Media Planning Director

Overview
The Planning Director leads a unit of media professionals in the conception and delivery of innovative, well targeted business building marketing solutions across a variety of media to meet or exceed clients' objectives. This involves the creation and execution of media plans, unearthing insights, integrating capabilities and flawless execution on all fronts. This person is the primary point of contact for clients and will oversee the day-to-day communications planning and/ or buying processes for the assigned accounts. This role reports directly to the Business Lead leading an Account.

Responsibilities
Functional Competencies

• Client Management
• Establish a partner-relationship with clients by being involved in the business environment.
• Provide business solutions through media approaches for assigned brands.
• Overall account stewardship to ensure communication strategy and implementation are in sync towards clients' business direction.
• Undertake key initiatives/business solutions in tandem with clients' goals, business objectives and priorities.
• Manage clients' requests appropriately (e.g. push back on unreasonable timelines, make judgment or evaluate value on ad hoc requests).
• Take ownership for assigned brands.
• Maintain regular WIPs, dialogues and reviews to ensure effective work processes.
• Improve and uphold agency evaluation.
• Create and deliver digital media solutions blending strategy, innovations & insights with creative excellence to achieve a brand's marketing objective.

Business Partner Management

• Leverage good relationships with senior business partners (e.g. creative, medianowners), hence the ability to obtain updated information that contributes to the brand objectives and value-add to clients.
• Conduct professional briefings to business partners on innovations and ensure alignment to clients' objectives.
• Establish partnership processes with business partners (e.g. rules of engagement).
• Establish rapport and understanding with senior business partners and ensure clear documentation on all communications.
• Ensure best value from all negotiations across media owners and campaigns
• Manage and resolve conflicts for Level I & II (Executives and Managers).

Research & Media Applications Proficiency

• Guide and troubleshoot for Level II on applications usage.
• Display competency in using advanced functions in each tool.
• Able to tap into proprietary consumer insight applications or alternative sources for more in-depth analysis.
• Proficient in using agency's planning approach.

Financial

• Identify opportunities for organic growth of the business.
• Uphold financial policy and integrity to avoid violation or potential fraud.
• Assist the team members to reconcile all media payment variances of assigned brands.
• Work with team members to ensure accurate and timely invoicing (e.g. regular review of unbilled reports, resolve unbilled cases with Finance).
• Resolve all ageing matters.
• Accurate business forecast of assigned accounts (monthly and annually).

Industry Knowledge (Consumer, Business or Brand Insights)

• Exhibit good understanding and forecast on media/ industry/brand development & implications to the businesses.
• Evaluate the strategic implications of media/ industry/brand developments and identify opportunities & threats to businesses (short to long term).

Investment Management

• Optimize the given investment or allocate appropriate investments by medium/brands.
• Provide investment consultation to client on appropriate budget to meet the desired objectives.
• Supervise on cost management for brand across medium used.
• Master contract management (e.g. propose, negotiate, track fulfillment, etc.)
• Input on action plans in expenditure reports.
• Reconcile all sources of costing/investment variances.

Corporate Responsibility

• Lead/participate in pitches.
• Drive awards submission.
• Demonstrate appropriate behaviors to uphold the company's image, reputation and credentials.
• Identify new business opportunities.
• Collaborate with function/practice leads on best practice development.
• Demonstrate responsible hiring of talents (e.g. fair employment practice) and ability to manage termination well with due diligence.
• Mentor and ensure all direct reports master the skills and organizational savvy required for advancement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• Min. 8+ years' experience in a client facing consultative role, primarily in a media or consulting discipline.
• Progressive levels of responsibility and business acumen in marketing and communications, team management, p/l management
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills -effectively presents formal POV internally and externally
• Converts ideation into strategy and operational plans to create breakthrough results - leverages broad and deep understanding on industry, media, marketplace, client and company
• Strong EQ - Excellent inspirational team leader - demonstrated ability to establish high levels of trust and credibility internally and externally and influence others to action; actively open to learn from others at all levels
• Team oriented- approachable and viewed as coach and mentor to others
• Critical assessor and builder of talent - attracts, develops and motivates high performing team with diverse perspectives and experiences.
• Actively focused on succession and pushing talent to exercise greater confidence and authority to act.
• Quickly addresses performance issues
• Demonstrated critical thinking skill and strong problem-solving skills - navigates effectively through conflict and risk to build required consensus to drive innovative business needs and results
• High results orientation and able to effectively juggle and prioritize many competing demands - high tolerance to effectively manage change
• Strong workflow management skills including organizational, time/project management, planning and implementation, prioritization, ability to delegate when necessary

Additional Information
Our employee benefits package comprises the following:

• Generous leave entitlements, including birthday leave, rest day and family care leave.
• Office closure for World Mental Health Day 10th October.
• Additional Company closure for all 4 major festive Celebrations
• Cashless comprehensive medical coverage, including access to a panel clinic, dental and optical care.
• Life and personal accident insurance and group hospitalization and surgery.
• A hybrid working schedule and with Friday disconnects.
• Rest Relax & Recharge - office closure last week of December every year.
• Phone Allowance