Merkle is a leading technology-enabled, data-driven customer experience management (CXM) company. For over 30 years, Fortune 1,000 companies and leading nonprofit organizations have partnered with us to build and maximize the value of their customer portfolios.

This is a remote role. East Coast Business Hours are Required

One of our Merkle Teams is looking to add an Associate Director, Planning to their team. We are looking for someone who has experience in both traditional and digital media planning. If you enjoy providing a well-rounded media plan reaching your client's target audience where they are; then this is the job for you!

As the Associate Director, Planning you're in leadership and a managerial position. Reporting to the Sr Director, Integrated Planning you would set the working style for the group, lead the strategic direction, and is a marketing partner for the clients.

The expectation of the Associate Director, Media Planning is to be an expert on the clients’ business and a leader on the daily client business and within the agency. You would demonstrate a working knowledge of the media space, for both digital and traditional channels, and available media research.

You will identify business opportunities and solutions. You will set the tone for how the account is managed by assuring focus on important client goals and delivering appropriate resources while maintaining profitability.  

You will be a collaborative piece, leading the business with the clients and within the agency, being the main conduit between Planning, Activation, and Analytics. You would set the tone for how the account is managed by ensuring focus on main client goals and delivering appropriate resources while maintaining profitability. 

A big part of this role will be partnering with local franchisee representatives. You will build strong relationships with each market by building trust and developing the best media plan for their local market.

Sample of Responsibilities:

• Accountable for media plan timelines, accuracy, and overall excellence 
• Lead the process of strategic media planning and serve as a resource for supervisors, planners and assistants for advice and counsel 
• Demonstrate ability to use resources to help guide client’s marketing goals in their respective markets (syndicated, proprietary, analyst data) 
• Build trusting, collaborative relationships with clients at appropriate levels 
• Identify opportunities to offer other agency service line offerings to existing clients 
• Accurately represent the client’s point of view when reviewing work, leverage this perspective when providing feedback to team and presenting to client 
• Manage up and down the reporting structure 
• Direct the development of client presentations and other communication that is compelling and clear
• Partner with Activation and Analytics to lead client presentations 

• 5 + years of media planning experience in a large agency setting required 
• 3+ years of Traditional media planning experience required  
• 3+ years digital media experience required
• 3+ years reporting on and presenting Return on investment directly to clients required  
• 3 + years managing a team of planners & supervisors in a large agency setting required 
• 3+ years advanced Excel experience, including formula management / creation, V-LookUps and pivot tables required  

What you get:

• Generous paid holiday schedule
• Opportunity to get experience with a variety of leading brands
• Comprehensive healthcare plans
• 401(k) with employer match
• Flexible time-off
• 16 weeks paid parental leave

The anticipated salary range for this position is $100,000-$135,000. Salary is based on a range of factors that include relevant experience, knowledge, skills, other job-related qualifications, and geography. A range of medical, dental, vision, 401(k) matching,  paid time off, and/or other benefits also are available. For more information regarding  dentsu benefits, please visit www.dentsubenefitsplus.com.

Employees from diverse or underrepresented backgrounds encouraged to apply.

Dentsu (the "Company") is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee of the Company, on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other legally-recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done that will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing an undue hardship on the Company. Please contact [email protected] if you need assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process or to request or discuss an accommodation in connection with a job at the Company to which you are applying.

About dentsu

Dentsu is the network designed for what's next, helping clients predict and plan for disruptive future opportunities in the sustainable economy. Taking a people-centered approach to business transformation, dentsu combines Japanese innovation with a diverse, global perspective to drive client growth and to shape society www.dentsu.com.

We are champions for meaningful progress and we strive to be a force for good—for our people, for our clients, for the industry and for our society. We keep our people at the center, creating space for growth, understanding and learning so they can thrive. We embed diversity, in our mindset, in our solutions and in our teams to empower an inclusive, equitable and culturally fluent environment. Building this culture within our teams makes us better collaborators with each other and with our clients, driving better outcomes for all.

Dentsu (the "Company") is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee of the Company, on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other legally-recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done that will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing an undue hardship on the Company. Please contact your recruiter if you need assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process or to request or discuss an accommodation in connection with a job at the Company to which you are applying.

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About dentsu 
Dentsu is the network designed for what’s next, helping clients predict and plan for disruptive future opportunities in the sustainable economy. Taking a people-centered approach to business transformation, dentsu combines Japanese innovation with a diverse, global perspective to drive client growth and to shape society www.dentsu.com. 

We are champions for meaningful progress and we strive to be a force for good—for our people, for our clients, for the industry and for our society. We keep our people at the center, creating space for growth, understanding and learning so they can thrive. We embed diversity, in our mindset, in our solutions and in our teams to empower an inclusive, equitable and culturally fluent environment. Building this culture within our teams makes us better collaborators with each other and with our clients, driving better outcomes for all.

Dentsu (the "Company") is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee of the Company, on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other legally-recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done that will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing an undue hardship on the Company. Please contact your recruiter if you need assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process or to request or discuss an accommodation in connection with a job at the Company to which you are applying.