Director, Media

About the Team

Marketing brings our brand to life through deep expertise and an authentic love for pets. The team is dedicated to delivering personalized experiences for our consumers, supported by best-in-class, data-driven marketing capabilities. The work spans key areas including Loyalty, Customer Analytics & Research, Brand Experience & Creative, and Omni-Channel Marketing. Each team member brings a unique perspective, working together to create meaningful and engaging experiences for both pets and pet parents.

 

About the Location

Collaborative Work Environment:At PetSmart, teamwork and connection are core to how we thrive. This role is based at our Phoenix Home Office, with an expectation of working a minimum of four days in the office each week. In a standard work week, associates may work up to one remote “flex day” (with leader approval). Our hybrid approach is designed to foster strong collaboration while also supporting flexibility and individual success.

 

About the Job

ROLE SUMMARY

The Director, Media is a strategic marketing leader responsible for setting the direction and driving the performance of PetSmart’s paid media, organic social and search visibility efforts. This role connects audience strategy, channel investment, and media measurement to grow customer demand, store traffic, digital engagement and sales across PetSmart’s businesses. The Director balances near-term business performance with long-term brand and customer growth, using clear objectives, disciplined investment and continuous learning to improve outcomes.

 

Reporting to the VP, Omni-Channel Marketing, this Director partners across Brand, Creative, Digital, Customer Analytics, Insights, CRM/Loyalty, Merchandising, and Services to build connected customer experiences across channels. The role leads the media team and key agency and platform relationships, bringing a strong point of view on how media can advance enterprise priorities and delivering transparent, accountable execution.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Media Strategy, Planning & Investment

• Set the integrated media strategy and annual investment approach, translating business and marketing priorities into clear channel roles, audience strategies, objectives and measures of success.
• Lead full-funnel planning across paid media, organic social and search visibility, connecting awareness, consideration and conversion efforts to PetSmart’s stores, app and website.
• Guide channel strategy across TV/CTV, online video, digital out-of-home, display, audio, search and shopping, social, influencer and affiliate, adapting the mix to customer & business goals.
• Balance investment in near-term sales, traffic and return with longer-term brand relevance, customer growth and consideration; make tradeoffs clear and grounded in evidence.
• Partner with Brand, Creative and business teams to develop & oversee strong media plans that connect enterprise brand work, commercial priorities, vendor partner and services initiatives.
• Shape search visibility priorities across paid search and organic search, including dedicated AEO/SEO efforts, in partnership with Digital, IT, and relevant marketing teams.

Performance, Measurement & Optimization

• Own media performance and investment stewardship, setting expectations for forecast accuracy, pacing, optimization and delivery against agreed business and channel objectives.
• Maintain & optimize our measurement approach that connects channel performance to business outcomes, including return on ad spend, incremental impact, customer acquisition, store traffic, digital engagement and sales.
• Partner with Insights, Analytics, Finance and measurement providers to use marketing mix modeling, incrementality and other measurement methods to improve investment decisions and quantify media’s contribution.
• Create a disciplined test-and-learn agenda across audiences, channels, and partners; turn results into practical recommendations and future plans.
• Ensure reporting is accurate, transparent and actionable, with clear views of results, risks, opportunities and recommended changes for Marketing leadership and cross-functional partners.

Agency, Platform & Partner Leadership

• Lead strategic relationships with key agencies, platforms, ad-tech and measurement partners.
• Maintain effective agency governance & operating rhythms; hold partners accountable for accurate planning, financial stewardship, proactive optimization and quality control.
• Evaluate media capabilities, technology and market opportunities; develop recommendations and business cases with Procurement, Legal, Technology and other partners as appropriate.
• Maintain a current point of view on changes in media, audience data, measurement, privacy, platform policies and industry practices, translating relevant developments into clear recommendations.

Team & Organizational Leadership

• Lead, develop and engage the media team, setting a shared vision, clear priorities and accountability while maintaining strong channel expertise and cross-functional partnership.
• Represent media strategy, performance, investment needs and recommendations with clarity in Marketing leadership and enterprise planning forums.
• Build strong working relationships across Marketing and the broader organization, partnering to create an environment that aligns teams around shared customer and business outcomes.
• Advance the media operating model, capabilities and ways of working to improve effectiveness, collaboration, learning and operational excellence.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• 10+ years of progressive experience in media strategy, integrated marketing, advertising or a related field, with experience leading media programs in a retail, CPG or omnichannel business.
• Demonstrated ability to build full-funnel media strategies and connect channel investment to customer, brand and business outcomes.
• Strong understanding of media planning and buying across digital and offline channels, including paid social, search, video, programmatic, streaming and emerging platforms.
• Experience with marketing measurement, including marketing mix modeling, incrementality, attribution, forecasting and performance optimization.
• Experience managing agency and platform relationships, budgets, planning processes and partner accountability.
• Strong financial and analytical acumen, with the ability to translate complex performance information into clear choices and recommendations.
• Excellent communication, leadership and influencing skills; able to align teams and senior stakeholders in a complex, matrixed environment.
• Experience leading and developing teams, setting priorities and improving operating processes in a fast-paced organization.

Additional Job Considerations

• This role requires collaboration, teamwork, and face-to-face interaction with colleagues, leaders, and/or clients.
• Being in the office ensures access to leaders, cross-functional partners, and resources necessary to make timely decisions and drive results.
• On-site presence in accordance with our FlexSmart policy supports our culture of innovation, mentorship, and engagement, which is integral to our success in developing the best team.

* This is not intended to be an all-inclusive, exhaustive list of all essential job functions for this position. PetSmart retains the right to change or assign other required job duties to this position.

About the Culture

Our associates are the heart of Team PetSmart. Together, we’re building the best team in retail through our values-based culture, connection, and teamwork. Our goal is to create a culture where associates learn and grow together, thrive as effective teams and challenge each other to be the best they can be. 

 

Our home office offers outstanding amenities in a fun and rewarding workplace including:

• Pet-friendly environment, bring your pets to work and enjoy the on-site dog park!
• On-Site Events & Adoptions, enjoy community-building opportunities, including pet adoption days, seasonal celebrations, family events, art events, & holiday festivals
• “Top Dog” gym with equipment, fitness classes, massage therapists, personal trainers, and wellness spaces
• “Sit & Stay” Café serving fresh breakfast and lunch options, snacks, & more
• “Lil Paws” NAEYC-accredited onsite childcare facility providing high-quality early education
• Paid Volunteer Opportunities to spend time doing good for causes close to heart
• Print Center and Business Services, Dry Cleaning, Mother's Rooms, Sustainable Infrastructure & more

PetSmart provides an equal opportunity for all associates and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics.