Executive Director, Head of Partnerships

About the role

The Head of Partnerships is responsible for overseeing Video, Audio, Joint Business Plans (JBPs), Direct Digital, and Upfront initiatives across the agency. In this role, you will drive strategic account priorities, team leadership, marketplace relationships, and organizational capabilities to deliver on client and commercial objectives. You will serve as the line manager for Client Investment Leads and as executive sponsor for key accounts, while building scalable systems and culture across the investment discipline.

Executive Sponsor Assignments

• Serve as executive sponsor and senior investment client contact for designated clients, ensuring delivery on contractual agreements and business objectives
• Act as primary agency-level investment lead for the majority of Hearts & Science accounts
• Maintain current oversight of a select number of client relationships
• Lead Hearts & Science in new business pitches
• Develop and empower Client Investment Leads (CILs) to drive day-to-day account success

Team & Talent Leadership

• Lead and develop Client Investment Leads (CILs) reporting into this role, providing direction, mentorship, and career growth opportunities
• Direct reporting line for CILs and Pod Leads (including managed service pods)
• Own macro-level agency CIL communications
• Drive upskilling initiatives and create pathways for employee development and evolution within the investment function

Marketplace Management & Account Escalation

• Maintain strategic relationships with senior marketplace partners, co-developing solutions and driving adoption of new offerings and industry innovation across the agency
• Serve as primary escalation contact for account issues, brokering resolutions across marketplace and operational stakeholders

Internal Commercial Oversight

• Manage agency-wide upfront and calendar-year deal budgets and maintain comprehensive visibility into client JBPs and large-scale partnership commitments
• Lead the Hearts Upfront process for all brands
• Lead and implement strategy to achieve partner goals, developing action plans with cross-functional teams
• Accountable for OMnet/Orion pacing and acceleration
• Ensure delivery against partner targets
• Own reporting on pacing versus targets

Integrated Media Investment Strategy

• Partner with the Head of Addressable to develop holistic media solutions combining partnership offerings (Video, Audio, Direct Digital) with addressable capabilities (Search, Social, Programmatic) for clients and CILs

Areas of Support to the CIO and Executive Management Team

• Drive product revenue goals across accounts
• Partner on new business prospecting, pitching, and scope expansion efforts
• Champion AI adoption and investment technology initiatives that streamline operations and enhance scalability
• Partner with Operations to support successful transitions of roles to near- and offshore resources
• Support senior talent recruitment, assignments, and hiring initiatives within the investment discipline
• Identify and facilitate opportunities for team connectivity, engagement, and organizational learning through forums, updates, and department initiatives

Pay

New York: $150,000.00 – $250,000.00

Schedule

Omnicom’s policy requires employees to work in the office for a minimum of three days a week, unless additional in-office days are directed by their agency or manager. Our objective is to increase this requirement over time, and many of our agencies as well as Omnicom’s corporate group already require five days of in-office attendance.