Location: Hybrid - minimum of 2 days per week in our Bradford office
Level: Director-level role, leading innovation across a flagship retail partnership with broad cross-team and stakeholder influence
We are looking for an Innovation Director to join our SMG Axis team. In this role, you will lead the end-to-end development of digital and physical media innovation, shaping and delivering a forward-thinking media roadmap for one of our most influential retail partnerships. You will drive new capabilities from ideation through to deployment, working across teams and partners to unlock commercial value and keep our offering at the cutting edge of connected commerce.
If you love variety, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and embrace change with energy, this could be your right role.
At SMG, we hire for the future, which is fast-moving and changing shape Do you have the potential to help shape our business? We’re looking for brilliant, diverse talent who want to grow with us—people who are curious, ambitious, and eager to learn, whether as specialists or across teams.
Our culture is everything. If you’re someone who stays honest, stays hungry, stays foolish, and has fun, you’ll feel right at home here.
We value those who take ownership of their growth and bring fresh perspectives. That’s why we’re committed to equity, inclusion, and building a place where everyone feels empowered to grow At SMG, it’s not just about filling a role but building the future together.
10% discretionary bonus
£1,800 yearly wellbeing fund (on top of your salary!)
Free Headspace subscription
£500 yearly “Learning Fund” for learning
4 extra Wellbeing Days off per year
4pm finishes every Friday
Flexible and hybrid working
We move fast, adapt quickly, and like to challenge each other. We're looking for people who enjoy the buzz of change, the satisfaction of building something better, and the joy of working with a close-knit, values-driven team
This isn’t for everyone, but if you thrive in this environment, we’d love to meet you!
You’ll bring:
Strong experience in digital media innovation, ideally from an agency or media background
Deep understanding of first-party data and its application across media, adtech, and martech ecosystems
A proven track record of developing and delivering new media capabilities
Confidence driving innovation agendas across a business and influencing senior stakeholders
Experience leading, coaching, and developing high-performing teams
Strong client-facing experience with excellent stakeholder management skills
Commercial acumen with the ability to deliver viable, scalable solutions
The ability to manage complex projects across multiple partners and disciplines
A proactive mindset with a strong drive to succeed
Don’t meet every single requirement? We still want to hear from you. If you believe you’d thrive in this role, your unique perspective might be just what we’re looking for.
Your days will be dynamic. You might find yourself:
Developing and leading the innovation roadmap across digital and physical media channels
Identifying and delivering new media capabilities that leverage first-party data and emerging technologies
Managing the end-to-end innovation pipeline from ideation through to commercial delivery
Collaborating with retailers, adtech partners, publishers, and internal teams to bring new solutions to life
Establishing governance for new media development and keeping stakeholders aligned and informed
Acting as the bridge across Media, Tech, Insight, Strategy, Creative, and Partnership teams
Leading and developing a team, including coaching, performance management, and capability building
Building strong relationships with both retailer partners and branded clients, delivering solutions that work for both
Working closely with Insights teams to evaluate campaign performance and evolve measurement approaches
Contributing to wider business initiatives such as training, marketing, and talent development
Stay honest. Stay hungry. Stay foolish. Have fun.
Explore what that means to us here
Still Curious?
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We’re the original pioneers in connected commerce marketing. For more than 16 years, we’ve been partnering with major retailers, powering global brands, and building meaningful connections with shoppers.
We simplify the mind-boggling complexity of today’s retail media landscape. We deliver impactful campaigns that connect with people where it matters. We create seamless and personalised shopping experiences. Above all, we deliver amazing results for our partners, driven by our unshakeable desire for growth.
Time after time, we change the game. SMG is home to a world-class suite of commerce advertising capabilities powered by data and cutting-edge technology. We constantly push ourselves, our tech and our industry to discover innovative new ways to connect, sell and grow.
Our brilliant people are the ones who make change happen. Straight-talking, fiercely driven, and with a thirst for challenging the status quo, we’re united in spirit and culture. Positively disrupting retail and creating campaigns with impact, we’re taking everyone with us on extraordinary adventures in connected commerce.
