PHD is a global communications planning and media buying agency network delivering smart strategic thinking and creative innovation for the world’s leading brands. Brilliant media thinking is in our DNA. A culture of thought-leadership, creativity and innovation has seen us grow from a challenger agency in the UK, to a global leader with over 6,000 employees in over 100 offices worldwide. We combine the latest industry insight with the best creative minds to produce planning innovation and create award-winning work for some of the world’s largest advertisers. Finding a better way is our ethos and sums up how we approach everything – from a new client brief to the way we work.
Be a Director, Business Operations @ PHD
Background
We build culture one hire at a time. Our constant pursuit of a better PHD starts with talking to people like you. Our goal is simple. We want to build great teams; the kind of teams people want to be a part of, and the kind of teams clients can’t live without. Great teams do things individuals could never dream of, and they have more fun doing it.
Who We’re Looking For
We are seeking a highly skilled and strategic Director, Business Operations to join our team and partner with our CBL (Client Business Lead) and Business Operations lead across client operations, financial operations, and investment operations for a global client. Reporting to the Business Operations lead, this role is entrusted with developing and implementing processes and best practices to ensure the success of the team and deliverables to our client. The ideal candidate will be a proactive and results-driven individual with strong project management and media expertise and a keen eye for process improvement and operational efficiency.
Key Responsibilities
Business Operations:
- Partner with the Client Business lead to manage the day-to-day operations of the account ensuring team members are utilized efficiently, processes are implemented and governed, and the scope of work is delivered on time consistently.
- Prioritize, collaborate and guide projects and deliverables both internally and externally
- Partner with the Global Operations leadership to develop and implement standardized templates, workflows, and SLA timelines for critical milestones, such as campaign trafficking and launches, to improve operational efficiency and alignment with client expectations.
- Proactively identify gaps in processes and recommend improvements to enhance operational efficiency and data accuracy
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency in workflow management and implementation
- Foster a culture of accountability, urgency, and excellence within the team
- Creation and maintenance of org charts, distro lists, and team database
- Ensure team understands and maintains their scope of work: fee billing, hours reporting, fees, etc.
- Develop and govern the onboarding and training programs to enhance team performance and accountability
Financial Operations
- Partner with the account and investment teams to ensure strict adherence to budget management, forecasting, billing, and media clearance processes, while leading invoice reconciliations and resolving related issues efficiently and accurately.
- While the planning and investment teams are responsible for executing these tasks, the operations lead ensures they understand, follow, and complete these processes on time and with attention to accuracy.
Investment Operations
- Ensure all tools are set up and teams have the training necessary to use them properly, including, but not limited to MediaOcean, OMNI, Planit, Signit, NMI, GWI, etc.
- Maintenance of the agreed upon taxonomy across the account
- Lead the investment team on completion of invoice reconciliation and assist the team in any issue resolution
- Partner with the Agency COE (center of excellence) team to ensure adherence to investment and activation standards and best practices
What you’ll need to succeed?
- 5-7 years of media experience in agency operations, with expertise in financial operations, budget management, strategic planning, and media activation, demonstrating a strong ability to manage complex workflows in media-led environments.
- A passion for tech and innovation
- Comfortable engaging with and presenting to senior client leaders
- Thrives in fast-paced environments with a passion for technology, innovation, and leveraging tools to enhance operational excellence.
- Advanced Excel and Google Sheets skills (e.g., formulas, pivot tables, queries, data analysis)
- Strong background in project management methodologies, SLAs, and process optimization, with a proven ability to identify risks and develop solutions to enhance operational efficiency.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, adept at influencing cross-functional teams, driving change, and presenting effectively to senior client and agency leaders.
- Meticulous QA skills to ensure data accuracy in dashboards and reports, paired with a proactive mindset for implementing process improvements and resolving operational challenges efficiently.
What You Can Expect
The chance to grow the agency and yourself
Freedom to collaborate with over 4,000 colleagues in 80+ offices worldwide
The ability to be brave, try new things and help continue to grow PHD
A place that cares about your personal passions just as much as your work.
This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on relevant experience, other job-related qualifications/skills, and geographic location (to account for comparative cost of living). The Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. For this role, benefits include: health insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, 401(k), Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, vacation days, sick days, personal days, paid parental leave, paid medical leave, and STD/LTD insurance benefits.
Compensation Range
$90,000—$160,000 USD
This role is hybrid, requiring three (3) days per week in the office. The remaining two (2) days may be worked remotely. Specific in-office days will be discussed during the interview process, with flexibility to align with team needs. Please note that the number or required in-office days may be adjusted over time, potentially increasing the number of required in-office days based on business needs.
PHD is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.
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