Strategic Media Planning Lead

Publicis Groupe; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Starcom in Chicago seeks an Associate Director, Planning to lead a media planning team and guide cross-media strategy for high-spend campaigns. You will own planning activities, generate insights, and partner with clients to drive growth.

The ideal candidate loves data, excels at deck writing, budgeting, and audience development, and can motivate Associates and Supervisors. Collaboration with internal teams is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in marketing, advertising, communications, business, sociology, or consumer insights.
• 5+ years of media planning/strategy experience across media channels.
• Previous team management experience.
• Strong digital media experience preferred.
• Resourceful, curious, and motivated with ability to work independently or in a team.
• Ability to manage timelines, projects and personnel within direct report team and across cross-functional teams.
• Proven experience in successfully managing multiple work streams at one time.
• Strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills.
• Excellent presentation skills to effectively lead meetings in-person with key clients.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to multi-task and manage priorities and deadlines in a fast pace environment.

Responsibilities

• Strategize with internal directors and client to develop innovative, well-targeted marketing solutions.
• Interface with clients and partner agencies to build strategic communication plans for targeted audiences.
• Review client deliverables for quality, ensuring that recommendations and work product are sound and viable.
• Own the development of strategic proposals and client facing POVs, coordinating with necessary teams to account for inputs.
• Assume accountability and ownership of campaign planning for assigned client accounts.
• Embrace and encourage a culture based on teamwork, collaboration, and support.
• Develop best practices for improving communication and collaboration within the team and the group.
• Lead knowledge share sessions to share and learn new strategies for optimizing and enhancing campaign performance.
• Collaborate and foster relationships with key partners including clients, internal teams, and leadership.
• Lead strategic planning initiatives including deckwriting, budget and channel allocation, and audience development.
• Serve as escalation point for teams to help troubleshoot issues.
• Support development of strategic approach and experience design by delivering channel ideas and insights from performance history.
• Responsible for management and development of Associates, Senior Associates, and Supervisors.

Skills

Media planning

Team leadership

Digital media

Client presentation

Project management

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Starcom in Chicago seeks an Associate Director, Planning to lead a media planning team and guide cross-media strategy for high-spend campaigns. You will own planning activities, generate insights, and partner with clients to drive growth.

The ideal candidate loves data, excels at deck writing, budgeting, and audience development, and can motivate Associates and Supervisors. Collaboration with internal teams is essential.