Director, Planning

UM Worldwide; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

UM Worldwide is seeking a Director of Planning to lead the vision and execution of integrated media strategies for premier clients in the New York area.

You will guide cross-functional teams, ensure strong client relationships, and drive performance through data-informed decision-making, working across Search, Social, Programmatic and other channels.

Qualifications

• 6–8 years of experience in integrated planning, with leadership responsibilities.
• Proven ability to mentor and develop mid-to-senior team members.
• Strong understanding of cross-channel media planning and performance metrics.

Responsibilities

• Translate client objectives into actionable media plans and KPIs.
• Lead and mentor planning team; oversee ideation, presentation, and execution.
• Manage multiple campaigns across channels; coordinate with SBUs and partners.
• Collaborate with strategy and analytics to define data strategies for growth.
• Ensure plans meet KPI targets and maximize budget utilization.

Skills

Media Planning

Team Leadership

Presentation Skills

Client Relations

Strategic Thinking

Job description

If you are looking for a people-first organization that can offer you the career you crave, UM is your home. We are the destination of choice for the world’s best talent, where every individual is empowered to unleash their limitless potential and do the best work of their careers.

We are always searching for passionate team members who love media and live and breathe our core values of Curiosity, Courage, and Community. We seek out those who aren’t afraid to ask the tough questions, are excited to explore the nuances, and are hungry for personal growth and continuous learning. People who thrive at UM are collaborators by nature who pursue diverse perspectives because they understand that true innovation is driven by inclusivity. As a people-first agency, we provide the information, tools and technology, career development, and empowerment our people need to realize their potential and achieve their career ambitions.

A global media network within the IPG Mediabrands family, UM operates in over 100 countries, with 3,000+ people innovating on a roster of powerful brands and our client campaigns have been recognized by the industry’s most competitive global showcases like Cannes Lions, Festival of Media Global, and WARC.

As a result of our people-first commitment, UM has been celebrated as a FORTUNE Best Workplace in Advertising & Marketing in the US, a Campaign Best Place to Work in EMEA, a Campaign Asia Diverse & Inclusive Workplace in APAC, a top 3 agency in LATAM by The Effies, and ranked the number one agency in both Canada and MENAT by RECMA.

Position Summary

As Director, Planning, you’ll support the vision and strategic plan for the account, ensuring success across Work Quality, Client Relationships, Financials, and Team Health. You’ll play a key role in planning and executing media strategies integral to their business success and launch industry-leading work that propels the business forward.

Responsibilities

• Understand client objectives and ensure translation into actionable and measurable media objectives, strategies, and plan KPIs.
• Manage and provide team leadership to the media plan process, including ideation formation, presentation, and implementation.
• Manage multiple campaigns at a time across multiple channels when needed.
• Manage the integration and partnership of internal cross functional SBU partners across client’s business as appropriate.
• Work with SBU partners to ensure strategic alignment with performance-based campaigns (Search/Social/Programmatic).
• Lead relationships with SBU’s, client agencies and internal teams to evaluate and select the right partners for investment.
• Work closely with strategy and analytics to identify appropriate data strategies to promote growth.
• Ensure plans deliver upon KPI’s by providing measurement touch bases throughout the campaigns.
• Ensure full budget utilization, tracking and stewardship across all reporting markets – based on client specific needs.
• Responsible and accountable to the implementation of media plan and deliverables, driving relationship with internal teams and partners including strategy, buying, analytics and SBUs

Required Skills & Experience

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
• High level of comfort presenting to all levels of clients and internal senior management
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Thrives in fast paced environment; nimble, flexible, and solution-oriented
• Solid awareness of industry trends and planning/measurement models
• Ability to incorporate agency tools/practices/products

Desired Skills & Experience

• 6-8 years of experience within integrated planning; 3+ years as a people manager
• Collaborative mindset; effective at communicating across multiple departments (client, broadcast buying team, analytics team, OOH team, etc.)
• Prioritizes mentorship and career development of team
• Proven track record with client relations and growing existing business
• Prior experience work on a quick service restaurant brand