Director, Media Planning (Traditional and Digital)

Rise is an award-winning, full-service Media Agency of Record that is backed by data and powered by people. We create omnichannel experiences using our proprietary tech stack and advanced analytics capabilities to help solve the unique struggles brands face today. This approach, with transparency at its core, specializes in omnichannel media, commerce and retail media, advanced in-home media, as well as content and creator marketing.

We offer "Risers" the opportunity to work in an ever-evolving industry that will foster learning and development, provide an innovative work environment with diverse projects and clients, career advancement paths a collaborative team environment, corporate social responsibility initiatives, an inclusive and diverse culture, plus association with a reputable media agency. We're looking for talent like you who can continue to elevate our work and culture.

General Purpose of Job:

The Director, Media Planning role will be responsible for developing client-specific strategy for key accounts. This role will be primarily responsible for working collaboratively with client and agency leadership to either improve current client strategy or lead the development of net new strategies for prospective clients. The right candidate will be passionate about Media and have familiarity with all performance and brand marketing channels. They must have experience in all media channels, both online and offline with an understanding of the role each channel plays, the strengths and weaknesses, as well as how they all work together. The Director, Media Planning provides senior leadership to the team responsible for placing, confirming and monitoring media orders to ensure the clients advertising program is executed flawlessly. The successful Director provides a high level of media planning and strategy expertise to assigned accounts as the functional leader of the team. The Director provides ongoing communication, consulting, insight, analysis, and recommendations regarding digital media, including emerging trends. The Director is also responsible for identifying and developing the talent needed to function as a high-performing team.

Location: Chicago, 4 days in office

Key Responsibilities:

Understand client challenges to craft custom marketing program (inclusive of audiences, markets, competitive spend trends, additional consumer insights and trends, etc.)

Lead media strategy for new business development and collaborate with all other Quad stakeholders as necessary, as part of the new business process

Lead conversations, internally and support externally in establishing benchmarks to determine success

Oversee media strategy, campaign creation, budget, optimization, and testing strategy(ies), as applicable, for full-funnel, multi-platform campaigns across all paid channels including television, radio, print, out-of-home, digital, social, and mobile media

Identify relevant media partners and data partners (when Quad audience stack is not applicable) to test in plans on a client-by-client basis

Identify areas of opportunity to innovate with agency partners to evolve media strategy for clients and the agency as a whole

Reviews advanced analytics reports to provide direction on media plan optimizations

Leverage insights, learnings, and modeling to help determine the right channel mix and further bolster the data-informed portions of media plans

Stay current with new advances in media, the competitive landscape, and vendor capabilities; leverage that knowledge to influence current and future business plans and strategies

Develop POV on new media products and vendor capabilities

Approval and oversight over strategy content for QBRs; lead when allocation allows

Nurture team of managers and planners

Lead client calls as needed

Collaborate with media activation on case study structure and development

Advise on recommended measurement framework and approach

Effectively motivate, lead and train team members while fostering accountability and ownership; marshal resources, as necessary, to ensure work is completed accurately and timely.

Create, implement and support operational best practices across the team and within the department.

Support new client onboarding efforts as directed by leadership

Job Requirements:

Education: Bachelors degree

Experience:

7-10+ years of experience in either agency environments and/or channel partnerships

3+ years in a management or supervisory role

Exceptionally strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with clients, vendors and all levels of the internal organization

Ability to identify / recruit / retain top talent; experience positively managing personnel issues

Proven quantitative and analytic capabilities; expertise in translating data into insights

Proven ability to manage multiple, simultaneous short- and long-term projects

Track record of demonstrating strong judgment and prioritization capabilities

Ability to implement change quickly to support evolving / changing client initiatives or marketplace occurrences

Working knowledge of third-party media research, including but not limited to: Nielsen, MRI, Scarborough, Media Radar, DoubleClick, YouGov

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Experience building client decks and pitching current as well as potential up-sell opportunities

Expert understanding of media planning, distribution, and syndication of content

Collaborative approach and all-in attitude

Client facing track record

Skilled at and enjoys manipulating and understanding data, as well as drawing actionable data-driven decisions to drive sales and marketing efforts

Strong interpersonal, partnership and influencing management skills

Self-motivated and creative strategic thinker who thrives in fast-paced environment

Extensive knowledge of the media industry, demonstrating depth in media strategy and performance-based marketing across all channels, media analytics / ROI, and planning and buying local and national media (digital and traditional)

Proven ability to develop and manage paid media plans that meet / exceed business objectives

Influential and persuasive communicator with strong interpersonal skills; exceptional ability to grow and foster internal / external relationships

Strong presentation / story-telling and impeccable written and verbal communication skills

Demonstrated ability to learn and understand each clients business; act as an extension of the client with working knowledge of issues that could influence media decisions

Display a natural curiosity as a student of the industry with a desire to both learn and teach, while applying knowledge for the ongoing betterment of client media plans

Ability to lead and develop a high-performing team, with track record of employee growth and development

Passion for a purpose-driven, team oriented, client-first, cross-functional culture

Demonstrated problem-solver with the ability to provide creative solutions that result in positive outcomes

Ability to articulate a clear and compelling vision to direct and maximize the team where all roles and responsibilities are well defined, understood and managed

Expert synthesizer of detail and information for client, peer and management consumption

Exhibits sound business judgment to navigate through everyday client and team challenges, commanding both authority and respect

Employees can be expected to be paid an annualized salary range of $99,700 - $155, 650 , based on variations in knowledge, skills, experience and market conditions age.

Rise and Quad are proud to be an equal opportunity employers. We are committed to creating a place of belonging a space where employees do not need to sacrifice who they are to exist and grow in our workplace. Rise and Quad do not discriminate on any unlawful basis including race, religion, color, national origin, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Rise and Quad also prohibit harassment of applicants and employees based on any of these protected categories.