Manager / SD / AVP - Brand Strategy

Overview

Designations: Manager / Senior Director/ Associate Vice PresidentExperience: 3–14 years, depending on designationLocation: Mumbai / Gurgaon

About the Role

Publicis Groupe is looking for strategic professionals across multiple levels to develop integrated, consumer-centric, and data-led media strategies aligned with client business and marketing objectives.

The role involves translating business challenges into actionable strategic recommendations by leveraging consumer insights, market intelligence, media opportunities, and campaign performance data. The individual will collaborate with media planning, investment, digital, analytics, creative, and client leadership teams to deliver integrated solutions and measurable business outcomes.

The scope of responsibilities will vary by designation, from developing media strategies and generating insights to leading strategic direction across key accounts, managing senior client relationships, and driving strategic growth.

Key Responsibilities

1. Integrated Media Strategy

• Develop integrated media strategies aligned with client business objectives, marketing priorities, and campaign goals.

• Translate business challenges into clear media objectives, strategic frameworks, and actionable recommendations.

• Drive strategic thinking across digital and traditional media channels, including TV, Print, Radio, and emerging platforms, as relevant.

• Lead annual, quarterly, and campaign-level strategic planning.

• Develop media approaches that balance reach, frequency, engagement, consideration, and business outcomes.

2. Consumer Insights & Market Intelligence

• Develop audience, consumer, and category insights to inform media strategy and investment decisions.

• Analyse consumer behaviour, media consumption patterns, competitive activity, and market trends.

• Leverage research, market data, campaign performance, and industry intelligence to identify growth opportunities.

• Translate complex data into clear insights and strategic recommendations.

• Identify emerging platforms, technologies, and media opportunities to strengthen client strategies.

3. Data-Led Planning & Effectiveness

• Use research, analytics, and performance data to develop evidence-based media strategies.

• Define strategic KPIs and measurement frameworks aligned with client objectives.

• Evaluate campaign effectiveness and identify opportunities to improve media performance.

• Collaborate with analytics and measurement teams to incorporate insights into strategic recommendations.

• Support continuous optimisation through campaign learnings and effectiveness analysis.

4. Client & Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with planning, buying, investment, digital, analytics, creative, and account management teams.

• Present strategic recommendations and media approaches to clients and internal stakeholders.

• Build strong client relationships and contribute to strategic discussions and business reviews.

• Translate client briefs into clear strategic direction and actionable deliverables.

• Support alignment between client objectives, media strategies, and execution plans.

5. Strategic Innovation & Business Growth

• Identify opportunities for innovative media solutions, partnerships, and integrated communication approaches.

• Contribute to new-business pitches, strategic proposals, and client growth initiatives.

• Develop differentiated strategic recommendations based on consumer insights and market opportunities.

• Stay updated on media trends, evolving consumer behaviour, technology, and industry developments.

• Support the development of strategic frameworks, best practices, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

6. Team Leadership & Development

• Guide strategy and planning teams in developing effective, insight-led media recommendations.

• Review strategic outputs to ensure analytical rigour, quality, and alignment with business objectives.

• Mentor team members and support capability development, where applicable.

• Foster collaboration, critical thinking, and a culture of continuous learning.

• Drive strategic consistency and excellence across assigned accounts or client portfolios.

Required Skills & Experience

• Experience in media strategy, integrated media planning, digital strategy, or marketing strategy.

• Strong understanding of the Indian media landscape, consumer behaviour, and category dynamics.

• Knowledge of digital and traditional media channels and their role in integrated communication strategies.

• Proven ability to develop consumer-centric, data-led strategies aligned with business objectives.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.

• Excellent presentation, communication, storytelling, and strategic thinking capabilities.

• Strong client management and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Understanding of campaign measurement, media effectiveness, and strategic KPI development.

• Experience managing multiple accounts, projects, and priorities in a fast-paced agency environment.

• Team management, senior client leadership, and strategic business development experience, depending on the designation.

Preferred Background

• Experience with a leading media agency, advertising agency, or agency network.

• Exposure to multiple industry categories and large-scale brands.

• Experience working on national, multi-market, or integrated campaigns.

• Experience contributing to new-business pitches and strategic growth initiatives.

• Familiarity with consumer research, media measurement, analytics tools, and emerging media technologies.

Role Level Alignment:

Manager:

• Develop media strategies, consumer insights, and campaign-level recommendations.

• Lead strategic planning deliverables and coordinate with cross-functional teams.

• Support client presentations and contribute to business development initiatives.

Senior Director: 

• Lead strategic direction across major client accounts or a portfolio of brands.

• Drive senior client engagement, integrated strategy development, and strategic team leadership.

• Oversee the quality of strategic recommendations and contribute to account growth and new-business pitches.

Associate Vice President: 

• Provide strategic leadership across key accounts or a broader client portfolio.

• Act as a senior strategic advisor to clients and influence marketing and media investment decisions.

• Drive strategic innovation, leadership development, business growth, and cross-functional integration.

Why Publicis Groupe?

• Opportunity to work with leading brands across diverse industries.

• Exposure to integrated media strategy, consumer insights, analytics, and emerging media capabilities.

• Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams across media, digital, creative, and technology.

• Opportunities to influence strategic decision-making and drive measurable business impact.