Group Director, Planning

Group Director, Planning

This role is managerial and part of agency leadership. The Group Director owns the relationship with Brand Management and partner agencies, driving communication planning ideas that serve as solutions to business problems and opportunities. The director designs and implements programs that improve sales performance and provides strategic direction for assigned accounts, understanding all aspects of their client’s business and the broader competitive landscape.

This position is based in New York City, NY and is not open to remote candidates.

• Own integrated planning for a client brand, managing the entire strategic, planning, and implementation process across traditional and digital channels.
• Accountable for all communication and media deliverables, maintaining status reports for clients and internal management.
• Translate strategy statements into actionable ideas, expanding planning influence beyond context strategies into orchestrated marketing tactics that deliver on set goals.
• Co‑lead with the Strategy Director in positioning, segmentation initiatives, holistic program planning, and communications idea generation/execution.
• Create coherent communications plans with appropriate channels and suitable mix based on sales, MMM, METT, and other data.
• Oversee strategic implementation and measurement/optimization of plans; develop projects critical to each brand’s marketing and learning plans.
• Earn shared leadership with creative agency in brand management and marketing planning, covering new product development, positioning concepts, segmentation, marketing planning, creative execution, message distribution, measurement, and optimization.
• Brief partner agencies on strategic implementation needs, roles of specific communication channels, and success metrics.
• Ensure strategic themes and communications plans are implemented faithfully, leading cross‑functional collaboration and aligning sales outcomes with business goals.
• Build and sustain strong client relationships through regular meetings, deep understanding of client business, and effective recommendation selling.
• Collaborate with the Strategy Director in negotiating yearly client contracts and managing account profitability.
• Maintain senior client relationships, manage expectations, and proactively address business concerns.
• Foster collaboration across all agency departments, including appropriate executive involvement in client meetings.
• Provide management updates and solicit feedback when appropriate; participate in New Business efforts and presentations as needed.
• Lead strategic thinking and leadership, developing effective rationales, measurable business objectives, and media‑discipline tactics.
• Ensure team training on internal procedures, best practices, and media tools; evaluate new tools, technologies, and AI capabilities.
• Manage, motivate, and develop a media planning team, delivering accurate performance management documents.
• Encourage open communication within the team and with clients, media buying AOR, creative, and other stakeholders.
• Lead client presentations, adapting communication style to audience and driving desired action through clear persuasion.

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 11+ years of integrated media and brand management experience, with progressive client‑management roles.
• Deep knowledge of multi‑channel marketing and experience with major brands, preferably in Beverage, Alcohol, or CPG spaces.
• Hands‑on experience managing planners, supervisors, and associate directors.
• Strategic thinking with a balanced analytical and creative approach to tactical planning.
• Proven ability to bring together internal and external disciplines to achieve desired outcomes.
• Understanding of multiple communications channels and their roles in brand marketing.
• Research experience and commitment to delivering creative, data‑driven solutions.
• High‑level proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.

The annual salary range for this position is $136,850 – $182,850, based on relevant experience, skills, and other permitted factors. The role is eligible for discretionary incentive compensation.

Benefits include medical, vision, and dental insurance; life insurance; short‑term and long‑term disability insurance; 401(k); flexible paid time off; at least 15 paid holidays per year; paid sick and safe leave; and paid parental leave.

Dentsu is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees, without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, childbirth, disability, marital status, political affiliation, religious practices, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected under applicable law. Dentsu provides reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans.