Specialist, Digital Strategy & Activation

Publicis Groupe Holdings B.V; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 61,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401K

Paid time off

Job summary

Publicis Groupe Apex is seeking a Specialist to help manage media investments and campaign delivery within the Digital Strategy & Activation Team. You will work with Senior Associates and Associates on activation, pricing strategies, and performance optimization for mid-level accounts.

The role emphasizes collaboration, accurate reporting, and coordination across Salesforce, Prisma/OX, and Salesforce systems. A fast-paced, inclusive team culture and ongoing development are provided.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Basic understanding of media investment and the media landscape.
• Experience in Agency Planning/Investment, Media Sales, Consulting, and/or Media Client-Side environments.
• Working knowledge of Salesforce and Microsoft Office Suite, with advanced proficiency in Excel preferred.
• Strong media financial acumen required.

Responsibilities

• Develop campaigns leveraging partner relationships and negotiate with vendors.
• Participate in meetings with media partners and assess portfolio offerings.
• Deliver campaign management, accuracy in delivery, and client-facing media plan packaging for mid-level accounts.

Skills

Media investment

Salesforce

Excel

Communication

Teamwork

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

Job description

Company description

Apex is Publicis Groupe’s futures marketplace, leveraging Publicis capital to create risk-free, value-based investment opportunities for clients. Our industry expertise, understanding of consumer and market trends, and strategic partnerships enable Apex to deliver innovative, omnichannel solutions for clients that drive a range of marketing and business goals. Apex solutions help shape the industry, drive outcomes, and keep Publicis clients ahead of trend.

Overview

ABOUT APEX

We’re not your typical agency. In fact, we aren’t an agency at all. Rather, we are a distinct and next generation trading entity within Publicis Groupe. Furthermore, we’re experts and innovators in media, making investments today for tomorrow’s success. Our goals are rooted in providing unique and incremental benefits to Publicis Groupe clients:

1. Work across all Publicis Groupe agencies and gain exposure to the full media landscape and a diverse client portfolio.
2. Develop expertise in both Investment and Business Operations, a unique combination of skills not often found within agencies.
3. Gain hands‑on experience with digital platforms regardless of channel, with ongoing training and development opportunities.
4. Help lead the industry by identifying future‑facing opportunities, investment areas, and emerging marketing trends.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Specialist role reports to a Supervisor and is part of the Digital Strategy & Activation Team. This team works collectively to maintain a deep understanding of the evolving media landscape, make strategic investments with media partners, negotiate mutually beneficial agreements, and plan and execute media buys that drive client business and marketing objectives.

Responsibilities

ABOUT THE ROLE

The expectations for this role fall into three key categories:

1. Developing Teams & Talent

• Understand team roles, responsibilities, and workflows.
• Contribute to the training and development of Senior Associates, Associates, and billing/reconciliation team members.
• Support performance goals and development plans for Senior Associates and Associates.

2. Delivering on Our Value Proposition

• Participate in meetings with media partners and vendors.
• Maintain a strong understanding of partner portfolio offerings and identify applicable client opportunities.
• Participate in negotiations for assigned clients and campaigns.
• Understand deal structures and support the negotiation and RFP process for select mid-level accounts.
• Develop campaigns utilizing preferred partner relationships.
• Execute campaign management, delivery, and client‑facing media plan packaging for select mid-level accounts with a high degree of accuracy and independence.
• Monitor campaign performance, identify performance issues, and lead optimization discussions with partners as appropriate.
• Support campaign pricing strategies that drive client performance and overall business health.
• Assist in managing campaign delivery and performance for assigned accounts.

3. Managing Business & Operations

• Manage campaign activation, including template creation and buy entry.
• Lead RFP and post‑sale processes for select mid-level accounts.
• Serve as a first‑level quality assurance resource for Associates.
• Execute operational processes with minimal oversight and strong attention to detail.
• Participate in discrepancy resolution for assigned clients and campaigns.
• Establish expectations through clear communication with clients and vendors.
• Understand billing processes and nuances that impact planning and campaign execution.
• Own components of the RFI process, invoice reconciliation in Prisma, and approvals on the Unbilled Report for assigned accounts.
• Contribute data input and maintenance across various systems and tools.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date account information in Salesforce.
• Demonstrate proficiency across key business systems, including Microsoft Office Suite, Salesforce, Prisma/OX, and related platforms.

Qualifications

TECHNICAL SKILL REQUIREMENTS

We value diversity of thought and experience at APEX. Whether your background comes from the agency, sales, consulting, or client side, a foundational understanding of media investment is critical for success.

• 2-5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Basic understanding of media investment and the media landscape.
• Experience in Agency Planning/Investment, Media Sales, Consulting, and/or Media Client‑Side environments.
• Working knowledge of Salesforce and Microsoft Office Suite, with advanced proficiency in Excel preferred.
• Strong media financial acumen required.
• Business financial acumen preferred.

SOFT SKILL REQUIREMENTS

Technical expertise is only part of what makes someone successful at APEX. We seek individuals with high emotional intelligence and strong interpersonal skills that contribute to our culture.

• Builds strong relationships founded on trust, respect, and collaboration.
• Demonstrates a strong work ethic and commitment to exceeding expectations.
• Embraces change and adapts effectively in a dynamic environment.
• Operates with transparency and integrity.
• Leads with positivity, inclusivity, and a team‑first mindset.
• Inspires and supports those around them through strong communication and collaboration.

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].

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

Compensation Range: USD $60,800.00 - USD $84,000.00/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 10/24/2026.