Apex Brand Development Lead

BRAND: Zenith UK
Job Function: Media Trading
Location: London, United Kingdom
Experience Level: Specialist
Workplace Type: Hybrid

Company description

APEX is Publicis Media's growth and solutions hub, created to solve complex problems and drive meaningful business outcomes for clients across all media. As the principal investment arm of Publicis Media, we take on investment risk to deliver guaranteed performance and unlock growth in an increasingly complex media landscape.

Our solutions redefine what inventory media means by enabling outcomes across the entire marketing funnel, spanning both traditional and digital channels. This includes TV, radio, print, and cinema, alongside online video, display, out-of-home, audio, social, and retail media. By combining strategic investment, exclusive partnerships, and advanced activation capabilities, APEX helps brands plan and deliver media with greater confidence, clarity, and impact.

APEX partners with Publicis Media agencies and their clients in the UK and worldwide. Our team operates as a collaborative, specialist hub, supporting agencies to deliver smarter solutions for their clients while providing individuals the opportunity to build, innovate, and grow their careers within one of Publicis Media's most progressive and commercially focused teams.

Overview

We're looking for an ambitious and commercially minded Brand Development Lead to join a fast-growing digital strategy function within a leading media and marketing organisation.

This is a senior role for someone who thrives at the intersection ofstrategy, innovation, and commercial growth. You'll lead a high-performing digital strategy team, shape best-in-class digital marketing solutions, and play a pivotal role in driving client growth across a diverse agency landscape.

If you're passionate about building teams, developing products, and delivering measurable outcomes across the full digital ecosystem, this is a role where you can make a real impact.

Responsibilities

What You'll Be Doing

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor and develop a growing team of digital strategy leaders and managers.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration and commercial excellence.
• Support the evolution of the wider digital strategy function through coaching, training and knowledge sharing.

Client & Commercial Growth

• Drive growth across an allocated agency patch by delivering holistic, multi-channel digital strategies.
• Act as the senior commercial contact for agency stakeholders, positioning the business as a trusted strategic partner.
• Identify and unlock new opportunities through strategic planning, innovation and strong stakeholder relationships.

Strategy & Execution

• Shape and deliver integrated digital strategies across channels including programmatic, video, social, audio, DOOH, CTV and retail media.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with strategy, trading, programmatic and operations teams to ensure seamless execution and optimal performance.
• Support the development of compelling sales narratives, product positioning and case studies.

Operational Excellence & Innovation

• Manage sales pipelines and forecasting, using data to inform decision-making and commercial planning.
• Lead process improvements to drive efficiency, scalability and continuous optimisation.
• Champion innovation, including the adoption of emerging technologies and AI-driven approaches within digital strategy.

Qualifications

What We're Looking For

• Strong experience in digital marketing and media strategy across multiple channels.
• Proven leadership experience managing and developing high-performing teams.
• Excellent strategic planning and campaign management capabilities.
• Commercial acumen with experience driving revenue growth and identifying new opportunities.
• Confidence working with senior stakeholders across complex agency environments.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to use data to inform strategy and performance.
• A proactive, innovative approach with a passion for evolving products, processes and ways of working.

Additional information

Publicis Media has fantastic benefits on offer to all of our employees. In addition to the classics, Pension, Life Assurance, Private Medical and Income Protection Planswe also offer;

• 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 This includes membership discounts with Soho Friends, local restaurants and retailers in Westfield White City and Television Centre.

Full details of our benefits will be shared when you join us!

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).