Associate Director, Connections Strategy

Company Description

With a history that dates back over 80 years, Starcom is a global communications planning and media leader. We are an agency still grounded in our founding principle that people are at center of all we do. Each day, we apply this belief to harness the transformative power of data and technology to inspire and move people and business forward. With more than 7,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, Starcom partners with the world's leading marketers and brands, including Bank of America, Best Buy, Kellogg Company, McDonald's, Novartis, Samsung, Visa and more.

The Associate Director, Connections Strategy will use research, data, and analytics to generate strategic insights that will craft cross-channel media strategy to answer client business objectives.

The ideal candidate for this position has the proven ability to lead strategic planning initiatives including development of audience approach, strategic frameworks, and channel roles across Paid, Owned, and Earned media. They should love data and insights and have strong storytelling and presentation skills. This candidate should demonstrate a curious spirit, a strong point of view, and the ability to connect across teams.

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.

• Strategize with internal directors and client to develop innovative, well-targeted marketing solutions

• Collaborate with clients and cross agency partners to build strategic frameworks, and communication plans for targeted audiences

• Mine client data, brand health, consumer behavior reports, etc for insights and application

• Own the development of strategic proposals and client facing POVs, coordinating with necessary teams to account for all relevant inputs

• Assume accountability and ownership of campaign strategic approach for assigned client campaigns

• Proactively educate internal and external clients on value of consumer insight research

• Embrace and encourage a culture based on team work, collaboration, and support

• Develop best practices for improving communication and collaboration within the team and the group

• Lead knowledge share sessions to share and learn new strategies for optimizing and enhancing campaign performance

• Collaborate and foster relationships with key partners including clients, internal teams, and leadership

• Lead strategic planning initiatives including deck writing, budget and channel allocation, and audience development

• Serve as escalation point for teams to help troubleshoot issues

• Support development of strategic approach and experience design by delivering channel ideas and providing the link toreality of historical performance and in-market opportunities

• This role does not have direct reports; however, opportunities for leadership and mentorship are available within the team

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, preferably with a concentration in marketing, advertising, communications, business, sociology, or consumer insights

• 5+ years of experience in media strategy/planning experience across media channels

• Previous team management experience

• Strong digital media experience preferred

• Resourceful, curious, and motivated individual with an ability to work independently as well as in a team setting

• Ability to manage timelines, projects and personnel within direct report team and across cross-functional teams

• Proven experience in successfully managing multiple work streams at one time

• Strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills

• Excellent presentation skills to effectively lead meetings in-person with key clients

• Detail-oriented with the ability to multi-task and manage priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite with strong understanding of Excel and Power Point

• Experience working within media systems/platforms (Kantar, MOAT, Prisma, Com Score etc.)

Starcom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual…