Senior Media Strategist

Starcom - Who we are

We create experiences people love and actions brands need.

When we combine our deep understanding of people with our unmatched expertise in media, magic happens: experiences get invited in, not filtered out.

As an Integrated Media Strategist at Starcom, you will provide strategic media insight, thinking and direction for the clients and new business that you work on.

In Partnership with:

• Starcom’s Managing Director,
• Your Business Unit Director
• Publicis Media’s Head of Digital,
• Starcom’s Research and Analytics team,
• The Starcom Planning team,
• The Publicis Media’s Buying team,
• The Publicis Media’s Advertising Operations team,
• The Publicis Power of One team or any other Publicis division, company or brand within the Publicis Groupe.

Our Philosophy on Strategy:

Strategy sits at the center of what we do – without it, we can’t bring insight to data or direction that delivers business outcomes.

• Our clients rely on us to provide the data and direction that will deliver business outcomes - uncovering new market opportunities, growing their business and delivering real ROI.
• Our clients need to be kept in touch with what is happening in the world around them and we ensure that they are empowered with the trended insights that cover their industry, category and customer / client / consumer market.
• Our clients expect us to tap into the best minds and skills from around the world, to deliver cutting-edge and world-class product, tools, technology, skills and knowledge to the table.
• Our clients want to get their time in the sun and be made famous for the work they produce in partnership with their agency teams – to do this, we need to regularly be entering at least two awards per year.
• Starcom and Publicis Media need to showcase the great work you do. To do this we need at least two case studies produced, from the work that you do each year.
• Planners lean on our strategic teams to provide direction, so they can implement and turn strategy into action.

Our media investment team rely on our strategists to provide the clout that will unlock buying efficiencies with media suppliers.

• Our Power of One teams and creative agency partners need us to provide a deep understanding of the customer/ client / consumer and provide inspiration to produce meaningful communication.

• Because of this, we actively seek out strategic talent with the personality, smarts and attitude to manage multiple work streams, multiple clients and multiple agency stakeholders.

• Starcom wants you to grow and thrive in an environment that demands strategic excellence.

• In return, we provide a culture where everyone’s opinions count, where your ideas and inputs are valued and where you are given the autonomy to push yourself as far as your ambition leads you.

The Job Description:

An Integrated Media Strategist at Starcom is expected to be data driven, insights lead and a creative thinker, who strives to make meaningful impact on the business of the client’s they work on.

This role demands confidence, presence and the skills to make a meaningful impact. Never just taking and executing orders, Starcom Integrated Media Strategists are expected to direct, inspire and add value at every turn.

A high level of collaboration, a willingness to teach others and a real desire to push the boundaries is what will be expected.

In addition, this role requires a high level of accountability and responsibility over the large offline and online media investments we are entrusted to manage.

Some working outside the standard working hours may be necessary.

The Job Purpose:

• To be accountable for the successful delivery of media strategies, touchpoint recommendations, media opportunity evaluations and reports across online and offline channels.
• To deliver ongoing incremental media improvements, based on post campaign analyses, MMM’s and audit results.
• To deeply understand the market, audiences and segments that will unlock market growth and opportunity on your portfolio.
• To demonstrate real passion, care and vision for the brands in your portfolio.
• To unearth and deliver the best media owner relationships, partnerships and JBP’s that deliver business outcomes and creative media opportunities.
• To produce award-winning entries and case studies that demonstrate real impact and results for our clients – for internal and external awards.
• Together with the team, successfully meet the client’s contracted KPI’s and the commercial targets.
• To input, inform and report to the regional and global teams.
• To grow the strategic reputation of the agency by delivering world-class strategic excellence.
• To produce at least one thought-leadership article per annum.

What you can expect in an average week:

You will be involved with numerous brand managers, so it’s important to develop a good understanding and identify specific business needs for each one.

