The Group Director role is to provide planning leadership on multiple businesses/brands. The Group Director manages a book of business that may be one larger client/brand or several smaller clients/brands. The Group Director is responsible for creating a link between Carat and divisional client management, and to drive the smooth creation and delivery of media plans. The Group Director must be the broad thinking driver and motivator of the strategy and activation teams that support a given division.
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This Group Director’s role is also one of agency leadership. The individual in this position is responsible for contributing to agency and department initiatives, media operations, and new business efforts.
KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Media Planning and Execution:
Direct the development of planning objectives and strategies that align with the client’s marketing objectives
Interpret research and provide insight and thought leadership that effectively translates brand marketing objectives into succinct media strategies
Responsible for service level of entire Carat product throughout North America, at the client divisional level, including staffing, resourcing and financials
Primary contact for senior Brand Management (AMD, MD) and North America Media and Marketing
Research and implement new techniques and technologies that are relevant for clients’ traditional and digital media strategies
Oversee the analysis of program results and dialogue with client and internal team on informed strategic implications
Balance needs of Carat and DAN resources, with a responsibility to facilitate and foster relevant partnerships
Create and negotiate yearly client contracts and supplemental proposals and manage account profitability
Deliver revenue growth goals established in conjunction with executive management
Reevaluate progress against revenue/profit goals monthly
Actively 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
Contribute, participate and present in agency new business efforts and presentations
Client & Internal Relationships:
Build and maintain trusting, collaborative relationships with senior clients
Manage expectations of senior clients and deliverables
Identify and secure relationships with key senior clients to deepen agency relationship
Serve as the lead in managing the agency-client relationship
Accurately represent the client’s point of view when reviewing work, leverage this perspective when providing feedback to team and presenting to client
Grow business opportunities within current clients
Ensure collaboration among all agency departments; foster great teamwork
Include Carat Executives in appropriate client meetings
Actively represent Carat within industry (attending industry functions, joining local market committees)
Strategic Thinking & Leadership:
Demonstrate a deep knowledge of client brands, brands equity, consumer definition and motivations
Lead overarching strategic thinking, ensure media strategy is align and meets client objectives
View strategic goals in a broader business context
Establish priorities for key agency projects
Initiate long-term projects for teams that will contribute to greater agency revenue
Demonstrate strong analytical and strategic skills to help solve client’s business problems
Implement efficient and effective solutions to complex problems
Arrive at solutions that balance the needs of Aegis, Carat and clients
Actively keep current with industry trends, media business and tools – buying systems, research, resources and associations
Ensure key information is provided to team regarding client issues, internal agency issues, changes in account status, etc.
Manage assigned groups’ staffing needs (hiring, promotions, performance)
Manage the work of assigned media groups, providing leadership, direction and motivation as appropriate
Manage staff utilization
Construct and deliver accurate, honest and timely performance management documents
Train, motivate and develop assigned staff
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
Direct the development of client presentations and other important communication, communication that is clear, compelling and persuasive
Lead client presentations
Adapt communications 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 company
EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:
Bachelor’s degree
15 + years of media planning experience, which include progressive client management experience
Deep knowledge and experience with multiple communication channels and their role in brand marketing
Strong understanding of client’s business environment and agency services business models
Proven ability to think strategically, with a balanced analytical and creative approach, and the ability to teach others to think strategically
Ability to generate big ideas with strong motivational skills that can apply to all staff levels
Unparalleled client service professionalism, maturity, and diplomacy
Research savvy
Proven leadership ability – experience managing multiple groups of planners, supervisors and directors
Skilled leader of process and output that takes the client outside comfort zone
Collaborative and able to successfully bring people from different disciplines, internal and external to Carat, together to achieve desired outcomes
Current knowledge of trends and innovations in media
High-level proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook
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