Director, Planning

Job Description:

The Director, Integrated Planning’s role is managerial, but also one of agency leadership.  The role of the Director, Integrated Planning is to own the relationship with Brand Management and partner agencies – the key sources of business problem/opportunities for which communication planning ideas can be solutions.  The Director demonstrates the ability to design and drive programs (not just strategies) that improve sales performance of the brand.  This person is directly responsible for the holistic communication plan and design aspects for the assigned accounts. The Director also provides strategic direction for assigned accounts and should understand all aspects of their client’s business as well as the overall technology/competitive landscape.

The Director may own a planning group and their responsibility may extend from complete oversight of assigned clients, to staff management and development.  This person sets the working style for the group and is responsible for the integrated planning work and operations for assigned accounts across multiple media channels.  The Director, Integrated Planning cultivates client media relationships at all levels.  They are also active in the media community – sitting on panels and other public opportunities.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

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 – (DDS, Tempo – additional as needed)

• Assists with evaluation of new tools and technologies

• 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

• 8-10 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

• Proven leadership ability – managed 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

Additional Information

At dentsu, we believe great work happens when we’re connected. Our way of working combines flexibility with in-person collaboration to spark ideas and strengthen our teams. Employees who live within a commutable distance of one of our hub offices, currently located in Chicago, metro Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York City, are required and expected to work from the office three days per week (two days per week for employees based in Los Angeles). Dentsu may designate other Hub offices at any time. Those who live outside a commutable range may be designated as remote, depending on the role and business needs. Regardless of your work location, we expect our employees to be flexible to meet the needs of our Company and clients, which may include attendance in an office.

The annual salary range for this position is $94,000 - $152,375. Placement within the salary range is based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and other factors permitted by law.

Benefits available with this position include:

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance,

• Life insurance,

• Short-term and long-term disability insurance,

• 401k,

• Flexible paid time off,

• At least 15 paid holidays per year,

• Paid sick and safe leave, and

• Paid parental leave.

Dentsu also complies with applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies. For further details regarding Dentsu benefits, please visit www.dentsubenefitsplus.com.

To begin the application process, please click on the “Apply” button at the top of this job posting. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and qualified candidates will be contacted for next steps.

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