Assistant Manager- Strategy

Havas Media Network India; Bengaluru Urban; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Havas Media Network India seeks an Assistant Manager- Strategic Planning to drive data-led, consumer-first planning and lead strategy for marquee brands. You will craft market-specific media solutions and guide pitches across categories, collaborating with media, creative, and cross-market teams.

The role emphasizes thought leadership, trend analysis, and upskilling across teams to strengthen the agency’s strategic narrative and client outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience in media strategy and integrated communications.
• Proven ability to lead strategic planning and pitches.
• Strong expertise in data-driven, audience-centric planning.
• Solid market research and consumer behavior insights.
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong storytelling and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy and communications for marquee brands with market-specific media solutions.
• Drive strategic planning, AOPs, and high-impact pitches across categories.
• Build data-led planning frameworks integrating audience behavior and media signals.
• Uncover consumer insights through market research grounded in real behavior.
• Lead new business pitches and contribute to agency growth.
• Collaborate with media, creative, and cross-market teams for alignment.
• Contribute to thought leadership and trend-based initiatives.
• Drive internal capability building through convergence training and AI-led upskilling.

Skills

Media strategy

Brand planning

Data-driven planning

Audience insights

Stakeholder management

Presentation skills

Job description

Job Title: Assistant Manager- Strategic Planning

Role Overview:

We are looking for a strategic thinker who can help build meaningful brands by leveraging the most effective media to create impactful and engaging media experiences. The role involves leading strategy and communications for marquee brands, while driving data-led, consumer-first planning frameworks.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead strategy and communications for marquee brands, crafting market-specific and impactful media solutions.
• Drive strategic planning, annual operating plans (AOPs), and high-impact pitches across multiple categories.
• Build and implement data-led, consumer-first planning frameworks by integrating audience behavior, market data, and media signals to guide decision-making.
• Uncover key consumer insights through market research, ensuring planning is rooted in real consumer behavior.
• Play a key role in new business development, contributing to strategic storytelling and leading pitch presentations to drive agency growth.
• Collaborate closely with media, creative, and cross-market teams to ensure seamless alignment from strategy to execution.
• Contribute to thought leadership initiatives, including trend-based work (e.g., Gen Alpha, Trends 2025), and strengthen the agency’s strategic narrative.
• Drive internal capability building through Converged training across teams, improving pitch processes, and enabling upskilling through AI and strategy certifications.

Key Skills & Requirements:

• Strong experience in media strategy, brand planning, and integrated communications.
• Proven ability to lead strategic planning and new business pitches.
• Expertise in data-driven planning and audience-centric strategy development.
• Strong understanding of market research and consumer behavior insights.
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Strong communication, storytelling, and presentation skills.

What Success Looks Like:

• Delivering impactful, insight-led media strategies for leading brands.
• Driving successful new business pitches and contributing to agency growth.
• Building scalable, data-driven planning frameworks aligned with business outcomes.
• Strengthening internal capabilities and fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.