Director, Connections Planning

The role of Director, Communications Designer is responsible for delivering strategic, integrated media communication recommendations for a diverse group of clients as well as leading and inspiring a team of planning 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.

• Lead 360 degree strategic thinking for overall 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 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.
• Maintain industry relationships, participate on committees and organizations; keep abreast of issues and developments and new media opportunities.
• 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 billings and projections.
• Act as a thought leader – proactively bring forward client education and identify opportunities as appropriate.
• Drive collaboration and communication across Specialist Business Units (SBUs) and peer groups to inspire great work.
• Lead by example and play an active role in cultivating the culture of our organization.
• Ensure delivery against mandate outlined in scope of work.
• Ensure that all media plans meet client objectives with fully supported documentation, and that they adhere to the agency's values and philosophies.

• Professional or educational background in Marketing and/or Advertising would give leverage to this application
• Executive level of related media, advertising, brand or marketing strategy/planning experience.
• History of developing positive on-going business relationships, focus 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.
• Solutions oriented and approaches obstacles with creativity and resolve.
• Ability to manage complexity across multiple groups, clients and interagency partners.
• Active involvement in developing capabilities of direct report(s) and prioritizing and delegating work accordingly.
• Ability to develop and foster strong relationships and partnerships internally and externally.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively apply knowledge and insights gained from research and reporting resources to media planning.
• Curiousity with a passion for continuous development.
• Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal).
• Independent thinker with highly developed organizational skills and a strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Advanced understanding of media research tools (e.g. Clear Decisions, Vividata, Neilson) and media software (e.g. Prisma).
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)

Initiative unlocks business growth for the world’s most ambitious brands. We believe in the power of media to reshape our industry and orchestrate a brand’s entire consumer experience, by balancing both what unites people and what makes them different. When brands unite people in culture, they build Fame, and when brands connect individuals to their unique journeys, they build customer Flow.

Initiative builds Fame and Flow for brands like Amazon, RBC, LEGO,…