UM - Director, Connections Planning

Position Summary

The role of Director, Media Planning is responsible for delivering strategic, digital media communication recommendations for a diverse group of clients as well as leading and inspiring a team of digital media professionals. You must think strategically and work collaboratively to create recommendations that deliver on client strategic goals and business objectives.

This role requires you to work as part of an integrated media planning team to ensure the product is grounded in insights and experience, resulting in flawless media executions

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the integration of digital into the overall strategic thinking of the media product, encouraging executions that deliver exceptional results.
• Ownership and responsibility for ensuring key client objectives met; active participation in client business planning meetings.
• Cultivate and strengthen client, agency and media partner relationships at the senior level.
• Lead and develop a direct relationship with the client to become a strategic digital partner with an in-depth understanding of their business.
• Deliver inspiring, motivating and persuasive presentations which bring creative ideas to life.
• Pursue organic growth opportunities and participate as required in new business presentations.
• Proactively seek opportunities to improve processes, methods, systems and/or services to better serve the client and agency.
• Lead and mentor a team of media professionals. Effectively communicate agency goals, manage workloads, provide ongoing performance feedback, support professional development goals and inspire great results.
• Produce and manage accurate revenue and projections.
• Act as a strategic thought leader in digital media – provide best-in-class digital strategy with thorough knowledge in data, search, programmatic, mobile and social.
• Lead the integration of Specialty Business Units (SBUs) and ensure Speciality Business Units (SBUs) are aligned to client business needs, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Ensure that all media plans meet client objectives with a fully data led approach, while adhering to the agency's values and philosophies.
• Maintain industry relationships, participate on committees and organizations; keep abreast of issues and developments and new media opportunities.
• Lead by example and play an active role in cultivating the culture of our organization.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Professional or educational background in Marketing and/or Advertising would give leverage to this application
• Executive level of experience in digital media planning.
• Deep understanding of the digital ecosystem inclusive of data, programmatic, social, and mobile, with a working knowledge of search - Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM).
• Solid understanding of the Canadian data landscape and its unique parameters.
• Working knowledge of ad operations (tagging, ad serving, etc.).
• History of developing positive on-going business relationships, focused on client service.
• Previous experience managing a portfolio of clients or total ownership of one large complex account with multiple lines of business.
• Proven experience delivering inspiring and persuasive presentations.
• Ability to manage complexity across multiple groups, clients and interagency partners.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and develop staff and lead high performing teams.
• Ability to delegate and prioritize work accordingly.
• Proven ability to approach obstacles with creativity and resolve.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively apply knowledge and insights gained from research and reporting resources to media planning.
• Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal).
• Solid attention to detail and accuracy.
• Advanced understanding of media research tools (e.g. Clear Decisions, Vividata, Neilson), and media software (e.g. Prisma, DoubleClick, Sizmek, Comscore, Facebook, Twitter and Google AdWords).
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint).

UM is a global media agency committed to Futureproofing our clients’ businesses for the now and the next. We leverage the transformational power of rich business analytics and real-time intelligence to maximize growth and activate the full consumer journey across content and connections. Our consultative approach and agile model, rooted in diversity, equity and belonging, drive better business outcomes for brands. As the leading global media network in Mediabrands, UM operates in over 100 countries, with more than 3,000 people innovating on a roster of clients including the following in Canada: BMO, Sobeys, PokerStars, FanDuel, Johnson & Johnson, SkipTheDishes, Sony, Spotify and Hershey. UM is the number one agency in Canada, as ranked by RECMA, and the most awarded media agency at the Media Innovation Awards and CMA Awards for the past two years. For more information, please visit umww.ca.

What's in it for you?
•    Generous paid time off with a minimum of 37 paid days off including vacation and monthly wellness days. We also have four-day long weekends, half-day summer Fridays, and meeting-free Friday afternoons year-round.
•    A flexible hybrid work model that works for you.
•    A focus on personal development with formal training opportunities, including mental health training and inclusion education for everyone.
•    A chance to be part of and grow within a global network of agencies.
•    The opportunity to contribute to our company culture by joining one of our many community-based employee groups, such as Black Employee Network, Girls on Fire, Hispanic or Latinx Alliance, Neuro Network, Pan-Asian Network, and Rainbow Lounge.

UM is an equal opportunity employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, colour, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, disability, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, provincial, or municipal law. If you require an accommodation in any aspect of the selection process, please reach out to [email protected].