Strategy Director, Media

UNAVAILABLE; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading communications agency in Toronto is seeking a Director of Strategy to lead high-profile client engagements. You will oversee team performance, develop integrated media strategies, and act as a trusted advisor to clients. An ideal candidate has over 8 years of experience in media strategy and strong leadership skills. This role offers opportunities for career growth in a diverse work environment.

Benefits

Great Places to Work certified

Opportunities for career growth

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in communications planning, brand strategy, or media strategy.
• Proven track record of leading strategic planning for major brands.
• Strong understanding of media channels and experience with performance optimization.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a team of strategists.
• Translate marketing objectives into integrated media strategies.
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients offering proactive recommendations.

Skills

Strategic planning

Leadership

Media strategy

Data-driven insights

Communication

Job description

Company Description

Starcom is a part of Publicis Media within Publicis Groupe, one of the world’s leading communications groups. Our team spans across our Windsor, Toronto and Montreal offices. We truly love the world of Media and Advertising. We see the planning and buying process as art. However, it is an art that is always best when backed by the science of empirical data.

One of our core tenants of media planning and buying is thathuman experiences drive impact through tangible results. Not only do we seek to deeply understand our clients’ business and what truly motivates consumers, but we seek to design experiences that drive meaningful consumer actions our clients care about –Move People, Move Business.

You will be joining a well recognised agency with credentials:

• Great Places to Work certified two years in a row
• Only communications company to be ranked in LinkedIn’s Top 25 Great Places to Work
• 2022 Media Agency of the Year
• 2023 Media Agency of the Year finalist

As part of Publicis Media Canada we are proud to be Great Places to Work certified and recognized with Best Workplaces for Today’s Youth. We provide continuing opportunities for career growth by fostering a diverse work environment that respects and supports individual contributions and opinions.

Job Description

We’re looking for a strategic leader who thrives at the intersection of business objectives, media strategy, creative integration, and data-driven insights. As a Director of Strategy, you will lead high-profile client engagements, guide a team of strategists, and shape campaigns that deliver measurable impact across the full customer journey.

This role requires a balance of big-picture vision and hands-on execution. You’ll work directly with senior clients, internal teams, and external partners to develop and execute strategies that are innovative, integrated, and performance-driven.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, coach, and inspire a team of strategists, ensuring high-quality output, clear direction, and professional development.

• Foster a collaborative, growth-oriented environment that encourages strategic thinking, innovation, and accountability.

• Oversee team performance.

Strategic Planning & Execution

• Lead end-to-end campaign planning for major brands, from annual planning through activation and optimization.

• Translate marketing and business objectives into integrated media strategies, identifying the right channels, audiences, and KPIs to deliver against goals.

• Partner with creative, media, analytics, and client teams to ensure strategies are aligned, actionable, and measurable.

• Serve as the strategic lead in client meetings, presentations, and workshops, clearly articulating recommendations and insights.

Client Partnership & Business Growth

• Act as a trusted senior advisor to clients, providing proactive recommendations based on performance data, market trends, and competitive analysis.

• Lead high-profile pitches alongside senior leadership, shaping the strategic vision to win new business.

• Identify opportunities to grow client relationships through innovative strategies and cross-team collaboration.

Campaign Management & Optimization

• Oversee the execution of media plans, ensuring on-time delivery and flawless execution across channels.

• Use data, analytics, and insights tools to monitor performance, make optimization recommendations, and drive continuous improvement.

• Ensure alignment between strategy, creative, and media execution, maintaining brand integrity and meeting campaign objectives.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in communications planning, brand strategy, media strategy, or related fields.

• Proven track record of leading strategic planning for major brands and managing a high-performing team.

• Strong understanding of media channels (digital, social, traditional) and how to integrate them into cohesive strategies.

• Experience with performance optimization and KPI-driven planning.

• Comfortable with analytics tools, audience insights platforms, and campaign reporting.

• Exceptional presentation, communication, and storytelling skills.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.

• Fully fluent in English; French fluency a bonus

Professional Skills

• Strategic thinker with a strong business mindset.

• Inspirational leader and mentor.

• Highly organized and detail-oriented.

• Confident presenter and persuasive communicator.

• Collaborative, solutions-focused, and proactive.

Additional Information

Starcom is an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. We create and nurture a vibrant work environment that celebrates, values and leverages all aspects of diversity and inclusiveness, attracts world-class talent and serves as the industry benchmark for best practices.We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and will provide appropriate accommodation for candidates with disabilities or accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process, upon request. Please contact our recruiter for any questions, accommodations or specific requests.We thankall candidates for their interest in Starcom however, only those candidatesselected for an interview will be contacted