Advertising and media executive
Reference Number: ST0644
Details of standard
Occupation summary
This occupation is found in the Advertising and Media industry which is worth over £20bn to the UK economy. People in the industry create messages (campaigns) which are intended to inform or influence the people who receive them. Agencies exist in every part of the UK and range in size from two people to thousands, however the majority are Small to Medium sized businesses, where they always work as part of a team of internal and external people. The broad purpose of the occupation is helping the day to day progress of the whole advertising process, from receiving the brief from the marketing team, including objectives, budget and timescales, through to the measurement of how effective the advertisement has been. They also understand how the component parts are successfully orchestrated, with effective trade-offs being made as the process continues and evolves. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with many other people, processes and systems. (For example the client, 3rd party suppliers, the broad team at the agency.) They help campaigns move forward, coping with inevitable set-backs and changes in direction (some at the last minute), whilst showing collaboration and maintaining relationships with all. Usually they report to an Account or Media Manager.
They usually specialise in one of two parts of the advertising process: the first is the process of producing the advertisement (creative); the second is the process of distributing the advertisement (media). Apprentices must therefore complete the core apprenticeship and one of these options. It is important that whatever part they specialise in they have an understanding of the ‘other’ part – decisions taken in the creative part of the process have substantive consequences for the distribution to media part, and vice versa. An employee in this occupation will be responsible for creative or media campaigns.
An Advertising and Media Executive Creative Specialist will be responsible for: working with creative producers (television/film producers, radio producers, designers, copywriters, art buyers) to assist them in their decision making. This might include providing a briefing regarding competitive brands to assist their decisions. They monitor the progress of the creative producers and evaluate their output, keeping team updated e.g. via status reports. They are aware of how the creative work helps the client’s marketing objectives. They also keep abreast of the latest trends within the industry, providing examples of best practice to the creatives.
An Advertising and Media Executive Media Specialist is responsible for: interacting with and getting the best out of automated platforms, using their awareness of what programmatic/automatic buying can do (e.g. evaluate and bid for, in real time, thousands of optional spots e.g. Facebook, TV) and what it cannot do (be certain that spot is the right environment for the message). They understand clients’ marketing objectives and help link to the media where they might place their advertising. They will assist in planning campaigns by providing the team with up to date media metrics. They are aware of the performance and trends of different media options and take this into account when discussing with the team. They help build and maintain relationships with media owners and use this to help negotiate rates strategically and tactically, conscious of long-term relationships.
Occupation duties
Duty |
Criteria for measuring performance |
KSBs |
|
D1Work as part of a team to receive briefs from the client and help coordinate responses from the agency to feedback to them> |
Working effectively as part of a team Timelines clear Job docs accurate |
K1 S2 |
|
D2 Assist the account or media manager in monitoring campaign costs and budget plans and prepares budgetary information such as accurate bills, purchase reviews, maintaining and producing expense reports (in accordance with company policy) to help support the process |
Accuracy of reports/documents in accordance with company policy and client requirements |
K2 K3 |
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D3 Arrange and attend meetings, conferences, seminars, client presentations as required, keeping and disseminating relevant notes |
Accurate and timely records and actions Attention to detail |
K4 |
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D4 Support the day to day running of accounts and the seamless management of communication plans, monitoring progress and ensuring others involved in the process are on track, whether peers, senior colleagues or third parties (such as other agencies), understanding everyone’s responsibilities. |
Account/campaign kept on track Actions of peers, senior colleagues and third parties (including suppliers and customers) kept on track Recognises, listens to and influences people under pressure Understands and suggests trade-offs between quality, cost and timescales Prioritises successfully for the optimum outcome for the client and the agency |
K5 K6 |
|
D5 Check projects to ensure the legal, ethical and regulatory issues for advertising and media have been adhered to |
Adheres to the legislative, regulatory and ethical standards, complies with the organisation’s policies and procedures |
K7 |
|
D6 Co-ordinate internal client account status meetings and maintain accurate and timely status reports using e.g. PowerPoint and properly structured emails, showing high attention to detail |
Accurate and timely records and actions Attention to detail |
K2 |
|
D7 Recognise, listen to and influence people under pressure to help keep campaigns on track, calm situations, and maintaining collaborative and long-term relationships e.g. by managing expectations |
Collaborative, long term relationships Manages expectations Recognises, listens to and influences people under pressure Shows empathy and patience |
K9 K6 K10 |
|
D8 Maintain information systems (e.g. client files, job start forms) and (often new) technologies to collate data to ensure the project is delivering what is required and to maintain evidence and a record of this |
Assists in ensuring project is delivering what is required as agreed in the brief Maintains evidence/record of all projects |
K8 |
|
D9 Chase up 3rd party suppliers, clients and team members e.g. for approvals, quotes, actions |
