Associate Director, Retail Strategy

Company Description

Zenith is the ROI Agency. Our more than 6,000 specialists across 95 markets offer unparalleled capabilities in Media, Data, Technology, Commerce and Content. We put effectiveness at the heart of our work to solve complex challenges, drive successful business outcomes, and grow our clients’ businesses. Zenith is part of Publicis Media, the media arm of Publicis Groupe.

Job Description

The Associate Director, Strategy & Investment will work as a member a cross-functional team with ownership of e-commerce media strategy and activation for our client, a leading CPG and consumer products company. They will be responsible for driving the e-commerce growth strategies to drive our client’s retail and omnichannel business. 

This position is both strategic and tactical in scope and requires the ability to apply detailed retail media and e-commerce knowledge to actionable insights and recommendations. The ideal candidate must have strong team management, and expert-level e-commerce and retail media experience with platforms like Walmart Media Group, Roundel, Quotient and Kroger Precision Marketing. We are looking for an enthusiastic leader who is keen to join our team and help redefine ecommerce media. 

  
Role Objectives:  

• Leads annual, commerce media planning for assigned brands in partnership with integrated brand strategy and Upper Funnel media teams 

• Primary account lead and client partner for assigned business unit -- building strong relationships and acting as consultant and business advisor to client. 

• Collaborates with and advises client on retail media budgets and priorities. Accountable for managing budgets and commerce media team to ensure media plans deliver on KPIs and sales/marketing objectives 

• Develops tactical commerce media strategies across retailer media networks (e.g. Walmart, Roundel) as well as 3rd party media partners -- inclusive of sponsored search, programmatic, retailer display, social commerce, and video. 

• Supports and manages Supervisor, Commerce Strategy in tactical strategies and campaign execution. 

• Leads commerce media activation team and accountable for ensuring tactical plans align to strategies and continue to deliver on goals once live. Serve as first-line of escalation from the activation teams to leadership. 

• Drives integration and partnership between commerce/retailer media and brand media/upper funnel tactics to develop truly end-to-end media plans. 

• Identifies innovation opportunities through new approaches, new partners and retailer media offerings and ensures test-and-learn programs are set up for success. 

• Proactively identifies opportunities and recommendations for process improvements that can help the team work better together and with our client. 

• Provides thought-leadership and updates to larger agency team and clients related tor retailer media networks, commerce strategies and best practices. 

• Effectively communicate program status and progress against objectives to clients and commerce lead. Synthesizes relevant information on key milestones, success criteria, staff and client and risks. Escalate critical issues appropriately. 

• Embrace team values and encourage and support our team to create a culture of team work, collaboration, and intellectual curiosity  

Qualifications

• 5+ years of shopper marketing/e-commerce marketing, media planning, strategy and digital investment experience from backgrounds including programmatic, performance marketing, retailer media, shopper media or paid search. 

• Experience in Consumer Electronics industry (CPG) is strong plus. 

• Sound understanding of the commerce media landscape, retailer media ecosystems, and go to market strategies 

• 3+ years experience leveraging a combination of retailer media networks, social commerce, or 3rd Party shopper media partners (InMarket, iBotta, etc) to deliver on business goals 

• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and thrive in a fast-paced environment. At least four years’ experience creating the vision, roadmap, and strategic direction for highly complex technology projects. 

• Familiarity with commerce media tools and partners such as Profitero, Edge, Numerator, Kenshoo, and Pacvue. 

• Strong team and client leadership experience 

• Comfortable navigating up, across, and diagonally; capable of voicing a strong POV with senior audiences 

• Problem solver and strategic thinker that constantly challenges clients and teams to improve 

• Curiosity and an eagerness to roll-up the sleeves to find the answers, learn, apply, and learn agai