Director, Client Media Strategy & Planning

Publicis Groupe Holdings B.V; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 129,000 - 186,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Family Care

Adoption, Surrogacy & Fertility aid

Pet adoption support

Wellness reimbursements

Tuition Assistance

Flexible time off

Matching gifts

Work Your World program

Diversity Resource Groups

Job summary

Starcom, part of Publicis Groupe, in Chicago, seeks a Director to oversee strategy across media campaigns. You will lead client relationships, guide the brand's media thinking, and mentor teams, while partnering with analytics and investment teams to drive growth and program excellence.

Candidates bring 7+ years in media and 5+ years of leadership, with strong analytics, storytelling, and negotiation skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, preferably with a concentration in marketing, advertising, communications, business, sociology, or consumer insights
• 7+ years of media experience
• 5+ years of management experience
• Ability to strategically plan campaigns from audience determination, ability to best flight and execute campaigns to align with client's strategic goals and KPIs
• Strong understanding of analytics to inform and validate planning and strategy
• History of identifying media opportunities, presenting them to clients, and executing
• Experience monitoring and recommending improvements to the entire media planning process
• Ensuring people are adopting the best in class tools, techniques, systems to deliver effective media processes
• Portfolio management of paid media for a large brand
• Excellent communication (written and verbal along with visual storytelling), diplomacy, and relationship building and decision making skills with the ability to think creatively

Responsibilities

• Maintain an in-depth knowledge of current media industry news and brand business (current and historical perspectives) with a focus on upstream initiatives
• Ensure the team delivers sound strategic media recommendations based on a clear understanding of brand objectives
• Lead the team and day-to-day client interaction and build, maintain, and grow client relationships and client business
• Apply their experience to elevate strategic thinking across the portfolio and set appropriate learning agenda elements
• Write and deliver strategies and POV’s as well as oversee the translation of these strategies into the final audience recommendations/plans
• Work with analytics and research teams to identify/apply learnings and the investment and operations teams to ensure flawless implementation
• Analyze client’s audience strategiesand work with internal groups to lead business case development
• Facilitate team building through collaboration, open communication, and focused project management to assure that assignments are executed in a timely manner
• Provide vision, direction, management and support to individuals within the team to ensure their work aligns with our mission and goals
• Demonstrate a deep technical understanding as well as problem solving and intervention when necessary

Skills

Media strategy

Client relationships

Team leadership

Analytics understanding

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in marketing/advertising/communications/business/sociology/consumer insights

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.

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 Director oversees the strategy of all media campaigns across channels. This person is a leader who contributes to the brand strategy and builds solid relationships with clients and internal teams across all levels and functions. As the day-to-day point of contact for senior-level partners, the Director facilitates ongoing education for internal teams and clients, identifies new revenue growth opportunities, and provides team management and strategic insight.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an in-depth knowledge of current media industry news and brand business (current and historical perspectives) with a focus on upstream initiatives
• Ensure the team delivers sound strategic media recommendations based on a clear understanding of brand objectives
• Lead the team and day-to-day client interaction and build, maintain, and grow client relationships and client business
• Apply their experience to elevate strategic thinking across the portfolio and set appropriate learning agenda elements
• Write and deliver strategies and POV’s as well as oversee the translation of these strategies into the final audience recommendations/plans
• Work with analytics and research teams to identify/apply learnings and the investment and operations teams to ensure flawless implementation
• Analyze client’s audience strategiesand work with internal groups to lead business case development
• Facilitate team building through collaboration, open communication, and focused project management to assure that assignments are executed in a timely manner
• Provide vision, direction, management and support to individuals within the team to ensure their work aligns with our mission and goals
• Demonstrate a deep technical understanding as well as problem solving and intervention when necessary

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, preferably with a concentration in marketing, advertising, communications, business, sociology, or consumer insights
• 7+ years of media experience
• 5+ years of management experience
• Ability to strategically plan campaigns from audience determination, ability to best flight and execute campaigns to align with client's strategic goals and KPIs
• Strong understanding of analytics to inform and validate planning and strategy
• History of identifying media opportunities, presenting them to clients, and executing
• Experience monitoring and recommending improvements to the entire media planning process
• Ensuring people are adopting the best in class tools, techniques, systems to deliver effective media processes
• Portfolio management of paid media for a large brand
• Excellent communication (written and verbal along with visual storytelling), diplomacy, and relationship building and decision making skills with the ability to think creatively

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.

The Power of One starts with our people! To do powerful things, we offer powerful resources. Our best-in-class wellness and benefits offerings include:

• 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 $129,485.00 - USD $186,060.00/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 11/21/2026.