Client Strategy Director

PMG; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Annual Bonus

Retirement Plans

Parental Leave

Commuter Benefits

Career Development

Job summary

PMG in Chicago seeks a Director in Client Strategy to lead cross-functional teams and shape data-driven, full-funnel media plans that align with brand goals. You will manage client relationships, forecast budgets, and guide strategic decisions with senior partners.

You will mentor a growing team, collaborate with analytics, creative, and tech leads, and drive outcomes through thoughtful planning, performance reviews, and regular client-facing updates.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Client Strategy with leadership experience.
• Ability to translate market insights into actionable strategic frameworks.
• Proven track record managing complex client relationships and executive conversations.

Responsibilities

• Design and guide full-funnel media plans aligned with client goals.
• Lead budget forecasting and optimize spend to achieve KPIs.
• Mentor a team of media professionals and drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with analytics, creative, and tech leads to deliver cohesive strategies.
• Produce client-ready reports and dashboards highlighting insights.

Skills

Strategic planning

Leadership

Client relationship management

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience

Job description

We are PMG

PMG, a global independent platform company engineered for impact, integrates business strategy, media, creative, and data within a single operating model powered by our proprietary operating system, Alli. With more than 1,000 employees, PMG partners with brands including Apple, Nike, Dropbox, Experian, Sephora, and Whole Foods. Our work has earned top industry honors, including Cannes Lions and Adweek's Media Plan of the Year, and PMG has won 40+ workplace culture awards, including being the only company to rank among Ad Age's Best Places to Work for 11 consecutive years.

Who You Will Be Working With

At PMG, our Client Strategy team plays a key role in shaping the media strategies that help brands grow, evolve, and connect meaningfully with their audiences. We're not just managing campaigns- we’re working at the intersection of business insight, media planning, and cross-channel collaboration to deliver results that matter.

You'll partner with clients, media leads, analytics teams, and creative collaborators to design and deliver full-funnel media strategies tailored to each brand’s goals. Whether it's managing day-to-day communication, developing strategic plans, tracking campaign performance, or bringing innovative ideas to the table, your work will ensure clients feel heard, supported, and excited about what's next.

Beyond execution, you'll have the opportunity to refine internal processes, contribute to team planning, and support initiatives that push both client outcomes and agency standards forward. At PMG, we value curiosity, accountability, and creative thinking—and we believe in creating space for everyone on the team to lead, grow, and make an impact.

As a Director in Client Strategy, if you're excited about building strong client relationships, collaborating across teams, and helping brands achieve meaningful growth through smart, connected media, this is the place to do your best work.

What You Will Do

• Design and guide full-funnel media plans and recommendations, ensuring strategies align with clients' brand vision and objectives. Use past performance data and advanced planning tools to refine and strengthen strategies.
• Manage budget forecasts, optimize ad spend, and ensure results align with client KPIs. Seek growth opportunities that drive profitability through strong fiscal management and strategic insight.
• Serve as a trusted contact for clients, building relationships, deepening your understanding of their business, and proactively identifying opportunities. Ensure clear, consistent communication across all client touchpoints.
• Introduce and refine innovative media strategies to improve client outcomes and streamline internal operations, always focused on enhancing efficiency and effectiveness.
• Lead the creation, presentation, and regular updates of media plans and deliverables, showcasing thought leadership in client interactions and using tools like Keynote and PowerPoint for engaging presentations.
• Act as the bridge between clients, internal teams, and external partners. Advocate for client needs while optimizing team operations to drive cohesive, omnichannel media strategies.
• Oversee budget planning and forecasting, collaborating with media teams to keep investments flexible, well-aligned, and geared toward client performance goals.
• Mentor and support a team of media professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and proactive solutions. Ensure alignment with best practices and media standards.
• Drive project excellence by managing timelines, go-to-market strategies, and team priorities. Implement efficient systems to support timely delivery of client goals.
• Resolve challenges that impact team performance or client expectations, offering actionable feedback and encouraging a growth-oriented, adaptable team culture.
• Collaborate with media and analytics teams to create insightful reports and dashboards that drive data-informed recommendations aligned with client objectives.
• Oversee the performance of omnichannel campaigns, managing budget allocation, recommending improvements, and addressing issues in real-time.
• Ensure client reporting deliverables align with their learning agenda and broader business objectives, delivering value and insights across media channels.
• Lead test-and-learn initiatives, share results, and facilitate incrementality testing to support ongoing improvement.
• Stay ahead of industry trends, new platforms, and technological developments, proactively offering recommendations to support client innovation and growth.
• Deeply understand each client’s business by analyzing their industry, target audiences, competitors, and unique selling points, providing strategic insights that align with their goals.

What You Will Bring

• 10+ years of experience in Client Strategy, including 5+ years of leadership experience, with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• Lead strategic planning across key accounts, connecting business goals with integrated media, creative, and data strategies that drive measurable results.
• Bring deep expertise in translating market trends, brand insights, and performance data into clear, actionable strategic frameworks.
• You are skilled at managing complex client relationships, guiding executive-level conversations, and influencing long-term brand and media decisions.
• Shape and present strategic narratives that align internal teams and inspire client confidence, translating complexity into clarity.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with creative, media, analytics, and tech leads to ensure aligned execution and strategic consistency.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire high-performing teams, fostering collaboration, creativity, and growth.
• Balance vision with operational excellence, ensuring strategic recommendations are actionable, scalable, and aligned with business outcomes.
• A commitment to curiosity and adaptability as a Continual Learner, staying at the front-of-the-line of media innovation while prioritizing client success with a Customer-Focused mindset that seeks opportunities to deliver meaningful value.
• A dedication to People-Focused leadership, fostering collaboration, innovation, and professional growth by leading by example and nurturing strong relationships that empower others to excel.

What We Offer

• Professional Development: Take advantage of our learning and development programs, mentorship opportunities, and career advancement support.
• Generous Time Off: Enjoy generous paid time off and holiday allowances to recharge and spend time with loved ones.
• Parental Leave: We provide paid parental leave to support your family during important life events.
• Retirement & Pension Plans: Plan for your future with competitive retirement or pension programs, including contribution matching.
• Fertility and Family Support: Access fertility benefits for all team members and their spouses.
• Healthcare: Coverage and support for everyday medical expenses and routine care, tailored by geography.
• Pet Insurance: Protect your pet's health and your finances.
• Lifestyle Spending Accounts: Enjoy 100% company-funded accounts to promote healthy habits and well-being.
• Commuter Benefits: Access support for travel and commuting needs, where available.
• Annual Bonus: All employees are eligible for an annual bonus.
• Volunteering Opportunities: Receive 8 give-back hours to volunteer in your local communities.
• AI Enterprise License: Access AI Enterprise accounts and participate in weekly AI training sessions to empower and ensure AI safety.

Benefits vary by country, location, and geography to reflect local laws, norms, and expectations.

What Sets Us Apart

Being part of PMG means joining a company culture that’s unmatched in digital. We're dedicated to working hard to serve our employees and clients, delivering value, results, and innovation- which often requires true grit and agility. We believe in taking care of ourselves and each other to continuously improve in every way.

In alignment with our core values to be inclusive and always change for the better, PMG is committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We believe that we only change for the better by bringing diverse perspectives to our company.

PMG recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.