Associate Director, Global Media

Starcom; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 107,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Flexible working arrangements

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) matching

Wellness programs

Employee assistance programs

Job summary

Starcom in Chicago seeks an Associate Director, Global Media to shape and activate global paid media strategy for a global client team. You will translate priorities into practical guidance for regional teams and manage cross-market workstreams to ensure high-quality delivery.

You will lead partnerships, collaborate with CRM/owned media, and use data to inform recommendations for campaigns across markets. Strong leadership and presentation skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in media planning and/or strategy with global or multi-market exposure.
• 2+ years leading or mentoring team members across global, regional, and local structures.
• Agency experience in a large, integrated environment.
• Experience contributing to pitches and growth opportunities with strategic recommendations.
• Experience across national, local, digital, direct, programmatic, and social media channels.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation, organizational, interpersonal, and analytical skills.
• Ability to translate data into actionable takeaways for clients and internal teams.
• Demonstrated leadership and collaboration skills, guiding teams without direct authority.

Responsibilities

• Maintain knowledge of the global media landscape and regional developments across priority markets.
• Develop global media recommendations aligning brand objectives with regional/local priorities.
• Manage global media workstreams from briefing to delivery across markets.
• Identify marketplace developments and ideas to share across markets.
• Use analytics insights to derive cross-market learnings and advise campaigns and partner discussions.
• Support development and management of global joint business partnerships (JBPs).
• Build relationships with markets across Publicis' global media network and coordinate with cross-capability leads.
• Mentor team members and ensure high-quality execution and deadlines.
• Support new business and growth by contributing research and strategic materials for global opportunities.

Skills

Media planning

Strategy development

Global experience

Team leadership

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

Company Description

Starcom is the world's first standalone media agency, a storied innovator that continues to lead the way for many of the world's best brands.

Company Description

Starcom is the world's first standalone media agency, a storied innovator that continues to lead the way for many of the world's best brands.

Starcom has long been the professional birthplace and proving ground for marketing leaders – CEOs, CMOs, sales leaders, and technology pioneers – and we continue to drive the industry with peerless talent and relentless innovation.

From the start, we've known that achieving growth for our clients requires understanding and connecting with real people where they live and work, in ways they value.

In an AI era, we remain ""Guided By Humanity,"" a phrase that describes our foundational belief that human expertise must remain in the driver's seat, supported by the best processes and technology.

With our proprietary capabilities and Publicis Media's industry-leading resources and clout, we create ideas that move people and drive transformative business outcomes for brands.

Overview

The Associate Director, Global Media will support the development and activation of global paid media strategy, investment approaches, and partner relationships for a global client team. Working closely with senior global media leadership, this role will translate global priorities into practical guidance for regional and local teams, coordinate cross-market initiatives, and help turn shifts in consumer behavior, technology, and the media marketplace into clear, actionable recommendations. The Associate Director will also manage key workstreams and team members, helping ensure consistent, high-quality delivery across market

Responsibilities

• Maintain strong knowledge of the global media landscape, regional industry developments, and the brand's business across priority markets.
• Develop global media recommendations that connect brand objectives with regional priorities and local market considerations, with guidance from senior media leadership.
• Manage assigned global media workstreams from briefing through delivery, coordinating inputs, timelines, and follow-up across global, regional, and local teams.
• Contribute to the team's innovation and thought leadership agenda by identifying relevant marketplace developments, emerging capabilities, and ideas that can be shared across markets.
• Use reporting and insights from analytics teams to identify cross-market learnings and translate them into actionable recommendations for campaigns and partner discussions.
• Support the development and ongoing management of global joint business partnerships (JBPs), including preparation, coordination, documentation, and follow-through with internal and external stakeholders.
• Build productive relationships with key markets across Publicis' global media network, helping identify opportunities, resolve day-to-day challenges, and maintain alignment with global priorities.
• Partner with cross-capability leads, including CRM and owned media teams, to support connected media planning and activation.
• Develop trusted day-to-day client relationships, communicate recommendations clearly, and identify opportunities for stronger collaboration across teams.
• Apply a solid technical understanding of media platforms and market-specific capabilities to troubleshoot issues, evaluate options, and elevate complex matters when appropriate.
• Collaborate with the client's Integrated Agency Team (IAT), including Publicis and non-Publicis partners, to support constructive working relationships and integrated delivery.
• Manage and mentor team members, providing clear direction, feedback, and development support while maintaining accountability for quality and deadlines.
• Support new business and organic growth efforts by contributing research, strategic thinking, and presentation materials for global or multi-market opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred, ideally with a concentration in marketing, advertising, communications, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in media planning and/or strategy with progressive responsibility, including exposure to global or multi-market work across paid media strategy and investment.
• 2+ years of experience managing or formally mentoring team members, with the ability to coordinate work across global, regional, and local agency structures.
• Agency experience preferred, especially within a large, integrated, or multi-agency environment.
• Experience contributing to pitches or growth opportunities, including the development of strategic recommendations and presentation materials for global or multi-market clients.
• Experience across multiple media channels, such as national, local, digital, direct, programmatic, and social, with a strong understanding of major media partners and platform capabilities.
• Ability to assess changing client and market needs, adjust priorities, and coordinate resources while maintaining alignment with broader global direction.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation, organizational, interpersonal, and analytical skills, including the ability to work effectively across cultures and stakeholder groups.
• Ability to translate data and insights into clear, actionable takeaways for clients and internal teams.
• Demonstrated leadership and collaboration skills, with the ability to guide teams, influence stakeholders, and drive high-quality execution without relying on direct authority.

Additional Information

Starcom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.

Benefits

• Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more
• Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility
• Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption
• Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance
• Tuition Assistance
• Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more
• Matching Gifts programs
• Flexible working arrangements
• 'Work Your World’ Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility)
• Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances

The benefits offerings listed are available to U.S. based employees, are reviewed on an annual basis, and are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents.

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact [e-mail].

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

Compensation Range: USD $106,780.00 - USD $153,405.00/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. 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 1/11/2027.