Group Director, Client Solutions & Planning - dentsu X US

dentsu•New York, NY

1d•$136,850 - $182,850•Onsite

About The Position

The Group Director, Client Solutions & Planning is a managerial and agency leadership role responsible for owning relationships with Brand Management and partner agencies, identifying business problems and opportunities that communications planning can address, and designing and driving programs that improve brand sales performance. The role is directly responsible for the assigned client’s holistic communication plan and design, provides strategic direction for assigned accounts, and requires a strong understanding of the client’s business and its technology and competitive landscape. The position provides communications planning leadership for a major beverage/alcohol brand. The Group Director manages the brand’s business across traditional and digital media through strategic planning and implementation, leads client and agency relationships, oversees delivery and optimization of communications plans, and contributes to account profitability, new business, and team development. The position is based in New York City and is not open to remote candidates. Dentsu’s general working approach includes hybrid collaboration, typically requiring employees within commuting distance of a hub office to work in person two to three days per week, including a Team Day; specific arrangements may vary by office and role.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
At least 11 years of experience in media and brand management, ideally including integrated experience and progressive client management.
Deep knowledge and experience in multichannel marketing.
Strong client-service experience with major brands; beverage, alcohol, or CPG experience is particularly relevant.
Experience managing a team of planners, supervisors, and associate directors.
Ability to work with people at all organizational levels and foster cross-functional teamwork and results.
Strategic-thinking ability that balances analytical and creative approaches to tactical planning.
Experience bringing together people from different disciplines, internally and externally, to achieve desired outcomes.
Understanding of multiple communications channels and their roles in brand marketing.
Research experience.
Commitment to creative solutions and ability to align team members behind them.
High-level proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the beverage or alcohol industry is strongly preferred.
Experience with major brands in the beverage, alcohol, or CPG sectors is ideally suited to the role.
Integrated media and brand management experience is ideal.

Responsibilities

Manage the assigned brand’s business across traditional and digital channels throughout strategy, planning, and implementation.
Own communication and media deliverables and maintain status reporting for client and internal management.
Turn strategy into ideas and actions, extending communications planning into coordinated marketing tactics tied to business goals.
Lead or partner with the Strategy Director on positioning, segmentation, holistic program planning, and communications idea generation and execution.
Develop coherent communications plans using available information such as sales, MMM, METT, and public data, in addition to receptivity data.
Oversee strategic implementation, measurement, and optimization of communications plans; lead projects critical to brand marketing and learning plans.
Share leadership with the creative agency in brand management and marketing planning, including product development, positioning, segmentation, creative execution, message distribution, measurement, and optimization.
Brief partner agencies on strategic implementation needs and channel roles, using relevant brand, retail, competitive, and success-metric examples.
Coordinate internal and external teams to implement strategies faithfully and keep work aligned with business and sales goals.
Build strong client relationships through meetings and regular contact; understand client business and effectively sell recommendations.
Partner with the Strategy Director and collaborate with the Group Director, Integrated Planning on annual client contracts, supplemental proposals, and account profitability.
Build collaborative relationships with clients at all levels, maintain senior relationships, manage expectations, and address concerns early.
Represent the client’s perspective when reviewing work, providing team feedback, and presenting recommendations.
Investigate opportunities to improve client support and foster collaboration across agency departments.
Include agency executives in appropriate client meetings, provide management updates, and solicit feedback and direction as needed.
Participate in and present during new-business efforts and presentations when appropriate.
Demonstrate knowledge of client brands, brand equity, consumer definitions, and motivations.
Develop strategic and tactical communications plans, articulate their rationale, and establish measurable client business objectives.
Develop media-discipline strategies and tactics where appropriate, and keep the team informed about client and agency issues and account changes.
Address problems appropriately and pursue lasting solutions rather than quick fixes.
Ensure the group is trained on internal procedures, best practices, and media tools; assist in evaluating new tools, technologies, and AI capabilities.
Evaluate media and communications opportunities and provide recommendations.
Ensure appropriate staff utilization; train, motivate, develop, and lead a media planning team.
Prepare accurate, honest, and timely performance-management documents.
Encourage ongoing internal communication and establish communication processes with clients, media buying agencies of record, creative partners, and other collaborators.
Develop clear, compelling, and persuasive client presentations and other communications; lead presentations and adapt communication to the audience.
Communicate company information and move audiences toward desired actions through persuasive delivery.