Senior Media Planning Lead – Data-Driven Strategy

Dentsu Aegis Network Ltd.; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental insurance

RRSP

Paid time off

Benefits for permanent employees

Job summary

Dentsu Media in Vancouver is seeking a Planning Manager to lead media planning strategy across a portfolio of clients and to develop a high-performing team. You will guide end-to-end planning, ensuring strategic excellence, operational efficiency, and measurable client outcomes.

You will collaborate with Media Buying, Operations, Data & Analytics, and partner agencies, champion data-driven planning, and drive innovation through Dentsu capabilities.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree or diploma in Media, Advertising, Marketing, Business Administration, Communications, or a related field.
• Minimum 5+ years of media planning experience across all media channels, with at least 2+ years of experience leading and developing teams.
• Proven ability to manage, coach, and retain top talent while driving team performance and engagement.
• Advanced understanding of media planning, audience strategy, campaign management, optimization, and measurement principles.
• Strong knowledge of media research, planning, and reporting tools.
• Experience working with data, analytics platforms, ad technology, bid management platforms, DSPs, and supply-side partners.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships and manage expectations with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong business acumen and analytical capabilities, including budget management and translating data into actionable insights and recommendations.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP), PowerPoint, and Outlook

Responsibilities

• Leads, coaches, and develops a team of media planning professionals, providing ongoing mentorship, performance management, and career development support.
• Owns and directs media planning strategy across assigned client portfolios, ensuring plans align with client business objectives and deliver measurable results.
• Guides the team in developing integrated media strategies that maximize media investment, efficiency, and campaign effectiveness across all channels.
• Serves as a senior strategic advisor to clients, providing insights, recommendations, and thought leadership on media trends, audience behavior, and market opportunities.
• Drives employee engagement and retention through talent development, succession planning, and collaboration with Leadership and Human Resources.
• Elevates the team's media expertise by championing the use of data, technology, audience insights, and advanced planning methodologies.
• Identifies skill gaps and development opportunities within the team and creates actionable development plans to support performance and growth.
• Promotes adoption and integration of Dentsu capabilities, including The Story Lab, Dentsu Data Labs, Cardinal Path, ICUC, and other strategic offerings to enhance client outcomes.
• Partners with Media Buying and Activation teams throughout campaign execution to ensure strategic alignment, performance optimization, and issue resolution.
• Establishes and enforces planning best practices, governance frameworks, and quality control processes across client accounts.
• Collaborates with partner agencies and cross-functional teams to ensure cohesive communication strategies and effective channel integration.
• Oversees the development of client-facing reports, presentations, and recommendations that clearly communicate strategy, performance, and business impact.
• Supports and leads new business initiatives, including RFP responses, strategic recommendations, client presentations, and pitch participation.
• Contributes to departmental growth initiatives, process improvements, and operational efficiencies within a shared services environment.
• Fosters a high-performance culture focused on accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration, innovation, and data-driven decision-making.

Skills

Media planning

Team leadership

Data analytics

Budget management

Client relationship management

Microsoft Excel

Education

Post-secondary degree in Media/Advertising/Marketing/Business Administration/Communications

Tools

DSPs

Bid management platforms

Media research tools

Dentsu capabilities (The Story Lab, Data Labs)

Job description

Dentsu Media in Vancouver is seeking a Planning Manager to lead media planning strategy across a portfolio of clients and to develop a high-performing team. You will guide end-to-end planning, ensuring strategic excellence, operational efficiency, and measurable client outcomes.

You will collaborate with Media Buying, Operations, Data & Analytics, and partner agencies, champion data-driven planning, and drive innovation through Dentsu capabilities.