Associate Director, Planning

About the role

• Agency: UM
• Job Function: Media
• Job Subfunction: Media Planning and Buying

Position Summary

This role is responsible for leading media planning and campaign management for a portfolio of titles throughout the year on a major theatrical/home entertainment/television account. The Associate Director sets the strategic direction for assigned titles, guides the team from initial brief through execution and reporting, and ensures media recommendations support each title's marketing objectives.

The ideal candidate combines a strong understanding of all media with creative, big-picture thinking and the ability to translate ideas into actionable campaign strategies. This role serves as a key client partner, with opportunities to lead presentations and strategic discussions with senior-level clients, while developing the team and coordinating cross-functional partners.

Essential Functions

• Leads assigned titles throughout the year, overseeing campaign strategy, planning, execution, and reporting
• Develops integrated media strategies that reflect each title's audience, positioning, and business objectives.
• Guides the development of innovative media ideas and partnerships that bring each title's strategy to life and engage audiences.
• Provides strategic direction and oversight to the planning team, ensuring recommendations and deliverables are cohesive, accurate, and aligned with client objectives.
• Leads client presentations and discussions, clearly articulating campaign strategies, recommendations, and results to senior-level stakeholders.
• Builds strong client relationships, anticipates needs, and provides informed recommendations as campaign priorities evolve.
• Partners with Investment, Strategy, Analytics, and Research to connect strategic thinking with effective campaign execution.
• Oversees budgets, timelines, and resources across assigned titles, helping the team balance priorities throughout the year.
• Evaluates campaign performance and guides optimization recommendations and learnings for future titles.
• Coaches and develops Managers and junior staff, fostering accountability, sound judgment, and professional growth.
• Supports leadership on broader account initiatives, including annual upfront planning and process improvements.
• Contributes to interagency collaboration, connecting media strategy with broader creative and marketing efforts.

Qualifications

Work Experience

• Progressive experience in media planning and/or digital media planning and buying, with demonstrated responsibility for leading integrated campaigns.
• Experience overseeing campaigns from initial strategy through execution and reporting.
• Demonstrated success managing client relationships and presenting strategic recommendations.
• Success in leading and developing teams.
• Entertainment experience a strong plus.

Skills

• Strong understanding of media (particularly broadcast and digital) and how channels work together to achieve campaign objectives.
• Strategic and creative thinker who can identify compelling opportunities and guide the development of bigger media ideas.
• Strong presentation skills, with the ability to lead discussions and build confidence with senior-level clients.
• Ability to translate client objectives into clear strategic direction for the team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong leadership, judgment, and proactive problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to oversee multiple titles and competing priorities while maintaining a high standard of work.
• Solid understanding of industry trends, audience insights, and planning/measurement models.
• Ability to build effective partnerships across disciplines and agencies.

• $125,000
• To the extent permissible by local law, Omnicom's policy requires employees to work in the office for a minimum of three days a week, unless additional in-office days are directed by their agency or manager.

• Omnicom is committed to hiring and developing exceptional talent.
• We agree that talent is uniquely distributed, and we're focused on developing inclusive teams that can bring the best solutions to everything we do.
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