Director, Data & Platforms

UNAVAILABLE; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 132,715 - 190,680; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401K

Parental care leave

Tuition reimbursement

Flexible time off

Job summary

Spark Foundry is seeking a Director to lead the Audience Design team in Chicago. This role will require driving ad and marketing technology integration, guiding the use of audience data for media strategies, and managing a team of specialists. Candidates should have over 8 years of experience in digital media, strong technical skills, and the ability to articulate strategies effectively. A robust benefits package is offered, including medical, dental, and flexible time off.

Qualifications

• 8+ years experience in digital media and ad technology.
• 3+ years team managing 2+ direct reports.
• In-depth technical knowledge of ad and marketing technology.
• Strong understanding of digital media planning and management processes.
• Expert knowledge with Identity Solution tools.
• Understanding and usage of CDP.

Responsibilities

• Be an expert on audience and data-led digital advertising.
• Guide the use of audience data for media strategies.
• Explain technical concepts in ordinary terms.
• Identify opportunities and educate clients.
• Develop personalization strategy across all channels.
• Oversee relationships with CDP and data technology solutions.

Skills

Experience in digital media

Team management

Technical knowledge of ad technology

Understanding of digital media planning

Articulation of vision to clients

Expert knowledge of Identity Solution tools

Expert understanding of CDP

Data flow understanding

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

The Audience Design team is at the core of what we do at Spark Foundry. The Data & Platforms team of data and marketing technology specialists have deep expertise in the ever-changing universe of ad technology, data management, data-driven marketing, and enable a data-first strategy throughout our planning and buying process.

The Director will be integral in driving ad/mar tech and data integration conversations and strategies on behalf of our clients and then implementing these strategies with the Strategy, Activation, and Operations teams as well as clients themselves. The Director will be an expert in the data landscape and will consult with internal teams and clients on partner/vendor selection, data onboarding, platform integrations, audience activation and testing framework, and audience reporting/insights.

This highly motivated, detail-oriented individual will work with both the client and internal stakeholders to educate them on the myriad uses of data and to drive innovation in the use of data and technology for the client, think things like clean rooms, CDPs, advanced audience strategies, full-funnel measurement, etc. They will also generate insights and audience profiles to align with strategic planning and will work with third-party data vendors and publishers to maximize the data opportunity for the client and go beyond what is currently available. Successful candidates will have a well-rounded knowledge base of the digital advertising and data landscape and a passion for working with marketers to drive advertising value.

Responsibilities

• Be an in-house expert on how audience and data-led digital advertising can provide ROI for clients
• Guide and drive use of audience data to impact media strategies for client account(s) based on overall objectives
• Understand how platform/data technologies work and offer the ability to explain technical concepts in ordinary terms (be technically savvy & understand the opportunities and limitations)
• Identify opportunities and industry learning. Meet with vendors and provide a POV with a client lens and in desired format. Educate/evangelize the findings
• Develop personalization strategy across all channels - customers, prospects on mobile, desktop, client website, CRM, etc.
• Partner with internal Activation teams to support media activation as well as advanced data use cases
• Oversee relationship with CDP, Identity Resolution, and project manage the deployment and activation of these and other data technology solutions
• Share knowledge with client and internal teams regarding audience insights and results to impact business needs
• Manages team independently
• Owns client business-related decisions, with input where necessary

Client Responsibilities

• Ownership of day-to-day client relationship
• Share knowledge with client regarding audience insights and results to impact business needs
• Ability to effectively articulate vision to savvy, experienced digital clients
• Becomes involved in customer’s decision-making

Management Responsibilities

• Accountable for associate director, manager, and associate level deliverables
• Showcases the ability to manage & mentor others
• Accountable for onboarding and team readiness
• Inspires growth and innovation

Qualifications

• 8+ years experience in digital media and ad technology
• 3+ years team managing 2+ direct reports
• Manages team independently
• Owns client business-related decisions, with input where necessary
• In-depth technical knowledge of ad and marketing technology including ad servers, rich media, dynamic creative, streaming video, OBA, ad verification, data management platforms, customer data platforms, identify resolution, solutions, DSPs, etc.
• Strong understanding of digital media planning and management processes
• Ability to effectively articulate vision to savvy, experienced digital clients
• Expert knowledge and experience with Identity Solution tools (eg. Epsilon, Liveramp, Neustar)
• Expert understanding and usage of CDP (eg. Salesforce, Adobe, Treasure Data)
• Expert understanding data flow within adtech/martech ecosystem.

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

Compensation Range: $132,715- $190,680 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.

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2025-130268