Job Description

The VP, Communications Planning role is to provide communications planning leadership on multiple businesses/brands. The VP, Communications Planning manages a book of business that may be one larger client/brand or several smaller clients/brands. The VP, Communications Planning is responsible for creating a link between the agency and divisional client management, and to drive the smooth creation and delivery of communication and media plans. The VP, Communications Planning must be the broad thinking driver and motivator of the strategy and activation teams that support a given division. This person is directly responsible for the holistic communication plan and design aspects for the assigned accounts. The VP, Communications Planning provides strategic direction for assigned accounts and demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of all aspects of their client’s business as well as the overall financial services/competitive landscape. The VP, Communications Planning is responsible for cultivating client and media relationships specifically at senior levels.

This VP, Communications Planning’s role is also one of agency leadership. The individual in this position is responsible for contributing to agency and department initiatives, media operations, and new business efforts. 

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

COMMUNICATIONS PLANNING:

• Responsible for service level of entire agency product throughout US while ensuring connectivity with agency team in UK
• Primary contact for senior media client
• Lead negotiator in team deliverables and evaluation criteria with with client’s media team
• Leads Communications Planning effort both in terms of high-level solution design as well as in management approach for each group
• Quality control over all strategy/implementation/integration issues
• Balance needs of agency and Dentsu resources, with a responsibility to facilitate and foster relevant partnerships
• Will oversee multiple initiatives for the Brand
• Contribute, participate, and present in agency new business efforts and presentations

 CLIENT & INTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS:

• Build and maintain trusting, collaborative relationships with senior clients
• Manage expectations of senior clients and deliverables
• Identify and secure relationships with key senior clients to deepen agency relationship
• Accurately represent the client’s point of view when reviewing work, leverage this perspective when providing feedback to team and presenting to client
• Grow business opportunities within current clients
• Ensure collaboration among all agency departments and global markets; foster great teamwork and connectivity
• Include agency executives in appropriate client meetings

STRATEGIC THINKING & LEADERSHIP:

• Demonstrate a deep knowledge of client brands, brands equity, target audiences and motivations
• Lead overarching strategic thinking, ensure media strategy is align and meets client objectives
• View strategic goals in a broader business context
• Establish priorities for key agency projects
• Initiate long-term projects for teams that will contribute to greater agency revenue
• Demonstrate strong analytical and strategic skills to help solve client’s business problems
• Implement efficient and effective solutions to complex problems
• Arrive at solutions that balance the needs of the agency with the larger Dentsu
• Actively keep current with industry trends, media business and tools – buying systems, research, resources and associations
• Ensure key information is provided to team regarding client issues, internal agency issues, changes in account status, etc.
• Manage assigned groups’ staffing needs (hiring, promotions, performance)
• Manage the work of assigned communication planning groups, providing leadership, direction and motivation as appropriate
• Manage staff utilization
• Construct and deliver accurate, honest and timely performance management documents
• Train, motivate and develop assigned staff

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

• Encourage open, ongoing internal communication
• Establish and maintain communications process with senior media clients and agency teams
• Direct the development of client presentations and other important communication, communication that is clear, compelling and persuasive
• Lead client presentations
• Adapt communications style to relevant audience
• Link communication  to audience’s concerns and perspectives
• Move audience to desired action through clear and persuasive delivery of information
• Communicate key information about our company

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 10 + years of marketing/communications planning experience, which include progressive client management experience
• Deep knowledge and experience with multiple communication channels and their role in brand marketing
• Strong understanding of client’s business environment and agency services business models
• Proven ability to think strategically, with a balanced analytical and creative approach, and the ability to teach others to think strategically
• Ability to generate big ideas with strong motivational skills that can apply to all staff levels
• Unparalleled client service professionalism, maturity, and diplomacy
• Proven leadership ability – experience managing multiple planners, supervisors and directors
• Skilled leader of process and output that takes the client outside comfort zone
• Collaborative and able to successfully bring people from different disciplines, internal and external to the agency, together to achieve desired outcomes
• Current knowledge of trends and innovations in media
• High-level proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook

Additional Information

Dentsu is a modern marketing solutions company. Our mission is to help clients navigate, progress and thrive in a world of change. Businesses rely on our integrated network of agencies and specialized practices to champion meaningful progress through creative, media, commerce, data and technology. Part of Dentsu Group, our global network comprises 66,000 diverse people in 143 countries, who are dedicated to teaming for growth and good. Some of our award-winning agencies include 360i, Carat, dentsumcgarrybowen, DEG, dentsuX, iProspect and Merkle. Follow us on Twitter @DentsuUSA and visit dentsu.com/us. 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 dentsurecruiting@dentsu.com 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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