Strategic Media Planning Lead - Budgets & Audiences

Starcom Melbourne; New York (NY); On-site; USD 97,375 - 155,961; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Family Care

Fertility support

Adoption assistance

Work from anywhere program

Tuition Assistance

Job summary

Starcom is seeking an Associate Director, Planning to lead a media planning team and guide cross-media strategy for large-spend campaigns. You will own planning activities, develop strategic insights, and drive learnings across the client’s activities.

The role requires thoughtful decision making, data-driven collaboration, and excellence in presenting to key clients. You will manage Associates through Supervisors and shape best practices in team communication and performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, preferably with a concentration in marketing, advertising, communications, business, sociology, or consumer insights.
• 5+ years of experience in media planning/strategy across media channels.
• Previous team management experience.
• Strong digital media experience preferred.
• Resourceful, curious, and motivated individual with an ability to work independently as well as in a team setting.
• 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‑paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite with strong understanding of Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience working within media systems/platforms (Kantar, MOAT, Prisma, ComScore, etc.)

Responsibilities

• Strategize with internal directors and the 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 all relevant 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 deck writing, 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 providing the link to reality of historical performance and in‑market opportunities.
• Responsible for management and development of Associates, Senior Associates, and Supervisors

Skills

Media planning experience

Team management

Digital media

Project management

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Kantar

MOAT

Prisma

ComScore

Job description

Starcom is seeking an Associate Director, Planning to lead a media planning team and guide cross-media strategy for large-spend campaigns. You will own planning activities, develop strategic insights, and drive learnings across the client’s activities.

The role requires thoughtful decision making, data-driven collaboration, and excellence in presenting to key clients. You will manage Associates through Supervisors and shape best practices in team communication and performance.