Associate Director, Commerce Search

IPG Mediabrands•New York, NY

About The Position

We are looking for you - dynamic, best-in-class talent - to join the growing Commerce team as an Associate Director. In this role you will be responsible for managing a team in developing, planning, buying, executing and measuring media plans for designated shopper/commerce media clients. You will support the Director in the strategic and tactical development of each retail plan. You will work closely with national Planning and Buying teams to allow for holistic Commerce media function. The Commerce team is a specialty group that focuses on the planning, buying, execution and measurement of Commerce media. Commerce media is any specific media elements that are retailer focused/tagged. This can be in-store signage such as a coupon machine or shelfblade, a billboard driving shoppers to a Walmart store, digital ads (search, display, OLV/STV, etc) on Amazon or Kroger.com site via managed or self service, tapping influencers that support certain retailers or working with shoppable technology companies to ensure ease of conversion. The team supports client’s commerce/shopper/customer marketing teams—our end goal measuring product sales both online and in-store. Who You Are Eager to challenge the retail norms, create industry leading campaign strategy and combine best in class media skills with industry-leading retail consulting. You excel at translating client business objectives at the senior level into Commerce daily tactical execution, to drive sales online and in-store. You are comfortable with how to design, develop, deploy Commerce retail, sales & operations strategies and services while working in tandem with national counterparts to ensure a holistic Commerce approach, connecting the team and media were applicable. You will be an end-to-end expert of our planning, buying and reporting capabilities for search, growing strong client relationships and ensuring health of our client relationships. You thrive in a fast paced environment, building solutions when necessary and paving the way for the team to excel.

Requirements

Proven knowledge of media planning & planning with use of research tools and resources
Proven experience in writing and presenting relevant information to client audience
Can carry conversations with clients easily
Project management; effectively managing multiple projects and meeting tight deadlines under a fast-paced environment. Time management and project management skills are critical
Strong working knowledge of commerce industry and platforms including major retailers and supporting technology (e.g. Amazon Ads, Walmart Connect, Roundel, Pacvue, Skai, Criteo, Citrus, etc.)
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
5+ years of working experience required, with 3+ years experience in a people manager role; strong ability to delegate, train, and support direct reports
4+ years of commerce experience working across multiple retailers preferred

Nice To Haves

Experience in web analytics, ad tracking and other biddable media (e.g. paid search)
Experienced in partner negotiations inclusive of multicampaign and/or annual commitments
Ability to manage team, both upwards and downwards across multiple levels, to ensure cross-team communication
Polished presence and presentation skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and proven problem-solving ability
Self- sufficient, proactive and solution oriented
Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
Knowledge with industry tools such as MediaTools, Prisma, etc.

Responsibilities

Retail Media Knowledge
Knowledge of multiple retail media networks & their platforms, may include Amazon, Walmart, Roundel, Kroger, etc.
Seasoned experience with self-service search platforms for both retailer specific (e.g. WMC, Roundel Media Studio, etc.) as well as aggregators (e.g. Criteo, Citrus, Pacvue, Skai, etc.)
Comfortable and knowledgeable with D2C platforms (e.g. Google, Bing, Shopping, etc.)
Understands individual RMN capabilities across tactic, targeting, reporting methodology, etc.
Ability to push partners on their roadmap and advocate for the client based on business needs, preliminary exposure to JBPs (e.g. understanding benefits and tracking against commitments, etc.)
Account Management & Strategy
Leads the development, presentation, management and measurement of omnichannel commerce media programs and defines program objectives and strategies consistent with brand marketing objectives
Responsible for DTC media & operational performance across paid search engines, shopping and other performance based media tactics as needed
Responsible for the strategy and the audience insights being funneled down into the tactical media plan
Ensures strategic consistency across all elements of plan development and implementation
Takes learnings from previous campaigns and apply to next campaign and across retailers as applicable
Reviews campaign buildouts, targeting/keywords and budget allocations in platform. Provides feedback as necessary to make sure it drives client goals
Proactively identifies growth opportunities and shares ideas for potential test and learns
Ensures the detailed media plan, inclusive of tactics, audiences, flighting, KPIs, etc. that the team has built drives client performance. Pressure tests the recommendation to provide strongest recommendation for the client
Creates client ready materials and delivers client communications
Responsible for managing approval timeline internally and within client organization and retailers, ability to push back and pivot as needed
Manages and oversees day-to-day client requests and delegates to appropriate team members as necessary
Ensure accuracy and ease of understanding all deliverables (e.g. client documents, budget stewardship/management, client billing, etc.)
Ability to tailor client presentations to the audience (i.e. Senior Level vs. Junior Level)
Takes lead in establishing and implementing best practices within client accounts
Understands the underlying client needs and recommends solution / path forward. Once aligned, clearly directs internal team and manages deliverables with client
Ability to assess and rank issues and tasks in order of importance for taking action and escalating as needed
Anticipates, recognizes, and clearly defines problems using various techniques to systematically analyze, weigh alternatives and propose solutions
Works with team to ensuring all tasks are captured and tracking toward completion for status whether internal or client facing. Responsible for leading status and providing support for team
Responsible for creating team and client centric processes to ensure accuracy of all deliverables (e.g. client documents, budget stewardship/management/client billing), improve overall team performance and minimize risk of human error through consistent implementation of QA guardrails
Execution
Oversees buying process and stewardship for media programs to ensure original objectives are being met
Reviews and participates when needed in daily campaign & budget management including optimizations
Provides support for Manager as needed in the coordination of creative assets between client, creative agencies and partners
Reviews pacing to ensure delivery is appropriate and aligned to campaign flighting for both managed and self service campaigns
Measures media performance at all stages to ensure original objectives and strategies are being met to client satisfaction
Establish higher level testing opportunities, beyond campaign specific, to drive overall business insights and performance. Work with Manager to ladder up individual campaign tests into overarching testing structure/roadmap
Reviews analysis and reporting of data on daily/weekly/bi-weekly/monthly & ad-hoc basis to level up any larger account insights
Data to be provided from team pulling in self service platforms
Turns insights into long-term action by highlighting clear flow of cause, effect and next steps
Responsible for staying up to date with various retailer measurement solutions and attribution methods
Serves as escalation point for billing as needed
Relationships
Oversees account relationship with media partners and supports Manager in negotiation of commerce media for specific programs when escalation is needed
Works cross-functionally with national planning & investment, ad operations, product, reporting, analytics, finance and other groups across the account
Maintains relationships and sets client's expectations, ensuring timely creation & delivery of work
Manages day-to-day team performance to achieve desired results based on defined roles and responsibilities for the Associates, Senior Associates & Managers
Training/Development
Ensures knowledge sharing across internal teams, open communication & provides thought leadership
Identifies & builds functional expertise or knowledge in a relevant, unique & specific media area, including commerce media expertise
Aware of level of knowledge and experience on your team, where you need to spend extra time vs. let team members run with projects
Responsible for leading and training team in ways of working and planning fundamentals, effectively communicating agency goals, managing workloads and providing performance feedback and career development support. All direct reports should have clear growth plan in place
Provide real time constructive feedback for team members across areas of strength and development
Partner with Director to assess team burn rate
Industry Knowledge & Thought Leadership
Master, identify and communicate trends in retail and client industries that will impact of be relevant to assigned clients
Seeks out information to remain current on media trends and shares with team members with relevant implications/potential opportunities
Bring commerce expertise and POV to the table when you are pulled into a work session/ brainstorm/ group project
Craft case studies of successful work and effective process for sharing with larger team and growing new business repository
Clear POV on value of eRetail vs D2C and how they partner with other channels to drive success