Associate Director, Client Operations
Adelphi Graduate Careers
Summary
We are seeking an accomplished operations professional to join our Client Operations team as an Associate Director. This role is responsible for operational excellence, financial oversight, and continuous process improvement across the account. The Associate Director will partner closely with client leadership, Finance, and cross-functional teams to optimize workflows, manage SOWs and resources, and ensure timely, high-quality delivery.
Job description
Position Summary
We are seeking an accomplished operations professional to join our Client Operations team as an Associate Director. This role is responsible for operational excellence, financial oversight, and continuous process improvement across the account. The Associate Director will partner closely with client leadership, Finance, and cross-functional teams to optimize workflows, manage SOWs and resources, and ensure timely, high-quality delivery.
The ideal candidate will have experience in media planning, buying, analytics, and/or ad operations, with a strong understanding of media workflows and the ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership & Excellence
- Drive operational accountability, consistency, and continuous improvement across the portfolio of brands.
- Serve as a primary operational contact, managing escalations and ensuring timely resolution of operational and compliance-related issues.
- Identify opportunities to improve workflows, leverage automation and emerging technologies, and increase operational efficiency.
- Conduct root cause analysis to identify challenges, develop solutions, and implement sustainable improvements.
Process, Workflow & Technology
- Build and drive adoption of integrated processes supporting creative delivery and media activation across channels.
- Lead the development and implementation of operational playbooks, templates, toolkits, and best practices.
- Drive adoption and effective use of workflow and media technologies, including Mediatools, Mediaocean/Prisma, Asana, and OMNI.
- Support change management initiatives to embed new processes, tools, and technologies across the team.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Governance
- Partner with Client Business Leads, Strategy Leads, Craft Leads, Finance, and other stakeholders to align operational priorities with client goals.
- Support centralized account governance and maintain clear, current operational documentation.
- Communicate operational status, risks, challenges, and recommendations to leadership and client partners.
- Support the Group Director in identifying and implementing industry best practices and evolving operational capabilities.
Commercial & Financial Stewardship
- Oversee SOW management, including scope planning, resource allocation, and staff deployment in partnership with Client Business Leads.
- Oversee budget management, invoicing, reporting, and audit/QA processes to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery.
- Manage quarterly labor tracking and burn reporting in partnership with Finance; identify variances and recommend corrective actions.
- Monitor Media Activation Plans, including campaign budgets and fees, to ensure on-time and on-budget delivery of client monthly authorizations.
- Identify opportunities to improve financial tracking, reporting accuracy, and efficiency through tools and automation.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
- 7-10+ years of media experience
- Demonstrated expertise in operations
- Proven experience managing operational deliverables across a complex media account or as part of an Agency Operations team
- Strong understanding of media workflows, including media dollar lifecycle, campaign planning, activation, and reporting processes
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Exceptional organizational and project management skills
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to build effective relationships and collaborate across functions and levels of an organization
Benefits
- Minimum 3 days in office per week
Company overview
Adelphi Graduate Careers is the graduate recruitment division of Adelphi Group, a leading global pharmaceutical consultancy and healthcare services organization. Founded in 1986 and part of the Omnicom Corporation since 1998, Adelphi Group provides comprehensive strategic support services across the entire pharmaceutical lifecycle. The company specializes in strategic product development consultancy, health economics and outcomes research, real-world disease understanding, market research, medical communications, and post-marketing brand support services. With a global network of offices across the US, Europe, and Asia employing over 1,000 staff worldwide, Adelphi supports the world's leading pharmaceutical and healthcare organizations to improve patients' lives. The graduate program recruits talented individuals across various disciplines including life sciences, psychology, business studies, and health economics, offering roles in research, health economics, client services, and medical writing. Adelphi has been recognized as the 'Top Pharmaceutical Consultancy in Europe 2025' for its innovation and unique contributions to the life sciences sector.