Group Director, Planning

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

Integrated Planning: 

• Responsible for total management of a given brand’s business (both traditional and digital) throughout the entire strategic, planning, and implementation process 

• Accountable for all communication and media deliverables; maintain status report as demonstration of this and for client and internal management effectiveness 

• Translate strategy statement into ideas and actions; expand communications planning influence beyond Context Strategies and communications plans into orchestrated marketing tactics that deliver on stated goals using agreed to marketing and communications strategies 

• Lead or co-lead with Strategy Director in strategic positioning, segmentation initiatives and in areas of holistic program planning and communications idea generation/execution.  Use Group Director, Integrated Planning strategically to broaden perspective or sharpen selling power 

• Create coherent communications plan (appropriate channels, suitable mix) based on all info available (sales, MMM, METT, publicly available info, etc.) – not just receptivity data 

• Oversee strategic implementation and measurement/optimization of communication plans; create projects that are critical to each brand’s marketing and learning plans and be the point-person on strategic and broader implementation questions (leverage management strength of team to implement media plan specifics) 

• Earn shared leadership role with creative agency in holistic brand management and marketing planning process, including new product development, positioning concepts, segmentation, marketing planning, creative execution, message distribution, measurement, and optimization 

• Brief partner agencies on strategic implementation needs and roles of specific communication channels; use specific examples that relate to your brands, retail environments, and competitive set with real or estimated metrics for success to help clients and other partner agencies understand how to communications strategy comes to life in the communications plan 

• Work with internal & external teams to ensure that strategic themes and communications plans are implemented faithfully; provide critical leadership in helping others on the team understand how strategies and plans impact sales and ensure output is in synch with the business goals 

• Build and sustain strong client relationships-attending client meetings and maintaining regular contact; contact frequency, depth of understanding of client business and effectiveness in selling recommendations are typically related especially in first 12 months on account 

• Partner and support Strategy Director  

• Collaborate with Group Director, Integrated Planning in creating and negotiating yearly client contracts and supplemental proposals and manage account profitability  

Client & Internal Relationships: 

• Build trusting collaborative relationships with clients of all levels 

• Maintain senior client relationships 

• Manage expectations of clients and deliverables 

• Stay on top of business and client concerns to head off issues early 

• Accurately represents the client’s point of view when reviewing work, leverage this perspective when providing feedback to team and presenting to client, ultimately focused on doing the best work for the Client’s business 

• Invest time to investigate opportunities for providing better Client support  

• Ensure collaboration among all Agency departments; fosters great teamwork 

• Include agency executives in appropriate client meetings 

• Provide appropriate management updates and solicit feedback and direction when appropriate  

• Participate and present in New Business efforts and presentations, where appropriate 

Strategic Thinking & Leadership: 

• Demonstrate a keen knowledge of client brands, brands equity, consumer definition and motivations 

• Lead and contribute to the development of strategic and tactical communications plans   

• Articulate effective strategic rationale and logic flow 

• Develop specific, measurable client business objectives 

• Develop strategies and tactics by media discipline, where appropriate 

• Ensure key information is provided to team regarding client issues, internal agency issues, changes in account status, etc. 

• Respond appropriately when presented with problems and issues 

• Seek lasting solutions rather than quick fixes 

• Ensure group is properly trained on all internal procedures, best practices and Media tools

• Assists with evaluation of new tools, technologies, and AI capabilities

• Evaluate media/communication opportunities and provide sound recommendations as appropriate 

• Ensure appropriate staff utilization 

• Train, motivate, develop and lead a media planning team 

• Construct and deliver accurate, honest and timely performance management documents 

Communication Skills: 

• Encourage open, ongoing internal communication 

• Establish and maintain communications process with clients, media buying AOR, creative, etc. for each piece of business within the team 

• Develop client presentations and other important communication; communication that is clear, compelling and persuasive 

• Lead client presentations 

• Adapt communication style to relevant audience 

• Link communication to audience’s concerns and perspectives 

• Move  audience to desired action through clear and persuasive delivery of information  

• Communicate key information about our company 

EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED 

• Bachelor’s degree 

• 11+ years of experience in media and brand management (integrated experience ideal), experience  should include progressive client management experience  

• Deep knowledge and experience with multi-channel marketing 

• Strong client service experience working on major brands ideally in the Beverage, Alcohol, CPG spaces

• Experience managing a team of planners, supervisors and associate directors 

• Proven ability to interact with people at all levels of an organization, fostering strong cross-functional teamwork and results 

• Strategic thinking ability with balanced analytical and creative approach to tactical planning  

• Experience successfully bringing together people from different disciplines, internal and external to achieve desired outcomes   

• Understanding of multiple communications channels and their role in brand marketing 

• Research experience 

• Commitment to delivering creative solutions, and the ability to align team members behind creative solutions 

• High-level proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook 

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