Your average week may include:

• Attend key strategic briefings, status meetings, integration meetings with agency partners
• Produce and present media strategies
• Be present and on time, to all required meetings.
• Work collaboratively with our colleagues, global teams and creative agency partners.
• Review and direct all offline and online media outputs.
• Collaboratively work with and direct the digital media planners, campaign managers, DV360 and search specialists.
• Work collaboratively within the Digital Advertising Operations and Buying process - write and present internal briefs across all digital disciplines, monitor progress, direct optimisation changes, avoid under / over-spends and add provide insight to post campaign reports.
• Work collaboratively within the Offline Planning and Buying processes - write and present internal briefs across all off disciplines, monitor progress, direct optimisation changes add provide insight to post campaign reports.
• Work collaboratively within the Out-Of-home Planning and Buying process - write and present internal brief, monitor progress, direct optimisation changes add provide insight to post campaign reports.
• Sign off all digital media billing packs relevant to your portfolio, to ensure alignment and avoid under and overspends.
• Update monthly forecasting reports.
• Ensure the Media-tools platform is kept up to date.
• Keep your Google, Facebook, Twitter and any other required media owner certifications up to date and participate in required training sessions.
• Ensure that your time sheets are maintained and timeously updated.

Qualifications and Languages:

• A marketing / media / communications degree, diploma or certificate
• Google Fundamentals of Digital Marketing
• Google Analytics

You will be required to acquire the following certificates over the first six months in your new position.

• Google Ads Video
• Google Shopping Ads
• Google Display Ads
• Google Ads Search
• Facebook Blueprint Planning

Experience:

• At least 5 years of media strategy experience
• At least 3 years working on a global client account
• At least 5 years of experience working on a TV-lead account
• At least 2 years of experience working with TV + digital video synergy
• At least 2 years of experience preparing and presenting digital strategy.

Hard Skills:

• Numerically strong and analytically able
• Strong communicator with effective interpersonal relationships across team and clients
• Advanced IT skills including Microsoft Word, best-in-class Power Point, Excel, Outlook and web-based applications.
• Must be able to cross tabulate data in Telmar / Ariana, TGI / GWI or other cross-tabulation software.
• The ability to synthesize and reduce different inputs to create a well-considered and accurate representative view.
• English fluency and language skills for effective business writing
• Strong presentation skills
• Solid data interpretation and analytics skills
• Be able to exercise strategic principles and structured thinking to tackle business development projects assigned by client
• Be able to select appropriate frameworks, tools and approaches to use in solving client problems
• Develop strategies that interpret cultural and social trends as well as data relevant to client business

Soft Skills

• Is open to constructive feedback and challenges accordingly.
• Is effective at building relationships and working as a team
• Shows leadership and decision-making ability
• Manages change well – adapts and remains flexible to business priorities
• Ability to collaborate without ego as well as work effectively independently
• Is willing to transfer skills and share knowledge openly
• Ability to self-start and self-manage

Experience:

• At least 5 years of media strategy experience
• At least 3 years working on a global client account
• At least 5 years of experience working on a TV-lead account
• At least 2 years of experience working with TV + digital video synergy
• At least 2 years of experience preparing and presenting digital strategy.

Hard Skills:

• Numerically strong and analytically able
• Strong communicator with effective interpersonal relationships across team and clients
• Advanced IT skills including Microsoft Word, best-in-class Power Point, Excel, Outlook and web-based applications.
• Must be able to cross tabulate data in Telmar / Ariana, TGI / GWI or other cross-tabulation software.
• The ability to synthesize and reduce different inputs to create a well-considered and accurate representative view.
• English fluency and language skills for effective business writing
• Strong presentation skills
• Solid data interpretation and analytics skills
• Be able to exercise strategic principles and structured thinking to tackle business development projects assigned by client
• Be able to select appropriate frameworks, tools and approaches to use in solving client problems
• Develop strategies that interpret cultural and social trends as well as data relevant to client business

Soft Skills

• Is open to constructive feedback and challenges accordingly.
• Is effective at building relationships and working as a team
• Shows leadership and decision-making ability
• Manages change well – adapts and remains flexible to business priorities
• Ability to collaborate without ego as well as work effectively independently
• Is willing to transfer skills and share knowledge openly
• Ability to self-start and self-manage

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.