Assists in ensuring project is delivering what is required as agreed in the brief Maintains evidence/record of all projects e.g. minutes and/or contact reports of decisions |
K10 |
|
D10 Understand and suggest trade-offs between quality, cost and timescale, prioritising successfully, to help get the best possible outcome in a given set of circumstances e.g. client wants it cheaper |
Manages expectations and influences decisions Shows empathy and patience Time management Complies with the organisation’s policies and procedures |
K5 K8 |
|
D11 Ensure the correct signs offs (e.g. for proofs, media plans) are obtained at relevant stages in the project |
Maintains audit trail |
K6 K11 |
|
D12 Carry out relevant market research such as Mintel, Mediatel, Target Group Index (TGI) and digital data to help identify target audience (recognising the consumer journey), advise team on competitor activity, and ensure project reaches key consumer audiences |
Using appropriate market research Helps ensure campaign/projects reaches key audiences Timely and insightful reporting |
K9 |
|
D13 Research the client’s business, its industry and challenges in order to assist more senior colleagues to deliver campaigns with a full range of agency services including digital or sell other agency services. |
Timely and insightful reporting Attention to detail |
K1 K12 |
Advertising and Media Executive Creative Specialist option duties
Duty |
Criteria for measuring performance |
KSBs |
|
Option duty 1: Work with creative producers (television/film producers, radio producers, designers, art buyers, copywriters) to assist them in their decision making.
|
Obtains the right data Keeps the creative producers updated, including latest production and media trends, best practice and advises on this when appropriate Keeps accurate notes on client requests and decisions about creative work |
CK1, CK2 CS1, CS2 B7, B2 |
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Option duty 2: Provide briefing regarding competitive brands to assist senior colleagues in developing brand strategy
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Timely and insightful reporting |
CK5 CS5 B7 |
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Option duty 3: Appreciate that the client’s business goal is important and assists in making sure that this is reflected in the agency’s response to the client need
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Assist in making sure the agency’s response to the client e.g. the creative idea presented, always reflects that the business goal is paramount, and helps obtain the right data on the effectiveness of the agency in meeting the business goal |
CK4, CK3 CS4 , CS3 B9 , B2 |
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Option duty 4: Help build and maintain long term relationships with their opposite number at the client and use this to influence the client’s decision making
|
Recognises, listens to and influences people Understanding win:win to maintain long term relationships |
CK6 CS6 B5 , B4 |
Advertising and Media Executive Media Specialist option duties
Duty |
Criteria for measuring performance |
KSBs |
|
Option duty 1: Be up to date with the basics of most media channel options and regulations, including able to interact with automated platforms and use their awareness of programmatic/automatic buying to help evaluate and bid for, in real time, thousands of optional spots e.g. on Facebook or TV
|
Timely and accurate communication e.g. around media channels and media buying |
KM2 SM2 B7 |
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Option duty 2: Understand the client’s business objectives and help link to the most appropriate media for the advertising
|
Uses the right platforms Evaluate how the message/creative idea is best distributed to the target audience effectively Obtains the right data |
Knowledge KM4, KM5 SM4, SM5 B7, B1 |
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Option duty 3: Assist in planning campaigns by providing the team with up to date media metrics
|
Obtains the right data Accurate and timely reporting |
KM3 SM3 B2, B9 |
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Option duty 4: Help build and maintain relationships with media owners and use this to negotiate rates strategically and tactically, conscious of long term relationships
|
Recognises, listens to and influences people Understanding win:win to maintain long term relationships |
KM1, KM2 SM1, SM2, SM6 B6, B4 |
KSBs
Knowledge
K1 The role creative and media plays for clients and the links to commercial objectives
K2 Project management techniques
K3 The systems and digital technologies that are used in agencies such as Sage, scheduling tools and Excel
K4 Construction of accurate and timely reports and minutes
K5 The lifecycle of an advertising campaign i.e. what needs to happen when
K6 The different roles performed by different agencies (mainly media and creative), different parts of agencies and the core services of their own organisation
K7 The key legal, regulatory and ethical issues for advertising and media, e.g. advertising to children, data regulation with relevance to advertising, General Data Protection Regulation compliance
K8 The commercial dynamics of advertising and media
K9 The foundation advertising landscape and how it is changing e.g. the impact of digital technology and platforms, the proliferation of options for content and media, the complex consumer journey to purchase, the rise of big data, the corporate landscape, how advertising’s effectiveness is evaluated
K10 Principles of third party (e.g. client, supplier, regulatory body) management and delivery
K11 Understands the value the supply chain can provide e.g. digital marketing
K12 Understands the digital landscape and how it impacts on any given campaign
CK1 The creative process/dynamic and how people operate in that environment; how to communicate effectively with each group
CK2 New creative and production techniques, tools and trends e.g. using Influencers to reach audiences, using Snapchat Stories, how to use virtual reality, the possible benefits of Artificial Intelligence
CK3 Understand the different elements of a creative idea (copy and art direction) and its execution, understanding the relative importance of those different elements, e.g. does a change to the execution change the idea?
