Associate Director, Emerging Solutions & Media Innovation

dentsu•New York, NY

1d•$72,000 - $120,000•Hybrid

About The Position

As the Associate Director, Emerging Solutions & Media Innovation, you will play a key leadership role in shaping innovative solutions that drive meaningful business and client impact. You will lead complex projects, guide cross-functional teams, and champion new ways of thinking that elevate our organization’s approach to innovation and client delivery. This role is ideal for you if you enjoy turning ideas into action, collaborating with diverse partners, and helping teams navigate change with clarity and purpose. Work Location: You will work in our New York office three days per week, as part of our hybrid work model. This in‑person time helps you collaborate closely with teammates, build strong relationships, and stay connected to key client and innovation activities.

Requirements

Demonstrate strategic thinking and a strong commercial mindset.
Feel curious, adaptable, and energized by emerging technologies, consumer trends, and industry shifts.
Communicate clearly and confidently, even when navigating ambiguity.
Enjoy guiding and developing others while working collaboratively across many stakeholders.
Bring resilience, problem-solving skills, and a growth mindset to your work.
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or equivalent experience is a plus.
6+ years of experience in innovation, media, digital strategy, transformation, or similar environments.
Proven success leading complex projects with multiple stakeholders from conception to measurable impact.
Strong project management, vendor engagement, and insight-synthesis abilities.
Excellent communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

Lead Innovation Projects You design, lead, and evaluate large-scale innovation pilots that support client and business growth. You identify new opportunities using market, consumer, and technology insights. You present compelling business cases to senior leaders and client partners.
Guide Project Execution You oversee a portfolio of initiatives, ensuring high-quality delivery and clear measurement of results. You create and refine key deliverables—such as Innovation Partner Overviews and solution summaries. You troubleshoot challenges and ensure outcomes meet KPIs, budgets, and client expectations.
Build Strong Partnerships You develop trusted relationships with senior clients, technology partners, platform providers, and internal teams. You lead cross-functional collaboration across analytics, media, finance, strategy, and more. You mentor and support team members, helping create a culture of learning, inclusion, and excellence.
Provide Thought Leadership You bring a consumer-first approach to innovation, creating solutions that offer real value. You support communication efforts—workshops, thought leadership pieces, event participation—to elevate visibility and impact. You drive process adoption and help streamline operations to improve team effectiveness.