Associate Director, Planning

Company Description

Carat is consistently ranked the #1 media agency in the world with over 12,000 experts in over 100 countries. We deliver an unparalleled capability to unlock real human understanding to connect people and brands by designing powerful and engaging media experiences.

Job Description

The Associate Director role is a leadership role as well as a managerial one. The Associate Director sets the working style for the group, leads the strategic direction, and is tasked with being a marketing partner for the clients. The Associate Director is an expert on the clients’ business and a leader on the business with the clients and within the agency. The Associate Director is responsible for demonstrating a strong working knowledge of the media space, with expertise in eCommerce/Retail Planning and familiarity with eCommerce Activation. They will be a key conduit between Planning, Activation, and Analytics. This individual is responsible for identifying business opportunities and solutions on a regular basis. The Associate Director sets the tone for how the account is managed by assuring focus on key client objectives and delivering appropriate resources while maintaining profitability.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Media Planning and Execution:

• Accountable for media plan output timeliness, accuracy, and overall excellence
• Lead the process of strategic media planning/execution and serve as a resource for supervisors, planners and assistants for advice and counsel
• Demonstrate ability to utilize resources to help guide client’s marketing goals in their respective markets (syndicated, proprietary, analyst data)
• Understand and adopt new techniques and technologies that are relevant for clients’ media strategies throughout the purchase funnel (support to objectives from awareness to conversion)
• Ability to develop strategic retail plans utilizing marketplaces such as Google Shopping and Amazon and partner with Activation and Analytics to execute and optimize campaigns in favor of key client objectives
• Provide and discuss industry information on media, markets and related dynamics
• Maintain relationships with media community; continue to develop publisher and higher relationships for exchange of ideas
• Demonstrate ability to sell Carat/Aegis and all its offerings
• May participate in the creation and negotiation of yearly client contracts and Special Assignments
• Must be able to work independently and proactively find ways to add value and problem solve as necessary
• Willingness to roll up sleeves and help out wherever needed to provide excellent client service and support the team

Client & Internal Relationships:

• Build trusting, collaborative relationships with clients at appropriate levels
• Maintain client relationships at appropriate levels
• Able to navigate complex client structures
• Manage expectations of clients and deliverables
• Accurately represent the client’s point of view when reviewing work, leverage this perspective when providing feedback to team and presenting to client
• Identifies opportunities to offer other agency service line offerings to existing clients
• Grow business opportunities within current clients, where appropriate
• Participates and presents in New Business efforts and presentations, where appropriate
• Capable of effectively managing up and down the reporting structure

Strategic Thinking & Leadership:

• Provide and/or guide strategic input for all plans internally and externally working with Strategy & Insights and other relevant disciplines
• Demonstrate problem solving and intervention when necessary
• Understand and analyze the root causes of problems and develop ways to quickly and positively rectify
• Guide and assist staff to arrive at potential solutions to problems/issues
• Ensure key information is provided to team regarding client issues, internal agency issues, changes in account status, etc.
• Train, motivate and develop a media planning group
• Construct and deliver accurate, honest and timely performance management documents

Communication Skills:

• Establishes and maintains communications process with clients, digital and offline media teams, etc. for each piece of business within the team
• Directs the development of client presentations and other important communication, communication that is clear, compelling and persuasive
• Partners with Activation and Analytics to lead client presentations
• Communicate key information about our company
• Adapts communication style to relevant audience
• Links communication to audience’s concerns and p