About the Role

The Team Lead – Strategic Planner is a pivotal role responsible for architecting and overseeing high-impact, performance-driven media strategies. This position demands a sophisticated blend of visionary strategic thinking and technical analytical rigor. You will lead the charge in data-led planning, ensuring that every dollar of media investment is optimized to deliver maximum ROI and tangible business growth for our clients. As a seasoned strategist, you will bridge the gap between complex data sets and scalable media executions, serving as a primary consultant for both internal leadership and external partners.

Duties & Responsibilities

Market Research & Audience Intelligence

Lead advanced market, category, and audience research to uncover media consumption patterns, platform trends, and competitive activity.
Leverage first-party, second-party, and third-party data to inform audience segmentation, targeting strategies, and channel selection.
Utilize media research and analytics tools to generate actionable insights that improve planning efficiency and campaign performance.
Develop clear, insight-driven reports and POVs on market trends, platform performance, and emerging opportunities.

Media Strategy & Performance Planning

Own the development of full-funnel, performance-oriented media strategies aligned to client business objectives, KPIs, and growth targets
Translate marketing goals into measurable media frameworks across awareness, consideration, acquisition, and retention.
Design channel strategies that balance scale, efficiency, incrementality, and performance across paid search, paid social, programmatic, affiliates, and emerging channels.
Continuously refine media plans based on performance data, attribution insights, and evolving market conditions.

Media Buying, Budgeting & Optimization

Demonstrate strong understanding of performance media buying models, including programmatic, biddable platforms, affiliates, and direct buys.
Collaborate closely with Media Operations and Activation teams to ensure optimal channel mix, budget allocation, and pacing.
Own budget stewardship, ensuring efficient investment, cost controls, and maximum return on ad spend (ROAS).
Monitor campaign performance across key metrics (CPA, CAC, ROAS, LTV, conversion rates) and recommend optimizations in real time.

Measurement, Analytics & Attribution

Partner with analytics teams to define measurement frameworks, test-and-learn agendas, and performance benchmarks.
Interpret data from platforms such as Google Ads, Meta, DV360, GA4, and attribution tools to assess media effectiveness.
Support advanced measurement approaches, including incrementality testing, attribution modeling, and media mix analysis.
Ensure learnings are documented and applied to future planning cycles.

Digital Innovation & Media Evolution

Stay current with platform innovations, ad formats, automation tools, and performance best practices.
Evaluate and test emerging media opportunities, performance-driven formats, and new partners to drive incremental growth.
Apply automation, AI-led optimization, and smart bidding strategies to improve efficiency and scale.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Leadership

Act as a strategic partner to strategy, analytics, creative, and client leadership teams.
Mentor junior media planners, fostering strong analytical thinking, performance mindset, and planning excellence.
Contribute to the development of agency best practices, frameworks, and planning standards.
Support new business pitches, strategic POVs, and growth initiatives when required.

Qualifications

Required Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Advertising, Media, Business, Economics, or a related field.
8–10 years of progressive experience in media planning, with a strong emphasis on performance marketing.
Proven expertise in media strategy development, audience planning, and performance optimization.
Strong working knowledge of performance platforms and tools including Google Ads, Meta, DV360, GA4, and media research tools (Nielsen, Comscore, etc.)
Demonstrated experience managing large, complex media budgets and delivering against aggressive KPIs.
Advanced analytical skills with the ability to translate data into clear strategic recommendations.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with experience presenting to senior stakeholders.
Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple accounts and deadlines.

Preferred Skills

Experience working within a media agency or performance-led digital agency environment.
Hands-on exposure to programmatic planning, audience data platforms, and performance measurement frameworks.
Familiarity with ad verification, brand safety, and fraud prevention tools (IAS, MOAT, DoubleVerify).
Understanding of advanced attribution models, incrementality testing, and media experimentation.
Experience mentoring or leading junior team members.
Certifications in Google, Meta, Programmatic, or Advanced Analytics.

Team Lead - Strategic Planner