Head of Media Connections Planning

Suntory Group; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous incentive program

Hybrid working

Parental leave (primary/secondary)

Job summary

Suntory Oceania seeks an executive leader to head Media Connections Planning within the Marketing Leadership Team. You will establish the Centre of Enablement, guiding media, connections planning, digital & AI initiatives, and agency ecosystem strategy across Australia and New Zealand.

You will transform traditional media planning into customer-first, digitally led connections planning, integrating data, AI, content, commerce and brand experience.

Qualifications

• A track record of success across media, marketing, and communications in a transforming environment.
• Experience in both agency and client-side organisations.
• Strong commercial acumen and experience managing significant media or marketing investments.
• Deep knowledge of modern media ecosystems, digital platforms, data-led marketing and agency partnerships.
• Ability to engage and influence across the Marketing team and Executive Leadership Team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the shift from channel-based media planning to holistically digitally led connections planning.
• Design and implement full-funnel architectures across paid, owned, earned, retail and experiential touchpoints.
• Translate brand strategy into high-impact, insight-led media plans for short-term sales and long-term growth.
• Drive adoption of AI-enabled marketing and media.
• Continuously optimise media investment using real-time insights and an experimentation culture.
• Own and evolve the agency village model to ensure seamless collaboration and output.
• Drive agency performance and accountability.
• Influence a large media investment portfolio across brands and channels.
• Collaborate with brand teams to amplify distinctive assets and creative effectiveness.
• Lead and develop a team of four.

Skills

Media planning

Agency partnerships

AI in marketing

Data-driven marketing

Team leadership

Job description

By harnessing the best of Suntory from across Australia and New Zealand, Suntory Global Spirits and Suntory Beverage & Food Oceania have created a multi-beverage powerhouse – Suntory Oceania.

Our 40 market-leading brands, including Jim Beam® and Maker's Mark® Bourbon, Hibiki® Japanese Whisky, Canadian Club® Whisky, -196, V Energy, Maximus, and Suntory BOSS Coffee, are powered by five distribution centres, more than 1,500 Suntorians and two local manufacturing sites. With full end-to-end control of our portfolio, we pioneer new beverage experiences, inspired by innovation and craftsmanship.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for an exceptional leader to join our Marketing Leadership Team as Head of Media Connections Planning. This is an opportunity to redefine how our business, one of the region’s largest beverage businesses, connects with consumers, transforms agency partnerships, leverages AI and drives measurable commercial outcomes across an exciting and evolving portfolio!

What You'll Do

Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer you will establish and embed our new Centre of Enablement that will lead our media, connections planning, digital & AI and agency ecosystem strategy across Australia and New Zealand. You will be responsible for transforming traditional media planning into a customer-first, digitally led connections planning model that seamlessly integrates data, AI, content, commerce and brand experience.

You will:-

• Lead the shift from channel-based media planning to holistic digitally led connections planning, grounded in consumer behaviour and moments
• Design and implement full-funnel communications and architectures across paid, owned, earned, retail and experiential touchpoints
• Translate brand and portfolio strategy into high-impact, insight-led media plans that deliver both short-term sales and long-term brand growth
• Drive the adoption of AI-enabled marketing & media
• Continuously optimise media investment using real-time insights and an experimentation culture
• Own and evolve the agency village model (media, creative, digital, CX, PR) to ensure seamless collaboration and output
• Drive agency performance and accountability
• Influence a significant media investment portfolio, ensuring optimal allocation across brands and channels
• Work closely with brand teams to ensure media amplifies distinctive brand assets and creative effectiveness
• Lead and develop a team of four

What you bring

We’re seeking a transformational leader who combines strategic vision with strong execution capability, with the following experiences and attributes:

• A strong track record of success across media, marketing, communications in a transforming environment
• Experience gained across both agency and client-side organisations
• Strong commercial acumen and experience managing substantial media or marketing investments
• Deep knowledge of modern media ecosystems, digital platforms, data-led marketing and agency partnerships
• The ability and confidence to engage and influence across the Marketing team and our Executive Leadership Team to bring them on the journey of new and exciting ways of our brands connecting with consumers

What's in it for you?

Grow your career – we like to promote from within and have incredible learning and development opportunities locally and around the world.

• Drive transformation and innovation in a future-fit operating model.
• Generous incentive program for all of our permanent employees.
• An inclusive parental leave policy for both primary and secondary caregivers.
• Birthday leave – enjoy a day off to celebrate your birthday.
• Gradual return to work to help you transition back from parental leave.
• Work in a culture that values diversity, collaboration and growth.
• Flexible working – flexible hours and hybrid working.
• We are committed to giving back to our communities, so we provide you with volunteer leave to do so.

Our DEI Commitment

At Suntory, we recognize that diverse knowledge, perspectives, and backgrounds contribute to our collective success. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all individuals can bring their whole selves to work every day, regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, neurodiversity, or differing abilities, age, or any other protected characteristic.

Our recruitment and selection processes are designed to highlight what Suntory offers as an employer while allowing candidates to share their unique skills and experiences. We understand that career trajectories vary, and if you believe your experience/background can benefit our team, we encourage you to apply. We endeavor to make our interview process as inclusive as possible and offer reasonable accommodations as needed. Together, we can cultivate a workplace where everyone can thrive and propel our mission of Growing for Good.