Associate Project Manager / Direct Mail

The position is located in Northbrook, IL The purpose of the department is Allstate Financial Strategy and Business Development. The scope of this job is to support the Allstate Financial Strategy and Business Development team by providing research assistance to advance the company's knowledge and position, prepare fact-based analyses and reports, assist with business development inquiries (e.g., new product, channel or market assessment), and fostering a deeper understanding of industry trends and best practices. The individual will be responsible for: -- Project Management - Direct Response Marketing area for Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC). -- Providing strategic direction and day-to-day management of specified projects within direct marketing discipline. -- Understanding and practice of IMC principles with emphasis in direct marketing channels, especially mail and online media. -- Strong team interaction and cross-functional team coordination. -- Advocating strong agency relationships. -- Generating enthusiasm, commitment, and teamwork among account group and other agency departments. -- Developing a strategic creative lead for all customer communication programs. -- Day-to-day project execution for direct marketing programs. -- Developing collaborating on AIMs and assignment briefs. -- Managing agency and vendor relationships. -- Working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure collaboration and on-strategy creative product. -- Coordinating with operations, measurement, media, and production areas to ensure flawless execution. -- Following strict, organized process with proper documentation and signoffs. -- Presenting creative products as necessary. -- Maintaining weekly and monthly status reports and providing updates as necessary to ensure deadlines are met. -- Maintaining high level of quality control. -- Maintaining base level industry knowledge in direct marketing. -- Representing Direct Response Marketing within IMC organization as necessary. -- Setting up and running weekly status and other meetings as necessary for project execution. -- Providing ongoing communication of project status. -- Managing all status reports, schedules and project billings.
REQUIREMENTS
The skills required are: -- Detail oriented, organized, and creative problem solver. -- Superior project management skills. -- Strong and proven communication skills, both written and oral, including formal documents. -- Effective presentation skills. -- Team player, motivator, and ability to lead by example. -- Initiative, anticipate needs, self-motivated. Experience Required: -- 5+ years direct marketing experience for direct mail and e-mail; interactive and DRTV experience a plus. -- Intimate understanding of database, measurement, media, production and program/results analysis. -- Solid experience with creative process. -- Basic understanding of general advertising and integration relationship of other key marketing functions (e.g., promotions). -- Solid understanding of agency organization and client/agency relationship. -- Solid understanding of marketing strategy and ability to deliver creative product strategy. -- Ability to prioritize; time-management. -- Manage stress/pressure. -- Efficiency. -- Juggle multiple tasks/projects. Computer Proficiency: Experience with Microsoft Office suite including complex Excel spreadsheets and basic Access databases. Education: Masters/MBA - Preferred Major preference: None To apply to this position please visit www.allstate.jobs and enter Job Code 234865