Associate Director, Business Transformation (Optimization & Enablement)

Publicis Groupe is a global leader in communication, positioned at every step of the value chain from consulting to execution, combining marketing transformation and digital business transformation. Through a unified organization, Publicis Groupe partners with clients across communication, media, data, and technology. Present in over 100 countries, the company employs around 103,000 professionals.

Business Operations is a centralized function that partners with business leaders to improve how work gets done, operationalize systems and processes, and support central initiatives. The team acts as an internal business partner, solving business challenges through structured problem-solving, multi-functional coordination, scalable ways of working, and disciplined execution. The Business Operations team supports initiatives ranging from project and program management to systems deployments, agency integrations, process optimization, business analysis, workflow redesign, operating models, playbooks, and organizational enablement.

About the role

The Associate Director, Business Transformation will lead the Business Optimization & Enablement workstream, coordinating initiatives focused on enhancing business performance, operational efficiency, organizational alignment, and scalable ways of working. This role serves as the functional leader, driving the successful delivery of process optimization, workflow redesign, business analysis, operating models, governance, and organizational effectiveness initiatives. The ideal candidate is a strong business operator and internal consultant who excels at solving complex business challenges, facilitating partner alignment, and translating business needs into practical, scalable solutions.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the workstream leader, overseeing a portfolio of operational improvement and organizational effectiveness initiatives
• Lead prioritization, resource planning, staffing, and workload management across the workstream
• Partner with senior collaborators to identify business challenges, define priorities, and shape optimization strategies
• Provide strategic oversight for initiatives involving process improvement, workflow redesign, operating models, governance structures, and ways of working
• Ensure successful delivery across multiple concurrent initiatives by providing guidance, removing roadblocks, and supporting decision-making
• Establish and maintain methodologies, frameworks, templates, tools, and guidelines for business analysis, process optimization, and organizational effectiveness
• Oversee discovery, partner assessments, current-state evaluations, and future-state design activities across engagements
• Drive the development of executive recommendations, POVs, reasons, and implementation roadmaps
• Partner with business leaders to find opportunities to simplify, standardize, and optimize operations
• Collaborate closely with Project Management teams to ensure strong governance, execution planning, and delivery rigor
• Partner with the Systems Deployments & Integrations team to ensure technology solutions support business objectives, workflows, and operating models
• Facilitate partner alignment and decision-making across complex, cross-functional initiatives
• Support organizational change, communication, adoption, and enablement efforts associated with new processes and ways of working
• Develop executive-level presentations, recommendations, operating models, and strategic roadmaps for senior leadership
• Identify trends, recurring business challenges, and opportunities for enterprise-wide operational improvements
• Coach, mentor, and develop managers and analysts while building capability and bench strength within the workstream
• Shape and evolve the Business Optimization & Enablement capability by identifying new service offerings, methodologies, and opportunities to expand team impact
• Foster a culture of structured problem-solving, continuous improvement, collaboration, and delivery excellence
• Support annual planning, capability development, and long-term evolution of the Business Optimization & Enablement function

Requirements

• 10–14 years of experience in business transformation, management consulting, operational excellence, organizational effectiveness, process improvement, program management, or related functions
• Demonstrated experience leading process optimization, operating model, governance, organizational effectiveness, or enterprise transformation initiatives
• Experience managing teams, portfolios, or capability areas within highly matrixed organizations
• Proven ability to partner with senior leaders and executive collaborators to drive business outcomes
• Strong proficiency in PowerPoint, including executive storytelling, strategic presentations, and communication guidelines
• Strong proficiency in Excel and ability to organize, analyze, synthesize, and present information to support decision-making
• Experience facilitating executive workshops, strategic planning sessions, and cross-functional alignment efforts
• Experience in marketing, media, agency, consulting, professional services, or similarly complex organizations preferred
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Communications, Organizational Development, Industrial Engineering, or related field preferred but not required

Skills

• Strong experience leading business optimization, operational excellence, organizational effectiveness, business transformation, or management consulting initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to oversee multiple complex initiatives and competing priorities simultaneously
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing teams, coaching talent, and delivery excellence
• Deep expertise in process optimization, workflow redesign, operating models, governance structures, and organizational effectiveness
• Strong business analysis and structured problem-solving capabilities
• Experience developing methodologies, frameworks, and scalable approaches for process improvement and business optimization
• Exceptional facilitation and partner management skills with the ability to influence and align senior leaders
• Strong executive communication and presentation skills with the ability to synthesize complex information into actionable recommendations
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive clarity across evolving business environments
• Strong organizational and portfolio management skills with a focus on business outcomes and measurable impact
• Ability to balance long-term planning with practical implementation and execution
• Strong change management and organizational enablement capabilities

Functional Expertise – Business Optimization & Enablement

• Business process optimization
• Workflow redesign and simplification
• Current-state and future-state process design
• Business analysis and operational assessments
• Operating model development
• Ways of working (WoW) design
• Governance framework design
• Organizational effectiveness
• RACI and role clarity development
• Facilitation and workshop leadership
• Executive recommendation and POV development
• Business case development
• Change management and adoption planning
• Playbook and SOP oversight
• Portfolio and resource management
• Continuous improvement methodologies
• Partner alignment and decision facilitation
• Capability development and team leadership

Benefits

• Medical coverage
• Dental and vision
• Disability insurance
• 401K retirement plan
• Parental and family care leave
• Family forming assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Flexible time off

Pay

Compensation Range: USD $97,375.00 - USD $155,961.00/Annually. 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 the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position.