Job Description:

We are looking for an experienced Senior Director - Media Planning / Client Lead to lead strategic media planning initiatives for global and multi-market clients while building and scaling a high-performing media planning function within a Global Capability Center (GCC) environment.

The ideal candidate should possess deep expertise in media strategy, digital advertising, adtech, martech, client leadership, and large-scale team management. The role requires strong experience in handling enterprise-level global clients, managing complex stakeholder relationships, and leading large planning teams within matrixed organizations.

The candidate will act as the primary planning lead and senior client partner for priority global accounts while driving operational excellence, planning governance, talent development, and strategic transformation initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

- Lead end-to-end media planning strategy for global and multi-market clients across digital and integrated media channels.

- Act as the primary planning partner and senior point of contact for global and regional client teams.

- Represent the media planning function in senior client meetings, governance calls, strategic business discussions, and leadership forums.

- Collaborate closely with client servicing teams, activation teams, strategy teams, analytics teams, and media operations teams to ensure seamless execution of planning strategies.

- Drive strategic media planning initiatives focused on business growth, performance marketing, audience strategy, media effectiveness, and brand impact.

- Build, establish, and scale Media Planning as a dedicated discipline within the GCC environment.

- Define planning frameworks, quality standards, operational processes, competency models, and best practices for planning teams.

- Lead and manage large teams with responsibility for hiring, team development, performance management, succession planning, and capability building.

- Manage and mentor senior managers, planning leads, and cross-functional teams while fostering a high-performance culture.

- Handle large-scale team structures with experience managing teams of 100+ members in complex enterprise environments.

- Drive operational transformation, process optimization, and scalable delivery models across media planning functions.

- Work closely with senior business stakeholders and leadership teams to align media strategies with business objectives and market requirements.

- Provide strategic guidance on digital media investments, adtech ecosystems, martech capabilities, audience targeting, media effectiveness, and measurement frameworks.

- Stay updated with global trends in digital media, advertising technologies, AI-driven marketing, consumer behavior, and media transformation.

- Drive innovation and strategic thinking across planning and media operations functions.

- Ensure high-quality delivery, operational excellence, governance adherence, and stakeholder satisfaction across all client engagements.

Required Skills & Experience:

- 12+ years of experience across paid media, media planning, strategy, retail, consulting, or related digital transformation environments.

- Strong GCC experience is mandatory.

- Proven experience handling and managing large teams with exposure to managing 100+ team members.

Strong expertise in:

1. Media Planning

2. Digital Advertising

3. Paid Media Strategy

4. Client Leadership

5. Cross-market Media Operations

6. Performance Marketing

Deep understanding of:

1. Adtech ecosystems

2. Martech platforms

3. Media investment strategies

4. Audience planning

5. Data-driven marketing

Strong knowledge of:

1. Multi-market campaign planning

2. Global media operations

3. Digital transformation

4. Media governance

5. Enterprise client management

- Experience managing large, complex, matrixed global client accounts and delivering measurable business outcomes.

- Strong understanding of integrated media strategy and performance-driven brand building approaches.

- Experience overseeing technology transformation and operational transformation programs.

- Exceptional stakeholder management, leadership, communication, and presentation skills.

- Ability to simplify complex business narratives into clear and compelling strategic communication.

- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders across functions and geographies.

Preferred Candidate Profile:

- Demonstrated experience in building and scaling media planning teams within enterprise or GCC environments.

- Strong people leadership capabilities including hiring, mentoring, succession planning, capability development, and performance management.

- Passion for digital media, innovation, consumer behavior trends, and global marketing transformation.

- Experience working with global clients and distributed teams across multiple regions and markets.

- Ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-growth, and highly collaborative business environments.