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.

• Assist Associate Director with all aspects of digital media plan development/recommendations
• Interpret communications/digital media strategy and translate into communication planning action steps
• Oversee/manage 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 embrace Connections that Captivate and use as guiding principles for all media/communication recommendations
• Determine and supervise the best possible implementation of all approved communication plans and projects
• Act as primary point of contact for client stewardship requests
• Learn and understand all phases of the clients’ marketing objectives and provide media recommendations to deliver against these objectives
• Understand all proprietary research tools/processes and apply learning during communication planning
• Prepare and present communication plans, as needed, including objectives, strategy, rationale, and all backup materials
• Establish strong working relationship with partner agencies (where/when applicable), delivering a seamless communications process
• Demonstrate agility via multitasking multiple brands, strategic development and plan stewardship, management of Associate(s)
• Develop collaborative working relationships with all implementation teams, ensuring they fully understand brand communication objectives/strategies
• Train and develop Associate(s), including:

• Effective level of delegation
• Managing group dynamics/relationships between Associate(s)
• Establish and demonstrate strong leadership skills
• Evaluate performance of Associate(s) via PMP process, including assisting in the establishment of the cascading goals
• Check work of Associate(s) to ensure accuracy
• Identify opportunities for Associate(s) career development

• 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
• Demonstrate ability in training and leadership capability
• Provide an energy level that brings new and exciting ideas to the planning function

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…