Manager, Planning; CPG Client

Company description

Spark Foundry was built during the most transformative time in the history of advertising and marketing. We deliver everything a traditional media agency has to offer and have grown into one of the world’s most successful agencies by helping brands evolve their marketing by leveraging identity, commerce, artificial intelligence, and more to connect with people. Transformation is part of our DNA.

Spark Foundry’s start‑up spirit delivers high‑touch approaches and a never‑ending desire to challenge the status quo. Combined with Publicis Media’s powerhouse soul leveraging connected data assets, advanced AI applications, and investment clout, we “Bring HEAT to Brands.” No other agency possesses the expertise that we do to address today’s most pressing challenges to drive business transformation through media.

The Manager, Planning is the primary, day‑to‑day lead for end‑to‑end communications planning. They are responsible for translating marketing/digital media objectives into communication plan development action steps and managing the Associate(s) through various projects. The Manager is the primary point of contact for clients on stewardship requests and is responsible for having a firm grasp of both strategic and functional media knowledge.

They should be ready/able to step in and handle situations when the Associate Director is not available.

This role offers frequent client contact, ownership of the integrated plan, and the opportunity to lead project management and cross‑media integration.

• Assists Associate Director with all aspects of digital media plan development/recommendations
• Interprets communications/digital media strategy and translates into communication planning action steps
• Oversees/manages Associate(s) and day‑to‑day operation of all media activity
• Demonstrate initiative by researching and identifying valuable information/insights to improve media product
• Fully embraces Connections that Captivate and uses as guiding principles for all media/communication recommendations
• Determines and supervises the best possible implementation of all approved communication plans and projects
• Acts as primary point of contact for client stewardship requests
• Learns and understands all phases of the clients’ marketing objectives and provides media recommendations to deliver against these objectives
• Understands all proprietary research tools/processes and applies learning during communication planning
• Prepares and presents communication plans, as needed, including objectives, strategy, rationale, and all backup materials
• Establishes strong working relationship with partner agencies (where/when applicable), delivering a seamless communications process
• Demonstrates agility via multitasking multiple brands, strategic development and plan stewardship, management of Associate(s)
• Develops collaborative working relationships with all implementation teams, ensuring they fully understand brand communication objectives/strategies
• Trains and develops Associate(s), including:
  • Effective level of delegation
  • Managing group dynamics/relationships between Associate(s)
  • Establishes and demonstrates strong leadership skills
  • Evaluates performance of Associate(s) via PMP process, including assisting in the establishment of the cascading goals
  • Checks work of Associate(s) to ensure accuracy
  • Identifies opportunities for Associate(s) career development
• Participates in MDS Training offerings

• A minimum of 3 years of digital media planning experience
• Strong familiarity with relevant systems and software, such as Media Tools, Kantar, MRI, Microsoft Excel, etc.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to prioritize and organize projects for self and Associate(s)
• Excellent understanding of media fundamentals
• Demonstrates ability in training and leadership capability
• Provides an energy level that brings new and exciting ideas to the planning function

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