SVP, Client Leadership, dentsu X

dentsu; Toronto; On-site; CAD 170,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

dentsu in Toronto seeks a Senior Leader to drive client relationships and lead a large media team, shaping strategy and delivering integrated, data-driven media plans. The role requires building trusted partnerships with senior clients, guiding cross-functional teams, and ensuring profitable outcomes in a fast-paced, evolving market.

The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in 360 media strategies, strong executive presence, and a track record of managing large-scale, multi-category

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of media planning experience across all media channels.
• At least 5 years of experience leading a team.
• Subject matter expert in 360 media strategies with ability to articulate media's role in delivering client objectives.
• Exceptional understanding of the Canadian broadcast and video landscape.
• Experience in +$100 million-budget management.
• Advanced knowledge of industry planning tools.
• Strong negotiation, presentation, and people skills.

Responsibilities

• Build strong client relationships as a trusted advisor with senior clients and stakeholders.
• Deepen client relationships to ensure retention and growth.
• Craft integrated strategic narratives that inspire multi-disciplinary media teams.
• Translate client briefs into innovative media strategies and business plans.
• Provide insight and thought leadership that translates brand objectives into media strategies.
• Deliver strategic and commercially balanced solutions that align client and agency goals.

Job description

Job Description

Who we are

We are where creativity, media, and technology converge. dentsu X is a new kind of agency. We are thinkers, creators, and doers. We value experience over exposure. We believe in people. We listen before we speak. We value partnership and collaboration. We treat others the way we would like to be treated. We thrive on solving problems.

Role Profile

The SVP, Client Leadership, dentsuX role leads the media client relationship for a complex, large-scale account with support from the team and reports up through the Client President.

The SVP, Client Leadership role will work closely to develop a delivery strategy with the investment lead and will shape process for the account in partnership with the EVP of Business Operations including meeting short-term goals while working toward longer-term objectives and balancing the operational and strategic needs of the business.

The SVP is the leader and manager of an account team and the balancing of resourcing, talent, interpreting client goals, scope creation and execution, and business growth. This role is critical in building the success of the agency partnership.

The ideal candidate is ambitious, embraces change, has proven ability to successfully lead a large team, is collaborative, rolls up their sleeves and is a thought‑leader within the industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Build strong client relationships as a trusted advisor with senior clients and industry stakeholders.
• Deepen client relationships to ensure retention and growth.
• Capable of crafting integrated strategic narratives that can inspire multi‑disciplinary media teams
• Has proven full funnel media expertise
• Immerse yourself and your team in clients’ businesses, understanding their challenges, objectives, external economic environment, markets, competitive threats, and relevant partner agencies.
• Translate client briefs into innovative, exceptional business plans that deliver value.
• Provide insight and thought leadership that effectively translates brand marketing objectives into succinct media strategies.
• Deliver innovative, ambitious, strategic, and commercial solutions that balance client and agency values.
• Understand the client commercial framework and work with senior account leadership to ensure profitable business operations.
• Mentor and coach the team to build strong relationships with their counterparts and deliver outstanding client service.
• Drive employee retention by providing feedback to Leadership and HR to help retain top talent in Canada.
• Enhance the team’s media knowledge, expanding into data and technology.
• Identify development areas in team members to help achieve and drive their performance goals.
• Improve client satisfaction to expand existing revenue streams and build new ones.
• Implement quality control processes and systems across client groups.
• Use account plans to stimulate and track future work; manage resources effectively.
• Manage systems for forecasting accurate spend and tracking progress.
• Instill a high‑performance, data‑driven, continuous improvement culture within a shared service organization.
• Ensures team culture is healthy and strong and aligned with agency values.
• Addresses and develops action plans if issues arise.
• Challenges the norm of media planning on a yearly basis. Has an aptitude to continually evolve team, process and business.
• Responsible for ensuring team culture and ways of behaving are in line with client values and expectations.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years of media planning experience across all media channels and at least 5 years of experience leading a team.
• Subject matter expert in 360 media strategies, with the ability to articulate the role of media in delivering client business objectives.
• Exceptional understanding of the Canadian broadcast and video landscape.
• Ability to manage multi category & brand portfolio.
• Experience in +$100 million-dollar budget management.
• Advanced knowledge of industry planning and research tools.
• Ability to instill confidence and manage expectations with internal and external stakeholders.
• Advanced analytical skills and proficiency with numbers and budgets to illustrate client business objectives.
• Strong negotiation, presentation, and people skills.
• Advanced MS Office skills: Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, Copilot.
• Persuasive written and verbal communication skills with a strong ability to tell stories.
• Ability to collaborate with cross‑functional teams and multiple stakeholders.
• Must have valid passport and be willing to travel.

Additional information

Vacancy: Is this posting for the purposes of filling an existing vacancy? Yes

The salary range for this position is$170K-$190K. Actual salary within thesalary range will be based on avariety of factors including relevantexperience, knowledge, and skills.A range of medical, dental, RRSP,paid time off, and/or other benefitsalso are available to all permanentemployees.

AI Disclosure:dentsu

utilizes artificial intelligence tools as part of its recruitment process, as during the sourcing and screening stages. All other parts of the dentsu application and hiring processes do not utilize artificial intelligence tools.

We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds foster a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better business results. We strive to create workplaces that reflect the clients we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

We are committed to working with our candidates from all ability levels throughout the recruitment process to ensure that they have what they need to be at their best. If you need accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] or to begin a conversation about your individual accessibility needs throughout the hiring process.

Location

Toronto

Brand

Dentsu Media

Time Type

Full time

Contract Type

Permanent