Advertising practitioners are a diverse bunch. They have to be if they are going to truly understand the audiences we are reaching out to. Whatever background you are from, educational level you’ve achieved, whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, your skills lie in art, humanities, STEM subjects, analytics or you’re great at building excellent relationships, there is the perfect role for you within our industry.
Below is a chart that gives a broad overview of the types of roles that would fit your particular strengths. It’s by no means set in stone, but it’s a good place to start when considering the jobs that you’d enjoy and are suited to in the industry.
The chart below gives a broad overview of the types of roles that would fit your particular strengths. It’s by no means set in stone – but it’s a good place to start when considering the jobs that you’d enjoy and are suited to in the industry.
See below a list of jobs for you to explore roles in advertising. Click on the job titles to find out more.
The COO reports directly to the Managing Director, and works in close partnership with them. A member of the senior leadership team, they are normally a member of Agency Board.
A Group Financial Analyst typically supports the Head of Financial Reporting/ and or the Group CFO in respect of all Group reporting requirements.
The Growth Director is most the senior lead for growing new business for the agency in both the local market and across the network. They are the ambassador of the agency and its work.
The Head of Finance is responsible for the financial health of the agency. This role includes preparing and presenting financial statements and business activity reports.
The Managing Director oversees all of the activities of an agency, whether an independent company or a subsidiary of a larger group.
The Chief Technology Officer is responsible for overseeing all the technical requirements of the agency.
The HRD reports directly to the Managing Director or CEO and plays a pivotal role in the agency’s people strategy.
The Client Services Director leads the client service/account management department.
The Account Director leads a client account, or set of accounts, within the agency, ensuring that they are profitable and growing.
The Account Manager, as part of the wider account management team, is the bridge between the client and the agency.
The Account Executive, as part of the wider account management team, manages the relationship between the client and the agency.
The Media Account Director leads client accounts within the agency, ensuring that they are profitable, and growing.
Creative Directors shape the creative environment and culture in the agency where great ideas are born and can thrive. They stimulate creative energy and nurture the creative talent.
Creative Group Heads work closely with the Creative Director to run part of the overall creative team.
Art Directors are responsible for the creation and development of advertising ideas, with particular focus on their visual appearance. These ideas can exist in many formats from print to film to online.
Copywriters are responsible for the creation and development of advertising ideas, with particular focus on the written words (copy) within these.
Studio Managers are usually in creative agencies where they oversee, support and manage the delivery of design projects. They understand all of the elements of the design process from end-to-end.
Junior Creatives come up with creative ideas which help bring forward fresh thinking and transform businesses and behaviour.
The Producer is responsible for taking the agreed creative idea and bringing the clients’ wishes to life on air and/or on screens and other channels. This role requires strong TV/film skills.
The job involves providing general support to the production team, helping to keep the work flowing and maintaining the organisation of the projects.
The role of Art Buyer is to support the Creative Services, Content Studio, Creative Departments in producing new still images. They find and recommend the best e.g. photographers or illustrators.
The Creative Services Manager oversees the production and delivery of an advertising agency’s work. They project manage the process of turning creative ideas into tangible outputs.
Business Affairs (BA) is a varied and dynamic role, and can be the linchpin of the entire production process.
A Full Stack Developer is skilled with both the front end and back ends of a website or application. They solve difficult problems and build beautiful and intuitive features which are focused on the user’s website experience.
The Social Media Manager supports the team with social media strategy and execution for the client/agency’s (global) social media channels.
Web Developers are computer programmers that specialise in the coding, design and creation of websites and applications that run within web browsers, either on a computer or mobile device.
User Experience (UX or UE) Designers focus on the entire process of acquiring and integrating a product. This includes aspects of branding, design, usability and function.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Executives make their clients’ websites more visible in ‘natural’, organic, search engine rankings.
The Finance Assistant supports the Finance Manager (or other) in maintaining and delivering accurate and timely financial information, following internal controls and processes.
The Billing and Purchases Manager is responsible for the smooth running of both the Accounts Receivable (AR) and Accounts Payable (AP) function of the finance team.
The Management Accountant is responsible for the company’s accounts and all the processes to account for, run and deliver a monthly TB, P&L, Balance Sheet, Aged debtors and Aged creditors.
The Biddable Account Executive delivers market-leading campaign activation, execution and performance analysis for Paid Social and Search Campaigns.
Media Buyers negotiate and purchase media space and airtime on behalf of clients. These purchases are led by the media plans that are developed to best reach a client’s target audience.
The Operation Executive focuses on the tracking and monitoring of media briefs and deals; providing responses to off-line media briefs within agreed timelines.
Programmatic advertising buying uses software to buy advertising. Programmatic buying uses algorithms to inform the purchase of the most relevant display space.
This role builds the reputation and profile of the agency and supports the New Business Team in the conversion of new business.
The Marketing Executive assists the Head of Marketing/PR or Communications with the delivery of the annual PR, Comms and Marketing strategy.
The New Business Director is responsible for creating the new business strategy to develop a robust new business pipeline.
The New Business Executive supports the New Business Director with the implementation of the new business strategy.
The Econometrician optimises the advertising mix and promotional tactics to influence sales, increase Return on Investment (ROI) or incremental revenue to support clients’ business objectives.
Insight executives use data collected from premium resources, as well as their own knowledge, to put together cross-sector information and analysis on anything from markets and brands to trends, developments, and recent innovations.
Senior Account Planners represent the voice of the consumer in the agency. They take a lead role within the team responsible for developing the key strategic insights that underpin advertising ideas.
Junior Account Planners help to represent the voice of the consumer in the agency. They are part of the team responsible for developing the key strategic insights that underpin advertising ideas.
The Data Analyst explores historical, real time and future information to deepen understanding of customer attitudes and behaviours. They identify possibilities for a brand and shape the strategy presented to the client.
Junior Web Analytics Consultants measure, collect and analyse internet and application data to inform and enhance online marketing strategies.
Media Planners develop strategies that determine which media channels should be used to communicate with a client’s target audience.
Pay Per Click (PPC) Executives make their clients’ websites more visible in paid-for search engine rankings. They undertake responsive real-time bidding to deliver valuable traffic for clients.
The HR Business Partner provides HR operational and support to people managers and employees across the agency.
A Resource Manager manages the planning and allocation of staff in an agency which requires people to be assigned to projects based on their skills, previous experience, availability, or project budget.
The Talent Manager manages the plans and approaches to identify, engage, develop, reviews and retain those individuals in the agency who have the potential to be of greatest value to an organisation.
The Talent Acquisition Specialist is responsible for sourcing, attracting, and hiring top talent to meet the staffing needs of the agency.
The Head of Diversity and Inclusion will lead the development and implementation of proactive diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Facilitate accreditation of the agency to the IPA CPD Standard, implement and monitor compliance against accreditation criteria.