Director Media Planning at GroupM in New York, NY

In this position …

The Director, Planning will be responsible for all day-to-day operations and strategic planning on a major pharmaceutical account. By focusing on why people think, feel, and act the way that they do, the Director, Planning helps create connection strategies and ideas that influence perceptions and encourage engagement with the client’s brands.

The Responsibilities

Identifying Insights

• Maintain a deep understanding of business, target audiences and wider communications environment
• Listen, identify, and articulate compelling drivers, barriers, and channel relationship insights
• Understand, embrace, and integrate client and creative agency research into plans
• Craft communications frameworks & consumer journeys along with integrated agency teams (e.g., consumer goal, barriers, drivers, tasks)

Strategic Development & Media Plan Management

• Develop role of channels, tactics, and investment recommendations across Digital, Social, Search, TV, Print, OOH, etc.
• Focus on data-informed approaches to media and campaign measurement
• Continually seek innovative and breakthrough ideas, approaches, and solutions
• Evaluate / approve recommendations and presentations before sending to the client
• Assume ultimate responsibility for all implemented programs
• Manage the Agency’s media planning and implementation resources (and partner agencies where applicable) to deliver quality and timely programs
• Oversee media financial management

Storytelling

• Package all work to be clear and compelling for client presentation
• Consult on development of support materials
• Act as provocateur to Planning team

Collaboration

• Develop effective and inspiring working relationships among Wavemaker internal team members, partner agencies, and clients

Leadership

• Lead Associate Director, Manager, Senior Associate, and Associate in Planning group
• Assist in development and execution of agency training initiatives
• Develop case studies and award submissions
• Accurately, objectively, and constructively evaluate performance of Associate, Senior Associate, and Manager via talent development process
• Foster an environment that encourages intelligent risk taking, innovation and creativity
• Monitor quality control of daily workflow
• Keep abreast of current events, media trends and any target market industry trends that impact client business
• Demonstrate a desire to create improvement and better outcomes through innovation / approaching things in new ways

Requirements

• 10+ years of media/communications planning experience, with focus on team leadership and management
• Healthcare and pharmaceutical experience required
• Proven ability to foster client relationships, including interacting and presenting to senior-level clients
• Great written and oral communication skills
• Excellent strategic thinking
• Experience and comfort facilitating ideation sessions
• Energetic and resilient in a fast-paced environment
• Experience working in and across multiple communications disciplines, including digital
• Fully conversant with all major desktop research tools and qualitative research techniques
• Excellent quantitative skills, including analytical abilities and math proficiency
• Sharp, critical thinking, nimble and effective problem-solving skills
• Extremely detail-oriented, with clear and proven organizational skills to meet tight deadlines
• Ability to train and develop subordinates
• Passion through appropriate participation in team, agency, and industry initiatives
• Genuine curiosity and interest in the client’s business
• Proficiency at MS Suite: Excel, Word, PowerPoint