Job Description
The Manager, Strategy & Planning is the primary, day-to-day lead for end-to-end communications planning. They are responsible for translating marketing/digital media objectives into communication plan development action steps and managing the Associate(s) through various projects. The Manager is the primary point of contact for clients on stewardship requests and is responsible for having a firm grasp of both strategic and functional media knowledge. They should be ready/able to step in and handle situations when the Associate Director is not available.
This role offers frequent client contact, ownership of the integrated plan, and the opportunity to lead project management and cross-media integration.
ROLE OBJECTIVES:
- Assists Associate Director with all aspects of linear and digital media plan development/recommendations
- Has initial understanding of National as well as Local Planning processes
- Understands the importance of customized plans by market and by target (general market and multicultural)
- Interprets offline communications/digital media strategy and translates into communication planning action steps
- Oversees/manages Associate(s) and day-to-day operation of all media activity
- Demonstrate initiative by researching and identifying valuable information/insights to improve media product
- Determines and supervises the best possible implementation of all approved communication plans and projects
- Acts as primary point of contact for client stewardship requests
- Learns and understands all phases of the clients’ marketing objectives and provides media recommendations to deliver against these objectives
- Understands all proprietary research tools/processes and applies learning during communication planning
- Prepares and presents communication plans, as needed, including objectives, strategy, rationale, and all backup materials
- Establishes strong working relationship with partner agencies (where/when applicable), delivering a seamless communications process
- Demonstrates agility via multitasking – multiple brands, strategic development and plan stewardship, management of Associate(s)
- Develops collaborative working relationship with all implementation teams, ensuring they fully understand brand communication objectives/strategies
- Maintain media budgets and steward regular updates/summaries to clients as requested.
- Trains and develops Associate(s), including:
- Effective level of delegation
- Managing group dynamics/relationships between Associate(s)
- Establishes and demonstrates strong leadership skills
- Evaluates performance of Associate(s) via PMP process, including assisting in the establishment of the cascading goals
- Checks work of Associate(s) to ensure accuracy
- Identifies opportunities for Associate(s) career development
- Continues participation in Training offerings