Associate Director, Planning

The Associate Media Director of Planning role is a leadership role as well as a managerial one. The Associate Media Director sets the working style for the group, leads the strategic direction and is tasked with being a marketing partner for the clients. The expectation of the Associate Media Director is to be an expert on the clients’ business and a leader on the day-to-day client business and within the agency.

The Associate Media Director is responsible for demonstrating a strong working knowledge of the media space, for both digital and traditional channels, and available media research. This individual is responsible for identifying business opportunities and solutions on a regular basis. The Associate Media Director sets the tone for how the account is managed by assuring focus on key client objectives and delivering appropriate resources while maintaining profitability. A strong passion for seeing media plans come to life with flawless execution is a must. Experience in Finance from a traditional media agency is a plus, as is prior experience executing DCO/personalization campaigns. This role partners with the Group Director of Planning, who oversees the client-agency relationship for both media and creative for the account. 

Media Planning and Execution: 

• Accountable for media plan output timeliness, accuracy, and overall excellence 

• Demonstrate ability to utilize resources (syndicated, proprietary, analyst data) to help guide client’s marketing goals and apply to strategic recommendations 

• Work closely with activation department leads (social and direct) to outline appropriate processes and timelines to ensure flawless execution 

• Comfortable utilizing data for storytelling and familiar with general media analytics and MMM models 

• Understand and adopt new techniques and technologies that are relevant for clients’ media strategies 

• Maintain relationships with media community; continue to develop publisher and higher relationships for exchange of ideas 

• Ideally possesses working knowledge of industry and media tools to gather data and interpret trends 

• Responsible to manage and organize monthly billing, and oversee process and communications with client and finance team 

Client & Internal/External Relationships: 

• Be the central point of contact across investment, strategy, analytics, and creative teams 

• Build & maintain trusting, collaborative relationships with clients at appropriate levels 

• Manage expectations of clients and deliverables 

• Accurately represent the client’s point of view when reviewing work, leverage this perspective when providing feedback to team and presenting to client 

• Identify opportunities to offer other agency service line offerings to existing clients 

• Grow business opportunities within current clients, where appropriate 

• Capable of effectively managing up and down the reporting structure 

• Comfortable managing and working with large and complex teams – directly and indirectly with junior talent as well as cross-discipline and cross agency 

Strategic Thinking & Leadership: 

• Deep expertise interpreting consumer data and insights and applying them to create unique, audience-first communications and connections plans 

• Provide and/or guide strategic input for all plans internally and externally 

• Provide and discuss industry information on media, markets and related dynamics 

• Demonstrate problem solving and intervention when necessary 

• Understand and analyze the root causes of problems and develop ways to rectify 

• Guide and assist staff to arrive at potential solutions to problems/issues 

• Ensure key information is provided to team regarding client issues, internal agency issues, changes in account status, etc. 

• Train, motivate and develop a media planning group 

• Construct and deliver accurate, honest and timely performance management documents 

• Bachelor’s Degree 

• 5+ years of communications/integrated media planning experience, 

• Ideal candidate has experience in at least 2 out of 3 in the following: DCO/personalization campaigns, direct IO campaign management 

• In depth client service experience 

• Experience in developing & executing tactical campaigns (several, fast turn) for both traditional & digital channels 

• Understanding of key research sources 

• Proven leadership ability – experience managing a team of planners & supervisors 

• Knowledge of current trends and innovations in media and culture 

• High-level proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, Word and Outlook 

• Working knowledge of Insights tools such as MRI and Simmons and competitive tools like Nielsen Ad Intel and/or Kantar Stradegy 

• Experience with MediaTools and buying platforms such as DDS, MediaOcean, HudsonMX 

• Solid understanding of DCM, and other digital media related tools (comScore, eMarketer, Forrester…) 

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s Degree 

• 7+ years of communications/integrated media planning experience 

• In depth client service experience 

• Experience in developing & executing tactical campaigns (several, fast turn) for both traditional & digital channels 

• Understanding of key research sources 

• Proven leadership ability – experience managing a team of planners & supervisors 

• Knowledge of current trends and innovations in media and culture 

• High-level proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, Word and Outlook 

• Working knowledge of Insights tools such as MRI and Simmons and competitive tools like Nielsen Ad Intel and/or Kantar Stradegy 

• Experience with MediaTools and buying platforms such as DDS, MediaOcean, HudsonMX 

• Solid understanding of DCM, and other digital media related tools (comScore, eMarketer, Forrester…) 

Additional Information

The annual salary range for this position is $68,000-$110,400. Placement within the salary range is based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and other factors permitted by law.

Benefits available with this position include:

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance,

• Life insurance,

• Short-term and long-term disability insurance,

• 401k,

• Flexible paid time off,

• At least 15 paid holidays per year,

• Paid sick and safe leave, and

• Paid parental leave.

Dentsu also complies with applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies. For further details regarding Dentsu benefits, please visit www.dentsubenefitsplus.com.

To begin the application process, please click on the “Apply” button at the top of this job posting. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and qualified candidates will be contacted for next steps. #LI-MM2

Dentsu is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. We do this without regard to race, color, national origin, sex , sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, political affiliation, religious practices and observances, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. 

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