Investment Business Director

Publicis Groupe; City of London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A global media and communications company in London is seeking a Business Director to lead a team in managing media investments for international clients. This high-impact role requires strong experience in media trading, excellent leadership skills, and the ability to navigate complex commercial landscapes. The position offers significant exposure to senior stakeholders and opportunities for innovation in media strategies within a hybrid working environment.

Benefits

Work remotely for up to 6 weeks a year

Two reflection days for well-being

24/7 helpline for personal and professional support

Family-friendly policies with full pay during family milestones

Extra day off for your birthday

Membership discounts with local businesses

Qualifications

• Experience in global media investment, trading, or auditing is essential.
• Deep knowledge of media channels and trading practices.
• Track record of leading and developing high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead global accountability programs for international clients.
• Own pricing benchmarks and commercial outcomes.
• Manage and develop the investment team.

Skills

Global media investment experience

Media channel knowledge

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Client management

Project management

Strategic mindset

Job description

Company Description

OVERVIEW: Publicis Groupe is one of the world’s largest communications holding companies, present in over 110 countries and employing about 100,000 professionals. The Groupe is positioned at every step of the value chain, from consulting to execution, combining marketing transformation and digital business transformation.

HELPING OUR CLIENTS UNLOCK GROWTH IN THE PLATFORM WORLD: Our clients compete in the platform world, a horizontal marketplace between creators and consumers, between speakers and listeners, between buyers and sellers. To thrive in the platform world, companies must continue to innovate their products and business models. Four imperatives – Real Identity, Dynamic, Diverse and Disruptive Creativity, Smart Media, and Direct Relationships – via our suite of world‑class agencies, are necessary for modern brands to win in the platform world. At Publicis Groupe, we’ve invested in capabilities across these four imperatives our clients need to unlock growth. As the only one who can architect, build and orchestrate end‑to‑end solutions, we have a proven record of building bespoke models for clients and leading expertise across all major industry categories, allowing our talents more opportunities to grow and benefit from a richer learning experience. We call this Power of One, powered by a 100,000‑strong network via Marcel, our AI-based platform, which provides clients and talents instant access to resources and knowledge for any need, any time, in any market.

THE SPIRIT OF VIVA LA DIFFERENCE: Viva La Difference is deeply rooted in everything we do. It has always been in our DNA. From the birth of Publicis, 94 years ago, when Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet invented French advertising, Viva La Difference expresses how we value and respect each individual and recognize what makes us distinctive. This inspires our teams to celebrate differences in identity, background, culture, and experience of all of us, influencing how we behave with each other and our clients, and underpinning our work to elevate and bring to life our differences throughout the platform world.

Position Summary

We’re looking for an experienced media investment leader to join our Global Investment & Accountability (I&A) team within Publicis Media Exchange (PMX). This team delivers media productivity commitments for major global advertisers – ensuring cost efficiency, high‑quality media placement, and strong campaign performance across all channels worldwide.

As a Business Director, you will oversee a portfolio of international clients, lead a team of investment specialists, and partner closely with local markets, auditors, and senior stakeholders. Your time will be split across managing accountability programs and driving commercial growth through new business, pricing, and commercial strategy.

This is a high‑impact, global role offering exposure to senior leadership, complex commercial challenges, and opportunities to shape best practice across the PMX network. Travel may be required.

Responsibilities

• Lead global accountability programs for key international clients.
• Own productivity delivery, pricing benchmarks, and commercial outcomes.
• Manage, coach, and develop a team (Director, Manager, Executive).
• Build strong relationships with senior clients, auditors, and local markets.
• Oversee audit management, media performance reviews, and contract compliance.
• Drive innovation in media investment, tools, and ways of working.
• Lead new business responses: pricing, cost exercises, RFIs/RFPs, and negotiations.
• Support global trading agreements and identify commercial growth opportunities.
• Present performance results, translating complex data into clear narratives.
• Shape best practices across international markets and the PMX network.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in global media investment, trading, or auditing.
• Deep knowledge of all media channels, trading practices, and auditor methodologies.
• Proven experience leading and developing high‑performing teams.
• Strong stakeholder management across matrix organisations.
• Excellent analytical, numerical, and commercial skills.
• Confident communicator and presenter, able to simplify complex concepts.
• Experience winning and retaining clients, and navigating commercial negotiations.
• Ability to manage large‑scale projects with multiple markets and stakeholders.
• Strategic mindset + hands‑on problem‑solving attitude.

Benefits

• WORK YOUR WORLD – opportunity to work anywhere in the world, where there is a Publicis office, for up to 6 weeks a year.
• REFLECTION DAYS – Two additional days of paid leave to step away from your usual day‑to‑day work and create time to focus on your well‑being and self‑care.
• HELP@HAND BENEFITS – 24/7 helpline to support you on a personal and professional level, access to remote GPs, mental health support and CBT, wellbeing content and lifestyle coaching.
• FAMILY FRIENDLY POLICIES – We provide 26 weeks of full pay for the following family milestones: maternity, adoption, surrogacy and shared parental leave.
• FLEXIBLE WORKING, BANK HOLIDAY SWAP & BIRTHDAY DAY OFF – You are entitled to an additional day off for your birthday, from your first day of employment.
• GREAT LOCAL DISCOUNTS – Membership discounts with Soho Friends, local restaurants and retailers in Westfield White City and Television Centre.

Publicis Groupe operates a hybrid working pattern with full‑time employees being office‑based three days during the working week.

We are supportive of all candidates and are committed to providing a fair assessment process. If you have any circumstances (such as neurodiversity, physical or mental impairments or a medical condition) that may affect your assessment, please inform your Talent Acquisition Partner. We will discuss possible adjustments to ensure fairness. Rest assured, disclosing this information will not impact your treatment in our process.

Please make sure you check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG’s (Employee Action Groups).