Description
Position at EssenceMediacom
EssenceMediacom is a new breed of media agency. Grounded in analytics & insights and powered by data & technology, we believe in the power of media and creative to drive breakthroughs for the world’s best brands. We help clients understand the modern marketing paradox and discover the breakthroughs brands need to win with their consumers. We are designed for the new communications economy — built on data & technology, built for people & algorithms, built around diverse schools of thought, built to test & learn at scale, and, crucially, built to evolve.As an Associate Director of Planning, you will direct the day-to-day account activities of the group and play a key role in translating marketing and advertising objectives into overall media strategies. You will direct the development of media plans consistent with the approved strategy. You will liaise and coordinate with global teams to share best practices and learnings. In addition, you will partner closely with the activation team for campaign implementation, media experimentation and test and learn opportunities. You will provide strategic rigor to implement ideas and oversee the day-to-day management of campaigns, providing updates to key stakeholders on the status of all account projects.
This role will be part of the Universal Pictures International team:
Universal Pictures is an American film studio, owned by Comcast through its wholly owned subsidiary NBCUniversal, and is one of Hollywood's "Big Six" film studios. It is the world's fourth oldest major film studio and is known for many critically acclaimed and iconic films that have achieved box office records. From Jaws (1975) to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) to Jurassic Park (1993) and the Despicable Me franchise, Universal Pictures continues to engage audiences around the world with imaginative films and storytelling. The most recent success being the musical adaptation of Wicked which continues to break box office milestones and won the Golden Globe for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement.
Working on one of the largest movie studios (with an incredible 2025 slate), you will have the opportunity to work in an international capacity, crafting media campaigns for a global audience. If you are a strong collaborator, passionate about entertainment and driven by innovation, we want to hear from you. Key Responsibilities:
- Lead media planning for global film releases that deliver against planning objectives and strategies (digital/social focus).
- Conduct marketing and media analyses to support recommendations.
- Provide insight-driven recommendations and POVs.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (activation and analytics) to provide insightful end of campaign analyses to shape future campaigns and strategies.
- Train planning staff in media and marketing disciplines as well as the specifics of the Client’s business and industry.
- Foster a culture of collaboration and innovation.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships internally and with clients, media vendors and GroupM teams.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, business administration, and communications; OR equivalent professional work experience.
- 5-8 years of account planning or related media/communications planning experience, with a focus on team leadership and management.
- Excellent strategic thinking.
- Good client relationship skills, including experience interacting and presenting to senior-level clients.
- Previous experience working across all media channels (digital and traditional). A heavier focus on digital with social media platform knowledge is a plus.
- Excellent quantitative skills, including analytical abilities and math proficiency.
- Ability to effectively manage direct reports, prioritizing and organizing multiple assignments for both self and team direct reports, where applicable.
- Demonstrate genuine curiosity and interest in our clients and their business.
- Previous experience working in a data-driven environment is a plus.
- Able to work autonomously in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment.
Life at GroupMOur passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. GroupM employees can tap into the global GroupM & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days. GroupM is WPP’s media investment group and the world’s leading media investment company with a mission to shape the next era of media where advertising works better for people. The company is responsible for more than $60 billion in annual media investment, as measured by the independent research bureau COMvergence. Through its global agencies Mindshare, Wavemaker, EssenceMediacom, and T&Pm, and cross-channel performance (GroupM Nexus), data (Choreograph), entertainment (GroupM Motion Entertainment) and investment solutions, GroupM leverages a unique combination of global scale, expertise, and innovation to generate sustained value for clients wherever they do business. Discover more at www.groupm.com.GroupM provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race; color; sex; gender identity; sexual orientation; religious practices and observances; national origin; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; status as a protected veteran or spouse/family member of a protected veteran; or disability.GroupM is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with GroupM, please send an e-mail to GroupM Leave Administration at Leave.Administration@groupm.com or call (212) 297-8507 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
