Associate Director, Media Analytics, Chicago, Illinois

Who We Are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

Who we are looking for:

VMLis seeking an Associate Director of Media Analytics. The Associate Director of Media Analytics is responsible for the operational excellence of our team, which spans components of MarTech enablement, team management, new business onboarding and service line integration. This is a high visibility role within the analytics team and within VML Performance Marketing that will have key influence in building standards, revamping our core and setting a path for our next phase of innovation. They will work directly alongside the analytics lead to deliver our vision, expand the caliber of the team and ultimately support expansion of our capability. This role requires extensive knowledge of performance marketing strategies, competence in marketing platforms and knowledge of MarTech solutions that enable analysis, expand measurement, unlock intelligence and yield optimizations.

What you'll do:

Responsibilities:

Team:

• Grow, develop and onboard new team members by providing motivating feedback and creating concepts that continually educate and elevate our team members.

• A key responsibility is ensuring our core and best practices are elevated as a standard, cascaded across levels and adopted by the full analytics team.

• Support the evolution and advancement of department vision/goals and actively work to implement them.

• Create a strong team culture that is grounded in VML Behaviors (In-It-Together, Positivity, Listening, Positivity) and is people-first focused.

• Function as a practice leader, providing influence, guidance and direction across our team of data & analytics professionals. Surface new ideas, drive accountability across the team through methods such as account reviews and ignite inspiration for new ways of working.

• Sets the tone on our team, and leads others, to ensure that we are the best in class and are constantly striving to achieve something new.

Service Line:

• Develop, establish and document our standards, best practices and processes. Support the creation of a core that all analysts adopt and supplement with their individual strengths.

• Own operational components of the analytics team - leading efficiency and automation efforts that push our capability through organized processes and streamlined access to informative data.

• Provide thought leadership to the analytics group and inspire innovation geared conversation through the agency and across clients at large.
• Inspire a mindset of pushing the work, elevating the ambition of a brand and leading the client's thinking about the potential of their business.

Client:

• Directly lead and support at least 1 key account that is used as a breeding ground for innovative solutions, advanced analytics approaches and experimentation that can be expanded and implemented across other accounts.

• Guide client work and provide a point of escalation across a pod of 4-5 accounts supported by a team of analysts and managers.

• Ensure standards and our core analytics/optimization construct is implemented consistently and iterated constantly across accounts, conducting account reviews, reviewing deliverables when needed and attending optimization meetings in a regular cadence.

• Develop hypothesis, conduct deep dives and introduce tests that continually push the boundaries of possibility. Expand the intelligence available to the agency that allows us to surpass our clients' objectives.

• Advocate for clients' business and the account growth, challenge normalcy and think outside the box to continually evolve and improve performance.

What you'll need:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in marketing analytics with exposure to performance media, optimization strategies and data visualization platforms. Ideally within an agency setting.

• Minimum 3 years of management experience.

• Comprehensive knowledge of media platforms, DSPs, ad servers and MarTech solutions.

• Extensive experience in media analysis, ability to translate an analysis into informative recommendations and leading an iterative optimization cycle.

• Powerful communication and presentation skills. Technically and creatively proficient in presentation planning and development.

• Ability to navigate client circumstances, including building strong relationships, celebrating successes and resolving challenges.

What we offer:

• Passionate, driven people | We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
• Consciously cultivated culture | We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusive community that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery.
• Competitive benefits | What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness.
• Growth-minded opportunities | We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, growth-oriented mindset and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.

VML is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or other protected group status. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion and strives to recruit a diverse slate of candidates to help us achieve that goal.

At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Our people are the heartbeat of our organization-creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers-who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction.

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

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