Associate Planning Director

About the role

The Associate Planning Director is an entry role into management and requires a mastery of Sr. Planner level duties and qualifications. The APD serves as Integrated Strategist supporting brands as a core team member, coordinating strategic efforts across the Integrated Strategy dept: Planning, Engagement, Media, Marketing Intelligence, Social. The APD provides high level Planning skills and a broad understanding of the role the other disciplines play, adeptly bringing in subject matter experts to support projects as needed.

Responsibilities

• Target Identification: Deep understanding of target attitudes, beliefs, and behavior; creative approaches to presenting target learnings.
• Insight Mining: Expertise and creativity in ways to uncover and utilize target insights.
• Market Research: Expertise in various qualitative and quantitative methodologies, ability to identify knowledge gaps, and develop an annual learning plan utilizing market research to fill gaps and drive the business.
• Storytelling & Creative Inspiration: Excellent verbal, writing, and presentation skills.
• Pharma-Proficiency: High-level knowledge of multiple therapeutic areas, with in-depth knowledge of therapeutic areas for brands led.
• New Business Pitches: Act as the Planning lead on new business pitches.
• Planning Projects: Lead planning-focused projects on supported brands, including market research, insight mining, audience narratives, customer journeys, and positioning development.
• Integrated Strategist: Seamlessly coordinate the integration of multiple disciplines, including Engagement, Media, Marketing Intelligence, and Social.
• Workshops: Lead insight, positioning, and messaging workshops.
• Creative Briefs: Author inspiring creative briefs, approaching brand challenges from fresh perspectives.
• Creative Briefings: Lead inspiring creative briefings.
• Creative Evaluation: Evaluate creative output through the lens of the target audience.
• Thought Leadership: Contribute to thought leadership departmental initiatives, introducing novel approaches.
• Team Management and Mentorship: Lead by example, maintaining composure and professionalism in challenging situations, serving as a role model for junior team members. Hire, Coach, and Develop Team Members: Assign projects to balance workloads and challenge team members' skills, ensuring projects showcase the agency's capabilities. Provide Regular Feedback: Offer both formal and informal feedback to direct reports to help grow their creative sensibilities and progress in their craft. Perform Team Evaluations: Participate in performance reviews for any direct reports and provide coaching to create growth plans for team members as needed. Team Motivation: Foster team motivation and maintain a positive attitude that inspires others.

  Qualifications

  • Experience: 7-9 years prior agency experience.
  • Education: Bachelor’s degree (preference for social sciences, marketing, communication, or sciences).
  • Pharmaceutical Experience: Pharmaceutical experience is a plus.
  • Curiosity: Must be innately curious about human behavior.
  • Interest in Health & Wellness: Must have an interest in health and wellness.