Associate Director, Media Planning & Strategy

Company description Starcom is the world's first standalone media agency, a storied innovator that continues to lead the way for many of the world's best brands.Starcom has long been the professional birthplace and proving ground for marketing leaders – CEOs, CMOs, sales leaders, and technology pioneers – and we continue to drive the industry with peerless talent and relentless innovation.From the start, we've known that achieving growth for our clients requires understanding and connecting with real people where they live and work, in ways they value.In an AI era, we remain "Guided By Humanity," a phrase that describes our foundational belief that human expertise must remain in the driver's seat, supported by the best processes and technology.With our proprietary capabilities and Publicis Media's industry-leading resources and clout, we create ideas that move people and drive transformative business outcomes for brands.Overview The Associate Director, Planning oversees a media planning team and manages cross-media strategy and planning campaigns. The Associate Director owns planning activities for complex or large spend campaigns, and is responsible for generating strategic insights while driving learnings across the full suite of the client's activities.The ideal candidate for this position will be a thoughtful decision maker and team player who loves data and has the proven ability to lead strategic planning initiatives including deck writing, budget and channel allocation and audience development. This is an energetic, collaborative team that partners with an analytics‑driven client to provide guidance as they continue to grow and evolve their brand.Responsibilities Strategize with internal directors and client to develop innovative, well‑targeted marketing solutionsInterface with clients and partner agencies to build strategic communication plans for targeted audiencesReview client deliverables for quality, ensuring that recommendations and work product are sound and viableOwn the development of strategic proposals and client facing POVs, coordinating with necessary teams to account for all relevant inputsAssume accountability and ownership of campaign planning for assigned client accountsEmbrace and encourage a culture based on teamwork, collaboration, and supportDevelop best practices for improving communication and collaboration within the team and the groupLead knowledge share sessions to share and learn new strategies for optimizing and enhancing campaign performanceCollaborate and foster relationships with key partners including clients, internal teams, and leadershipLead strategic planning initiatives including deckwriting, budget and channel allocation, and audience developmentServe as escalation point for teams to help troubleshootissuesSupport development of strategic approach and experience design by delivering channel ideas and providing the link to reality of historical performance and in‑market opportunitiesResponsible for management and development of Associates, Senior Associates, and SupervisorsQualifications Bachelor's degree preferred, preferably with a concentration in marketing, advertising, communications, business, sociology, or consumer insights5+ years of experience in media planning/strategy experience across media channelsPrevious team management experienceStrong digital media experience preferredResourceful, curious, and motivated individual with an ability to work independently as well as in a team settingAbility to manage timelines, projects and personnel within direct report team and across cross‑functional teamsProven experience in successfully managing multiple work streams at one timeStrong organizational, communication, and time‑management skillsExcellent presentation skills to effectively lead meetings in‑person with key clientsDetail‑oriented with the ability to multi‑task and manage priorities and deadlines in a fast‑paced environmentProficiency in Microsoft Office Suite with strong understanding of Excel and PowerPointExperience working within media systems/platforms (Kantar, MOAT, Prisma, ComScore etc.)Benefits Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or moreMonetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and FertilityMonetary assistance and support for pet adoptionEmployee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balanceTuition AssistancePaid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and moreMatching Gifts programsFlexible working arrangementsWork 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 alliancesEqual Employment Opportunity Starcom 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.All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.Compensation Range Compensation Range: USD $97,375.00 – USD $155,961.00/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. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility 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 8/23/2026.#J-18808-Ljbffr