CK4 Understand how the effectiveness of a campaign is measured against client business objectives
CK5 Understand the fundamentals of why brand building is important
CK6 How to influence people e.g. listen to them, always try for win:win
KM1 The media buying process/dynamic and how people operate and negotiate in that environment
KM2 New media buying techniques, tools and trends e.g. new programmatic (automated) media buying platforms; using new digital mediums such as Twitter, Spotify; new data sources from Google and others
KM3 Up to date media metrics e.g. latest Google Adwords, latest viewing figures from Broadcasters Audience Research Board
KM4 Understands how the location and timing of media interacts with creative content
KM5 Understand how media planning and buying is evaluated short and long term
Skills
S1 Identify the ways in which creative and media can help organisations to achieve corporate objectives
S2 Dispassionately structure problems and approaches to solving them
S3 Manage projects using project management techniques in order to ensure campaigns are on track, e.g. accurate timing plans, and they are also successfully managing their to do list
S4 Make use of the systems and technologies that are used in agencies to help plan, budget and bill
S5 Produce professional communication e.g. correct names, spelling, grammar, branding on e.g. PowerPoint, emails, minutes, reports
S6 Manage timelines effectively, prioritising appropriately
S7 Apply knowledge of the interface and the dynamics of the different agencies (mainly media and creative) for a smooth flow of work
S8 Adhere to the legislative regulations that apply in the advertising and media industry plus their own organisational policies and procedures
S9 Demonstrate some upward, some supplier and client management around commercial realities e.g. a new digital opportunity or a TV production problem
S10 Help solve practical and creative problems (e.g. report on consumer habits, gathering useful data around evaluation) within defined budgets and timescales, influencing outcomes without jeopardising relationships
S11 Use third party management techniques combined with interpersonal skills (e.g. active listening, and influencing) to communicate effectively with all, e.g. coordinating response to a client brief
S12 Ensures the delivery of that supply chain value, on time
S13 Deploy the right digital medium to guarantee the most effective result e.g, using Google Analytics to check key words
CS1 Communicate with clients, colleagues, regulatory bodies (such as the Advertising Standards Authority or Clearcast), suppliers (such as photographers or research companies); by phone, in meetings, through presentations, in emails and written documents such as agendas, competitive reviews, proposals, minutes of calls/meetings, status reports. Co-ordinate feedback.
CS2 Apply their understanding of creative and production techniques to help the idea appear in the correct format
CS3 Apply their understanding of the different elements of a creative idea to help evaluate the different elements and guide the execution phase to protect the most important ones
CS4 Help obtain the right data
CS5 Able to understand and report differences in ways competitor brands market themselves
CS6 Ability to influence people e.g. clients to buy amended creative work or authorise a late invoice
SM1 Coordinate responses to media owners and intermediaries (including automated platforms), helping manage all aspects of the process.
SM2 Apply their knowledge of media buying to communicate with clients, colleagues, regulatory bodies (such as the Advertising Standards Authority), media owners (such as commercial television channels, newspapers/magazines, billboard companies etc.), or media intermediaries/platforms (such as programmatic advertising platforms, Facebook, Google); by phone, in meetings, through presentations, in emails and written documents such as a media plan
SM3 How to access the media metric data and report it accurately to the team regularly
SM4 Help research how the message/creative idea might be best distributed to reach the target audience in the most effective way e.g. time of day, and make recommendations based on this
SM5 Help obtain the right data
SM6 How to negotiate for long term relationships
Behaviours
B1 Flexible problem solver with ability to help the team prioritise effectively
B2 Shows attention to detail
B3 Embraces problems as challenges to be solved, displays ‘can-do’ attitude
B4 Behaves with versatility and others respond positively to them (they are “likable”)
B5 Display empathy and patience with a variety of different personality types and others respond positively to them
B6 Exhibits curiosity about people, their motivations and how to get the best out of them
B7 Exhibits curiosity about the industry, positive approach to learning
B8 Shows resilience (e.g. doesn’t take things too personally, keeps going through difficult situations)
B9 Takes responsibility for learning under pressure
Qualifications
English and Maths qualifications
Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
Other qualifications (Title / Level)
- IPA Foundation Certificate / 3
Professional recognition
- IPA / Foundation This standard will be reviewed after three years.
Additional details
Occupational level: 3
Duration (months): 18
Review>
This standard will be reviewed after three years.
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