Safety)

• It’s on you to ensure your work environment is safe, whether you’re WFH or in the office. 
• Follow and ensure your team follows company policies and procedures.

Key Tasks

• Lead the development and execution of Innocean’s investment strategy.
• Build and maintain high-level relationships with media owners and partners.
• Oversee the allocation and management of media budgets.
• Monitor and optimise media buying performance across all client accounts.
• Drive innovation in media buying and explore new channels and technologies.
• Manage and mentor a high-performing investment team.
• Ensure compliance with legal, ethical, and financial standards across all media buys.
• Regularly report to senior management and clients on media buying performance.

Measures of Success

Media Efficiency

• Achieve measurable cost savings and added value for clients through expert negotiation and media buying tactics.
• Consistently deliver media buys that maximize reach and impact within allocated budgets.
• Deliver with 100% transparency- a key value at Innocean.

Client Satisfaction & Retention

• Ensure clients are satisfied with their media investments, as evidenced by client feedback and retention rates.
• Maintain and grow long-term relationships with key clients by delivering exceptional media performance.

Team Performance

• Build and maintain a high-performing investment team, demonstrated by meeting team goals and professional development of team members.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative team culture.

Innovation & Adaptation

• Implement new and innovative media buying techniques and strategies that deliver enhanced value for clients.
• Stay ahead of market trends and integrate new technologies and platforms into the agency’s media buying mix.

Financial Performance

• Effectively manage the agency’s overall media budget, ensuring optimal financial performance and adherence to budget targets.
• Continuously monitor and optimize media spend to ensure clients receive maximum value from their investments.

Vendor Relationships

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key media vendors, ensuring the agency has access to the best media opportunities.
• Secure preferred rates, inventory access, and added value from media partners through strong negotiation and collaboration.

About You

Personal Specifications

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in media buying, investment, or trading in a senior leadership role.
• Strong negotiation skills with a track record of securing cost-efficient media buys.
• In-depth knowledge of the media landscape, including traditional and digital media.
• Exceptional leadership and team management abilities.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with clients and media partners.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to assess and optimize media performance.
• A strategic thinker who can balance long-term planning with hands-on execution.

Values

• Proactivity. Humility. Agility. Daring. Don’t worry, we dive into these in your welcome pack.

Development

• Regular appraisals and 360 feedback is important. 
• So too is being able to check in with management whenever. Their doors are always open, Zoom links always ready.

The Elevator Pitch

Innocean's full-service, end-to-end offering will provide a seamless integration of traditional and digital media services, driven by cutting-edge data analytics and enriched by creative content that resonates with audiences. By embedding media services into our broader capabilities, we will deliver strategic media planning, precise targeting, and performance optimization across all channels. This holistic approach, which is 100% transparent, ensures that every campaign is not only creatively compelling but also data-driven and measurable, enabling our clients to connect with their audiences in meaningful ways and achieve their business goals with maximum efficiency

The Perks

There are a whole range of reasons you would consider working for us – 
check out the list below:

- Competitive salary - Individual Professional development

- Regular appraisals and 360 feedback  - Hybrid working

- Client sponsored benefits - Progressive parental leave policies

- Floating leave - Pet friendly environment