Associate Director - Creative & Influencer Strategy

Publicis Groupe; Mumbai; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Publicis Groupe in India seeks an experienced leader to drive influencer-led thinking for key brands, bridging creative ideation, culture, and strategic planning to deliver relevance, impact, and business outcomes.

This client-facing role defines influencer strategy across launches, campaigns, and always-on programs, shaping narratives and ecosystems while guiding senior stakeholders with clear, credible recommendations.

Qualifications

• Creative and cultural thinking required to lead influencer strategy.
• Ability to translate data into actionable learnings and client-ready narratives.
• Experience presenting to senior stakeholders and front-ending client discussions.

Responsibilities

• Lead influencer strategy across campaigns, launches and always-on programs.
• Define influencer roles across the consumer journey from awareness to action.
• Develop influencer ecosystems and long-term narratives rooted in culture and brand truth.
• Own difficult scope discussions and provide sound strategic rationale.

Skills

Creative thinking

Cultural thinking

Influencer strategy

Senior stakeholder management

Strategic storytelling

Education

Bachelor's in Marketing/Communications/Advertising

Postgraduate cert in Marketing or Digital Strategy

Job description

We are looking for someone with Creative & Influencer Strategy to lead influencer-led thinking for key brands and front-end senior client stakeholders. This role sits at the intersection of creative ideation, cultural understanding, market insights and strategic planning, and is responsible for shaping how brands use creators and influencer ecosystems to drive relevance, impact, and business outcomes.

The role is client facing, opinion led, and accountable for the quality, clarity, and commercial credibility of influencer strategy presented to clients.

Campaign Design & Delivery Oversight

• Develop influencer-led creative ideas rooted in culture, platform behavior, and brand truth
• Identify cultural moments, emerging formats, and creator roles that brands can credibly participate in
• Push briefs beyond execution into clear creative territories and storytelling frameworks
• Apply strong creative judgment, knowing when restraint is the better strategic choice
• Own influencer strategy across launches, campaigns, and always-on programs
• Define the role of influencers across the consumer journey, from awareness to action
• Design influencer ecosystems and long-term narratives rather than one-off activations
• Make clear strategic trade-offs based on brand objectives, budgets, and platform realities
• Front-end clients on influencer strategy, creative direction, and performance outcomes
• Lead senior client conversations with confidence and clarity
• Own difficult discussions including scope definition, creative pushback, and strategic rationale
• Act as a trusted advisor who clients rely on for sound judgment

Measurement & Strategic Learning

• Define success metrics that reflect both creative impact and business objectives
• Translate performance data into clear, actionable strategic and creative learningsBuild strong post-campaign narratives explaining outcomes and implications

Key Outcomes / KPIs

• Quality and consistency of influencer strategies delivered
• Client satisfaction and strategic credibility
• Adoption of Influencer marketing practice frameworks across agencies
• Contribution to revenue growth and margin protection
• Successful integration of data led planning and performance models
• Build playbooks, frameworks, and best practices for Influencer marketing practice in India

Experience:

• 6 to 8 years of relevant experience in influencer marketing, social strategy, creative planning, or integrated communications
• Proven experience working with large brands and agency environments
• Demonstrated experience front ending clients and presenting to senior stakeholders

Skills:

• Creative and cultural thinking
• Acts as the primary strategic and creative influencer voice for clients, driving repeat briefs and senior stakeholder confidence.
• Delivers sharp, differentiated influencer strategies that elevate briefs beyond execution.
• Expands influencer scope within existing accounts through credible, value-led thinking.
• Makes clear, effective trade-offs that balance creative ambition with business and brand realities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Advertising, Business, or a related field
• Postgraduate degree or specialized certification in Marketing, Digital Strategy, or Brand Communication is a plus but not mandatory

Why Join Influencer marketing practice at PG?

• Opportunity to work on Publicis Groupe’s creator performance practice in India
• High visibility role with senior leadership exposure
• Ability to shape strategy, standards, and future operating models
• Work at the intersection of culture, data, media, and commerce