Associate Director, Audience Strategy

UNAVAILABLE; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,580 - 158,865; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

401K

Flexible time off

Job summary

Spark Foundry is looking for an Audience Strategy Associate Director in Chicago to lead data-driven audience strategies. This role combines analytics, media planning, and client collaboration to enhance audience engagement.

Ideal candidates will possess a strong background in media, with 5+ years of experience and at least 2 years in a management position. Successful applicants will guide the use of audience data and collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop comprehensive strategies.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in media planning/strategy and/or ad technology.
• Experience managing a team of 2 or more direct reports.
• Familiarity with data visualization tools like Tableau and advanced Excel.

Responsibilities

• Guide audience data use for media strategies.
• Collaborate with data science teams for actionable insights.
• Build strong client relationships based on trust.

Skills

Media planning/strategy

Ad technology

Data visualization

Audience segmentation

Problem-solving skills

Project management

SQL or Python

Online Display and Video campaigns

Education

5+ years experience in media planning/strategy

2+ years team management

Tools

Tableau

Microsoft Excel

Google Analytics

Job description

Company Description

Spark Foundry was built during the most transformative time in the history of advertising and marketing. We deliver everything a traditional media agency has to offer and have grown into one of the world’s most successful agencies by helping brands evolve their marketing by leveraging identity, commerce, artificial intelligence, and more to connect with people. Transformation is part of our DNA. Spark Foundry’s start-up spirit delivers high-touch approaches and a never-ending desire to challenge the status quo. Combined with Publicis Media’s powerhouse soul leveraging connected data assets, advanced AI applications, and investment clout, we “Bring HEAT to Brands.” No other agency possesses the expertise that we do to address today’s most pressing challenges to drive business transformation through media.

Job Description

Media always starts with an audience. Audience Design is the intersection of Strategy, Data & Tech applied to drive growth on behalf of our clients and their brands. With the power of Epsilon Identity at the center, we can unleash these capabilities at massive scale at Publicis Groupe. Our team is a mix of researchers, strategists and technology experts and consultants.

The Audience Strategy Associate Director will support internal agencies and clients by leveraging data and analytics to drive audience strategy, deliver actionable insights, and enhance targeting efforts. This role will require strong analytical skills, data fluency, and collaboration with cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate will have experience in media, creative, content, and/or analytics disciplines. Knowledge of research techniques and segmentation techniques are critical. Candidates should also have applied knowledge of commonly used advertising technology.

Responsibilities

Client Responsibilities:

• Guide & drive use of audience data to impact media strategies for client account(s) based on overall objectives
• Thoroughly understands the use cases of each audience tool and when to use which based on needs
• Collaboration with Data Science: Work closely with data science teams to mine and analyze data, uncover key insights, and translate findings into actionable recommendations that support audience growth strategies
• Audience Profiling and Customer Journey Mapping: Analyze first party and third‑party data to create detailed audience profiles, uncover behavioral insights, and map customer journeys that inform strategic planning and marketing activation.
• Strong foundation in strategic and critical thinking, finding ways to innovate and collaborate with teams to improve outputs
• Cross‑Team Collaboration: Partner with agency teams across various disciplines to ensure alignment of audience strategies with broader marketing initiatives. Serve as a bridge between the Audience Insights team and partner agencies, providing data‑driven guidance and solutions.
• Successful at building strong, collaborative client relationships, instilling trust and authority on behalf of the agency
• Identify opportunities and industry learning. Meet with vendors and provide a POV with a client lens and in desired format. Educate/evangelize the findings
• Confidence, composure, and polished presentation skills to effectively attend and lead in‑person meetings with key clients

Role Objectives:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially the ability to communicate technical concepts to a non‑technical audience
• Ability to think strategically, consider the bigger picture, analyze everything and think critically when solving problems to produce unconventional solutions
• Strong project management skills and keen ability to delegate, with the capacity to successfully manage multiple workstreams at one time
• Able to take care of the day‑to‑day part of overseeing others and good at helping them grow and realize their own potential
• Flexible and able to keep up with a fast‑paced, constantly‑evolving environment
• Self‑motivation and organization are key due to coordination with multiple internal & external clients
• Manages with direction from director
• Provides input to client business‑related decisions

Management Responsibilities:

• Accountable for Manager and associate level deliverables
• Provides clear and concise direction and messages
• Has “Intellectual Capital”, understands people want to hear a point of view
• Showcases the ability to manage & mentor others
• Accountable for onboarding and team readiness

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in media planning/strategy (emphasis on digital), &/or ad technology (including previous agency side experience)
• 2+ years team managing 2+ direct reports
• Familiarity with data visualization using tools such as Tableau, R, and advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Strong understanding of audience tools (MRI, GWI, Epsilon)
• Strong understanding of digital marketing, CRM, and audience segmentation
• Excellent problem‑solving and critical‑thinking skills with the ability to interpret complex data sets
• Advanced presentation, storytelling, and project management skills
• SQL, SAS, or Python a plus
• Strong understanding of Online Display, Video and Mobile campaigns, as well as knowledge of Ad Tech platforms
• Familiarity / experience with third‑party ad serving platforms, DSPs, CDPs, 3rd Party data, pixels and Ad Servers
• Familiarity with customer acquisition goals and optimizing to CPA, CTR, Completion Rate, etc.
• Understand Web analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics)

Additional Information

Our Publicis Groupe motto “Viva La Différence” means we’re better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all that we do as an organization. We are focused on fostering belonging and creating equitable & inclusive experiences for all talent.

Publicis Groupe provides robust and inclusive benefit programs and policies to support the evolving and diverse needs of our talent and enable every person to grow and thrive. Our benefits package includes medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401K, as well as parental and family care leave, family forming assistance, tuition reimbursement, and flexible time off. If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact [e-mail].

Compensation Range: $110,580- $158,865 annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third‑party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 02/02/2026.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.