Director, Media Planning

GroupM; Toronto; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Director of Media Planning to lead client accounts and drive strategic initiatives. This role involves managing client relationships, overseeing media planning, and ensuring high-quality service delivery. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical and presentation skills, with a proven track record in media planning and client services. Join a dynamic team that values diversity and innovation, where your contributions will directly impact brand growth and success. Embrace the challenge of shaping the future of media planning in a collaborative environment that encourages creativity and strategic thinking.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in media planning or relevant media industry experience.
• Strong client service experience and understanding of marketing roles.

Responsibilities

• Manage client relationships and ensure strategic delivery of goals.
• Lead account teams and foster a culture of excellence.
• Oversee media planning and financial management for clients.

Skills

Client Relationship Management

Media Planning

Strategic Thinking

Presentation Skills

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving

Quantitative Skills

Education

Post-secondary degree in Marketing

Tools

Comspoint

Vividata

Job description

Job Title: Director, Media Planning

EssenceMediacom is a global communications agency leading with breakthrough thinking, building explosive growth for brands, and helping our clients see the bigger picture. Our daring global network of 10,000 communications experts help our clients breach traditional boundaries in media, uncover novel ideas, and unleash exponential growth. EssenceMediacom challenges conventional thinking to build, propel, and supercharge our clients’ businesses at scale and lead our industry in critical areas such as diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability.

Overview:

A Director, Media Planning is responsible for all aspects of a client’s business. They are responsible for the management of one or more client accounts. Working with cross-functional teams to access all EssenceMediacom services, you will ensure the strategic delivery of client goals and business objectives.

They provide leadership and are the main client contact for Airbnb. Lead in client comms, strategy planning, client presentations and encouraging the highest quality media product and client satisfaction. They also play an active role coaching, training, and mentoring juniors. This role requires the person to work PST hours.

Key Accountabilities:

1. Client Service
2. Manage and own client relationships (Director level and below, which may include Senior Manager, Brand Managers)
3. Primary client contact
4. Responsible for client performance reviews including Vantage scores, with a goal of achieving all clients in green or secure
5. Manage client expectations within agreed upon deliverables
6. Manage client briefings
7. Oversee and lead all aspects of the business

Leadership

1. Successfully lead and manage account team
2. Establish culture of excellence and quality output
3. Work with all internal resources including Investment Team, Finance and Strategy in carrying out the development of their plans and client service requirements and is able to pressure test discipline’s outputs to ensure they meet holistic media plan needs
4. Build and nurture relationships with US EssenceMediacom team, ensuring collaboration, strong partnership and a united vision to achieve client business objectives
5. Lead by example and foster an environment of collaboration and teamwork
6. Embrace EssenceMediacom culture, mission and vision – embody it and action it
7. Staff career development/succession planning through strong mentoring and coaching

Financial Management

1. Assist SVP or GAD with the development of business plans
2. Ensure revenue forecasted accurately
3. Responsible for ensuring monthly invoicing /billing for client is up to date
4. Responsible for Global spend tracker and Client facing Buy Summaries (BCR)
5. Complete understanding of client SOW and compensation
6. Ensure client compensation is in line with SOW
7. Ensure client service team responsibilities are completed to assist with discrepancy clearing

Media Planning

1. Solid understanding of online and offline planning
2. Skilled interpretation of client briefs and writing strategic plans, establish strategies to meet objectives
3. Develop media plans and presentations in conjunction with more senior staff
4. Lead and oversee buy brief content and conduct buy brief meetings with internal groups
5. Oversee all media administrative duties including campaign set-up and maintenance, and issue accurate client financial reports i.e. BCRs, with a high degree of accuracy
6. Extensive understanding of different media channels
7. Lead client’s plan presentations.
8. Extensive knowledge of all syndicated and proprietary tools
9. Approve media plans

Skills & Behaviour

1. Full familiarity with research tools and planning software programs needed to complete planning tasks at all levels, Comspoint, Vividata
2. Resourcefulness, able to tap into company resources across cross functional groups and demonstrate best use of resources
3. Able to convincingly and methodically build solutions to client problems
4. Strong presentation skills
5. Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple projects and oversee direct reports
6. Excellent written and verbal communication skills
7. Demonstrated strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
8. Strong analytical skills
9. Mathematically inclined, quantitative skills
10. Able to understand and apply consumer insights

Education and Experience:

1. 7+ years in media planning / buying or other relevant media industry experience
2. Direct client service experience
3. Strong understanding of marketing & consumer communications roles
4. Post-secondary degree with a focus on Marketing preferred

ABOUT ESSENCEMEDIACOM:

EssenceMediacom people, have big goals: building breakthrough growth for brands and leading with breakthrough thinking in our industry. We call them “Essentials” because they are at the heart of our work and their ideas will enable us to tap into that critical intersection of people, content, and technology to bring brand aspirations to life. EssenceMediacom is a place for you to grow your career and expand your horizons. EssenceMediacom is committed to building an agency culture that supports our people, puts diversity at the forefront of our operations, and creates opportunity for all. This collective culture is our power, where ideas are freely exchanged, and collaboration is actively encouraged in a place where you can innovate in our hyperconnected world.

GroupM and all its affiliates embrace and celebrate diversity, inclusivity, and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We are a worldwide media agency network that represents global clients. The more inclusive we are, the more great work we can create together.