Associate Director, Brand Experience

Company Description

 

At Publicis Collective, we know tomorrow’s challenges won’t be solved by today’s solutions. It’s why we support our teams with the resources and tools they need to continue redefining the future of marketing. It’s also why clients rely on us to lead the way in connecting media, data, technology, and teams by what matters most – business outcomes. 

 

Publicis Collective’s consultative practitioners are catalysts for business growth and innovation, we’re more than media experts. We are an incubator for high-performing talent and a launchpad for ideas that push the boundaries of what’s possible. 

 

As part of the global Publicis Media network, we’re backed by the power, scale, and benefits of Publicis Groupe, one of the largest and most celebrated marketing and communications platforms on the planet. 

   

How are we different? There are three core values at the center of our approach that help us stay ahead – curious, open, and driven.  

  

Curious - A deep curiosity compels us to go beyond the brief to deliver exceptional outcomes.  

  

Open - We value diverse perspectives and new ways of working. 

  

Driven - We are ambitious, rigorous, self-disciplined, and resilient in our pursuit of excellence.  

 

If you're a collaborative and enterprising practitioner with a passion for media and a desire to make a real impact, we want to hear from you. 

 

Let's shape the future together.

Overview

The Associate Director, Brand Experience will lead the digital strategy and planning process for assigned clients, playing a pivotal role in shaping brand strategy. This leadership position involves fostering strong client relationships across all levels and managing the internal strategy team. The Associate Director will also be hands-on in executing strategic plans and ensuring fiscal accountability for budget management.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate and lead development of media and communications strategies:
  • Partner with strategic solutions to interrogate client briefs and respond as relevant
  • Work with strategic solutions and audience outcome teams to develop recommended audience approaches, including identifying sources of growth, segmenting and prioritizing audiences, and developing audience data strategies
  • Develop a strong understanding of target audiences, including multicultural segments, using research tools and data-led analysis
  • Craft effective communications strategies rooted in audience insight and a deep understanding of the client's business
  • Partner with cross-functional agencies to integrate media into holistic marketing strategies and creative ideas
  • Present strategic approaches and/or media strategies to clients

• Steward client budgets and media plan scenarios:
  • Oversee and evaluate full-funnel media plan budget scenarios and recommended channel allocations using proprietary and syndicated tools, applications, historical performance data, and audience insights
  • Assist direct reports in routine budget QA, troubleshooting, and problem solving
  • Identify optimal creative formats and messaging for creative concepting and tactical planning

• Effectively manage clients, direct reports & cross-functional teams:
  • Oversee timelines, projects, and cross-functional teams effectively
  • Perform quality assurance (QA) and review client deliverables to ensure accuracy, quality, and excellence in financial stewardship, budget management, POVs, internal briefs, and recommendations
  • Build strong, collaborative client relationships to instill trust and authority on behalf of the agency
  • Coach and support direct reports in skill development, ensuring the completion of mandatory trainings
  • Manage and develop direct reports through catch-ups, soliciting 360-degree feedback, and evaluating performance through wrap-up sessions as directed by Publicis

• Deliver thought leadership:
  • Craft points of view (POVs) on key category, competitive, client, and media opportunities
  • Identify and implement optimizations for agency and client processes, tools, and systems
  • Maintain in-depth knowledge of media trends and clients' categories

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in digital media planning across channels with increasing responsibility
• Previous team management experience
• Experience working within media systems/platforms (Kantar, Media Tools Flowchart Software, R/F and Optimization Software, comScore, Prisma, Mbox, MRI/GfK, GWI, etc.)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite with strong understanding of Excel and PowerPoint
• Proven expertise in holistic media strategy, planning, implementation, and reporting.
• Strong budget management experience, including forecasting and actualizing budgets.
• Demonstrated business acumen with a track record of success in media services.
• Ability to think strategically and critically, offering unconventional solutions to complex problems.
• Strong relationship-building skills with clients, vendors, and media representatives, with a history of negotiating effectively to achieve desired outcomes.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills to effectively lead meetings with key clients and internal stakeholders

Additional Information

Our Publicis Groupe motto “Viva La Différence” means we’re better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all that we do as an organization. We are focused on fostering belonging and creating equitable & inclusive experiences for all talent.

 

Publicis Groupe provides robust and inclusive benefit programs and policies to support the evolving and diverse needs of our talent and enable every person to grow and thrive. Our benefits package includes medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401K, as well as parental and family care leave, family forming assistance, tuition reimbursement, and flexible time off.

 

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact [email protected].

 

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

 

Compensation Range: USD $97,375.00 - USD $155,961.00/Annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 6/14/2026.