Director - Planning - Carat USA - San Francisco

Job description
OVERALL SUMMARY - POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Director’s role is managerial, but also one of agency leadership. This individual may own a planning group and their responsibility may extend from complete oversight of assigned clients, to staff management and development. This person sets the working style for the group and is responsible for the media work and planning operations for assigned accounts across multiple media channels. The Director also provides strategic leadership and understands all aspects of their client’s business. The Director cultivates senior relationships within the agency, with clients and with media properties. They are also active in the media community – sitting on panels and other public opportunities.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Media Planning and Execution:
Responsible for total management of an assigned client’s business (both traditional and digital) throughout the entire strategic, planning and implementation process
Is in command of the business, “owns the role”

Develop a tight partnership with all agency service line leads to ensure proper team resource management and adherence to contract terms
Identify all up-sell opportunities with existing clients, including ability to sell Carat and Aegis offerings
Collaborate with Group Director in the creation and negotiation of yearly client contracts and supplemental proposals and manage account profitability
Collaborate with Group Director in setting negotiations strategies
Research and implement new techniques and technologies that are relevant for clients’ media strategies
Successfully lead the utilization of resources to help guide client’s marketing goals in their respective markets (syndicated, proprietary, analyst data)
Draw insight from program results and ensure dialogue with client and internal team on informed strategic implications
Provide and discuss industry information on media, markets and related dynamics
Build and maintain relationships with media community; continue to develop partners and higher relationships for exchange of ideas
Solicits new industry concepts and tools that will help grow and enhance client businesses
Effectively contributes client “case studies” to national organization

Client & Internal Relationships:
Build trusting collaborative relationships with clients of all levels
Maintain senior client relationships
Manage expectations of clients and deliverables
Stay on top of business and client concerns to head off issues early
Accurately represents the client’s point of view when reviewing work, leverage this perspective when providing feedback to team and presenting to client, ultimately focused on doing the best work for the Client’s business
Invest time to investigate opportunities for providing better Client support
Ensure collaboration among all Agency departments; fosters great teamwork
Include Carat Executives in appropriate Client meetings
Provide appropriate management updates and solicit feedback and direction when appropriate
Participate and present in New Business efforts and presentations, where appropriate

Strategic Thinking & Leadership:
Demonstrate a knowledge of client brands, brands equity, consumer definition and motivations
Lead and contribute to the development of strategic and tactical media plans
Articulate effective strategic rationale and logic flow
Develop specific, measurable client business objectives
Develop strategies and tactics by media discipline, where appropriate
Ensure key information is provided to team regarding client issues, internal agency issues, changes in account status, etc.
Respond appropriately when presented with problems and issues
Seek lasting solutions rather than quick fixes
Ensure group is properly trained on all internal procedures, best practices and Carat Media tools – (DDS, Tempo – additional as needed)
Assists Carat national with evaluation of new tools and technologies
Meet with media representatives in order to keep abreast of new technologies and industry trends as well as potential client opportunities
Evaluate media/communication opportunities and provide sound recommendations as appropriate
Ensure appropriate staff utilization
Train, motivate, develop and lead a media planning team
Construct and deliver accurate, honest and timely performance management documents

Communications Skills:
Encourage open, ongoing internal communication
Establish and maintain communications process with clients, and agency service teams for each piece of business within the team
Develop client presentations and other important communication, communication that is clear, compelling and persuasive
Lead client presentations
Adapt communication style to relevant audience
Link communication to audience’s concerns and perspectives
Move audience to desired action through clear and persuasive delivery of information
Communicate key information about our companies

Desired Skills and Experience
Bachelor’s degree
10+ years of media planning experience, which include progressive client management experience
Deep knowledge and experience with multi-channel marketing
Strong client service experience
Proven leadership ability – managed a team of planners & supervisors
Proven ability to interact with people at all levels of an organization, fostering strong cross-functional teamwork and results
Strategic thinking ability with balanced analytical and creative approach to tactical planning
Experience successfully bringing together people from different disciplines, internal and external to achieve desired outcomes
Understanding of multiple communications channels and their role in brand marketing
Research experience
Commitment to delivering creative solutions, and the ability to align team members behind creative solutions
High-level proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook

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