Director, Strategy & Planning; Freelance

Director, Paid Strategy & Planning (Freelance)

Starcom is a global communications planning and media leader with over 80 years of history. We partner with leading marketers and brands, harnessing data and technology to inspire and move people and business forward.

With more than 7,000 employees in over 100 offices worldwide, Starcom partners with brands such as Bank of America, Best Buy, Kellogg, McDonald’s, Novartis, Samsung, and Visa.

Overview The Director, Paid Strategy & Planning serves as a senior media expert, providing departmental and client leadership while enhancing the visibility of the media practice. This person manages a media team and ensures that media strategies and deliverables meet or exceed client expectations, deliver value, and uphold our quality standards. The role includes guiding tactical and strategic media planning, mentoring staff, driving digital and traditional media initiatives, and supporting new business efforts.

The Media Director may also collaborate with other key agencies as needed.

This position is a temporary role intended to provide coverage during a team member's maternity leave.

• Develops forward‑thinking, innovative, cross‑channel media strategies, including traditional and digital media, to improve client marketing effectiveness and drive business growth.
• Advises clients and internal teams on media opportunities, including local media campaign planning.
• Serves as client team lead on medium to large media accounts, managing $10M+ in total media spend.
• Conceives, negotiates, and presents cross‑platform or large‑scale media proposals to clients.
• Responsible for upselling services and contributing to business development efforts.
• Guides and supervises a media team of 10+ employees, including hiring, training, coaching, staffing, and performance evaluation.
• Attends and represents clients at industry events, helping to build industry relationships and thought leadership.
• Contributes to client‑specific POVs and overall media strategy documentation.
• Demonstrates tactical media planning experience across channels.
• Applies working knowledge of media planning tools (e.g., Pathmatics, Vivix, Kantar, MRI, Comscore) and activation platforms such as Prisma, Meta, and AdWords.
• Experience with traditional media including linear TV and OOH is preferred.

• Retail media network experience is a plus.
• 7–10 years of media planning and buying experience, with at least 4 years in digital/interactive marketing and advertising.
• Demonstrated experience in both traditional and digital media, tactical planning, and local media campaign execution.
• Proven leadership and team management experience.
• Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) from a four‑year, accredited college or university.

Starcom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.

• Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more.
• Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility.
• Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption.
• Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance.
• Tuition Assistance.
• Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more.
• Matching Gifts programs.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• ‘Work Your World’ Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere – Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility).
• Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances.

Compensation Range $57.46 - $90.40 per hour. This is the pay range the Company believes it…