Agency: Initiative
Job Function: Planning
Location: Toronto, Canada
Job Ref#: 14730
Description & Requirements
Position Summary
The role of Director, Media Planning is responsible for delivering strategic, integrated media communication recommendations for a diverse group of clients as well as leading and inspiring a team of planning professionals. You must think strategically and work collaboratively to create recommendations that deliver on client strategic goals and business objectives. This role requires you to work as part of an integrated media planning team to ensure the product is grounded in insights and experience, resulting in flawless media executions.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead 360 degree strategic thinking for overall media product, encouraging executions that deliver exceptional results.
- Ownership and responsibility for ensuring key client objectives met; active participation in client business planning meetings.
- Cultivate and strengthen client, agency and media partner relationships at the senior level.
- Lead and develop a direct relationship with the client to become a strategic partner with an in-depth understanding of their business.
- Deliver inspiring, motivating and persuasive presentations which bring creative ideas to life.
- Pursue organic growth opportunities and participate as required in new business presentations.
- Maintain industry relationships, participate on committees and organizations; keep abreast of issues and developments and new media opportunities.
- Proactively seek opportunities to improve processes, methods, systems and/or services to better serve the client and agency.
- Lead and mentor a team of media professionals.
- Effectively communicate agency goals, manage workloads, provide ongoing performance feedback, support professional development goals and inspire great results.
- Produce and manage accurate billings and projections.
- Act as a thought leader – proactively bring forward client education and identify opportunities as appropriate.
- Drive collaboration and communication across SBUs and peer groups to inspire great work.
- Lead by example and play an active role in cultivating the culture of our organization.
- Ensure delivery against mandate outlined in scope of work.
- Ensure that all media plans meet client objectives with fully supported documentation, and that they adhere to the agency's values and philosophies.
Desired Skills & Experience
- Post-secondary education or equivalent professional experience - University/College degree in advertising/marketing preferred.
- Minimum of eight (8) years’ of related media, advertising, brand or marketing strategy/planning experience.
- History of developing positive on-going business relationships, focus on client service.
- Previous experience managing a portfolio of clients or total ownership of one large complex account with multiple lines of business.
- Proven experience delivering inspiring and persuasive presentations. Solutions oriented and approaches obstacles with creativity and resolve.
- Ability to manage complexity across multiple groups, clients and interagency partners.
- Active involvement in developing capabilities of direct report(s) and prioritizing and delegating work accordingly.
- Ability to develop and foster strong relationships and partnerships internally and externally.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively apply knowledge and insights gained from research and reporting resources to media planning.
- Strong learning agility, with a passion for continuous development.
- Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal).
- Independent thinker with highly developed organizational skills and a strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Advanced understanding of media research tools (e.g. Clear Decisions, Vividata, Neilson) and media software (e.g. Prisma).
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint).
Employment Transparency
IPG Mediabrands is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from all interested parties, regardless of their preferred official language. Accommodations are available, upon request, for individuals with disabilities or medical needs at any stage of the recruitment process. We thank all applicants for their interest in IPG Mediabrands. However, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
About Us
Initiative is different to other media agencies.
We are not trapped by a legacy structure primarily centered on paid advertising. Instead, we are liberated by a new world structure designed to deliver highly differentiated and highly effective communications strategies for our clients.
We’re not the biggest agency in town. So rather than outsize our competitors we must outsmart them. That’s why we’ve built the strongest strategic capability of any agency in the market. Core to this strategic capability is an obsession with culture and how brands can pivot from brand advertising (which is forgettable) to cultural branding (which is memorable).
Our new world model is comprised of four central “craft centers” – Client Advice and Management, Strategy, Communications Design and Partnerships.
OUR BEHAVIORS
Initiative respects that everyone has something unique to contribute to the agency.
We are a bunch of eclectic and brilliant misfits with diverse backgrounds that represent the unique fabric of consumers and culture.
We want you to be yourself. We want to hear your opinions. We want to see your passion and energy.
If you disagree with something you see or hear then speak up. We will never punish or penalize you for bringing something important to our attention.
If you believe you can improve something in the agency then speak up. We will always listen to your ideas and suggestions.
We will not tolerate harassment, bullying or corporate politics. We will not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We expect you to be responsible on social media and remember that you represent the agency and should not bring us into disrepute.
We are committed to your learning and development. The agency will organize regular training to enhance and accelerate your career – we expect you to prioritize training and actively participate.
We strive for world-class work on every client, every time.
We believe that good enough is not good enough.