Associate Director, Diageo Integrated Partnerships

Agency: PHd Job Function: Media Job Subfunction: Media Planning and Buying Job Description: The Diageo Partners team develops and delivers integrated, direct-to-publisher solutions across premium video, digital, content, sponsorships, experiential and emerging media. The Associate Director will bridge investment and content partnership expertise, translating Diageo’s business and brand objectives into innovative, scalable programs that connect paid media, custom storytelling and real-world experiences. This role will lead partner strategy, negotiation and activation while ensuring every recommendation meets Diageo’s audience, brand safety, responsible marketing and measurement requirements.    Strategic & Functional Team Lead Help shape the vision, priorities and ways of working for the Diageo Partners team across video, digital direct-to-publisher investment, content and experiential programs Translate brand, audience and communications strategy into integrated partner opportunities that support awareness, engagement, consideration and conversion objectives Develop strong recommendations grounded in audience insight, cultural relevance, marketplace intelligence, big ideas and clear activation plans Identify opportunities across premium publishers, television and streaming companies, social platforms, entertainment properties, creators, live events and experiential partners Work closely with Strategy, Planning, Investment, Social, Commerce, Creative, Data and Analytics teams to ensure partnership programs connect to the broader media plan Stay current on changes in video, digital publishing, content, sponsorship, creator, commerce and experiential landscapes and assess the implications for Diageo’s business Support senior leadership with presentation materials, status updates, annual planning, marketplace points of view and client meetings Investment, Negotiation & Partner Management Lead direct-to-publisher investment strategy and negotiations across premium video, digital media, custom content, sponsorships and experiential opportunities Evaluate partner proposals based on strategic fit, audience quality, scale, pricing, added value, measurement capabilities, executional feasibility and brand suitability Cultivate senior relationships with media owners and strategic partners to unlock innovation, preferred access, commercial value and solutions tailored to Diageo’s needs Partner with broader investment teams to maintain strategic consistency across plan development, negotiations, implementation and stewardship Monitor marketplace dynamics, inventory trends and partner capabilities to identify proactive opportunities and manage potential risks Ensure negotiated programs have clear scopes, deliverables, timelines, usage rights, distribution plans, performance expectations and accountability Content, Sponsorship & Experiential Activation Serve as a day-to-day partnership lead and subject matter expert for clients, internal teams and external partners from brief through launch and final recap Lead the development and activation of custom programs spanning branded content, video integrations, social amplification, talent or creator partnerships, sponsorship assets, hospitality and experiential activations Guide partners in turning strategic objectives into ideas that are distinctive, culturally relevant, executable and appropriate for each Diageo brand Develop and manage integrated distribution plans that connect custom content or experiences with paid video, digital and social media Own program timelines, production schedules, approval processes, asset delivery, trafficking dependencies, meetings and cross-functional communication Manage internal and external workstreams during ideation, creative development, production, launch and post-campaign reporting Ensure all programs meet Diageo responsible marketing, legal, regulatory, brand safety, audience composition and category suitability requirements Measurement &