Strategic Planner

Publicis Commerce; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 54,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid family care

Adoption support

Pet adoption support

Health & wellness reimbursements

Tuition assistance

Flexible time off

Work from anywhere program

Matching gifts

Job summary

Publicis Commerce in Chicago is seeking a Strategic Planner to join a major consumer goods client. This hybrid role requires you to reside within commutable distance to Detroit, New York or Chicago and collaborate with client and internal teams on annual planning and brand stewardship.

You will translate shopper insights into actionable strategies, craft compelling briefs, and support new business efforts, with ample opportunity to influence creative direction and present findings to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 1+ years in marketing or marketing communications.
• Qualitative research or ethnography experience.
• Strong analytical and presentation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Collaborative team player with initiative.

Responsibilities

• Serve as strategic liaison with internal and client teams for annual planning, program development, and brand stewardship.
• Assess and interpret consumer or shopper understanding; identify needs and gaps.
• Provide consumer and shopper insights, incl. shopping and buying behavior; conduct primary/secondary research.
• Influence creative strategy using insights.
• Integrate insights into agency processes and cross-disciplinary teams.
• Communicate regularly with Account teams and client teams.
• Develop and deliver concise, engaging presentations and briefs.
• Identify new methodologies for qualitative/quantitative projects.
• Share thought leadership and industry ideas; contribute to new business.

Skills

Client management

Marketing experience

Qualitative research

Research methodologies

Analytical skills

Presentation skills

Interpersonal skills

Written and verbal communication

Team collaboration

Detail oriented

Bias for action

Ownership of tasks

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Company Description

About Publicis Commerce: Informed by data, our passionate team strives to deliver Hero Moments for our clients' brands in the final mile of the retail customer journey. We pride ourselves on being able to provide winning client solutions delivered across 7 core capability areas: Data & Consumer Insights; Shopper Marketing & Integrated RTM; Field Marketing; Events & Activations; Promotional, Risk, Reward & Loyalty and Retail POS Strategy.

Overview

We're looking for a Strategic Planner to work on a major consumer goods client. Candidates must reside in a commutable distance to one of our hub locations in Detroit, New York or Chicago for a hybrid work schedule.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as strategic liaison with internal and client teams for annual planning, program development, and brand stewardship across the integrated marketing mix.
• Assess and interpret existing consumer or shopper understanding; identify needs and knowledge gaps.
• Provide consumer and shopper perspectives and insights, including shopping and buying behavior, for individual projects. This includes the conducting of primary and secondary research.
• Influence creative strategy with compelling and thoughtful application of these insights.
• Be able to effectively integrate consumer and shopper insights into agency process.
• Maintain productive and regular communication with Account teams and client teams.
• Develop and deliver credible, succinct, and energetic presentations, briefs, or alternative planning deliverables that can be easily understood and acted upon.
• Identify emerging techniques and/or methodologies for qualitative projects (shopper insights, purchase motivation, consumer behavior, trend-spotting) or quantitative approaches.
• Perpetuate an understanding and utilization of Strategic Planning within cross-disciplinary teams.
• Share thought leadership pieces, new news, and industry ideas.
• Contribute to agency New Business endeavors as called upon.

Demonstrations

• Uses data to uncover insights.
• Finds and synthesizes trends and cultural fuel.
• Supports the development of and conducts primary research for either client or agency.
• Develops strategic implications.
• Drafts creative briefs and communication propositions.
• Attends internal meetings.
• Supports others across the larger planning team.
• Executes projects with excellence.
• Manages time effectively.
• Uses proprietary strategic models and tools on a regular basis.
• Continues to assist in knowledge sharing through internal communication events, training, and other written materials.

Skillsets Required

A bachelor’s degree (recognized internationally) plus:

• Previous professional service experience with client contact and project management.
• 1 plus years of experience in marketing or marketing communications.
• Qualitative research or ethnography experience.
• Baseline understanding of research academics and methodologies.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Strong intuitive skills.
• Ability to inspire creative process.
• Ability to recognize and develop creative ideas.
• Professional presentation skills.
• Solid interpersonal skills.
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal).
• Collaborative – strong team working skills but also a self-starter.
• Organized and detail-oriented – must demonstrate attention to detail and ability to handle multiple. tasks/projects
• Bias for action and implementation.
• Positive attitude towards the role, the department, agency, and its clients.
• Positive professional team player who takes ownership of tasks and who seeks and accepts other responsibilities.

Additional Information

Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more

Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility

Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption

Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance

Tuition Assistance

Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more

Matching Gifts programs

Flexible working arrangements

'Work Your World' Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility)

Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances

The benefits offerings listed are available to eligible U.S. Based employees, are reviewed on an annual basis, and are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents.

We also offer medical and voluntary benefits to our freelancers and temporary employees. Voluntary benefit options include supplemental medical insurance, transportation, and parking benefits, legal benefits, pet insurance, and auto and home insurance. You must be actively employed for 90 consecutive calendar days in order to be eligible for Publicis medical and voluntary benefits.

Publicis Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.

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 $53,960.00 - USD $79,794.00/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 12/1/2026.