Group Director Integrated Media Strategy & Planning

Job description

WHY DEPT®?

We are pioneers at heart. What this means, is that we are always leaning forward, thinking of what we can create tomorrow that does not exist today. We were born digital and we are a new model of agency, with a deep skillset in tech and marketing. That’s why we hire curious, self-driven, talented people who never stop innovating.

Our culture is big enough to cope and small enough to care. Meaning, that with people across 20+ countries, we’re big enough to provide you with the best tools, global opportunities, and benefits that help you thrive. While acting small by investing in you, your growth, your team, and giving you the autonomy to solve our clients’ problems, no matter where you are in the world.

The Role

The Group Director, Integrated Media Strategy & Planning is a senior leader on DEPT®’s Creative & Media team. This role is designed for a strategist who brings a future-forward vision to their clients, combining consumer and cultural insight with deep platform fluency. You will help shape the future of integrated media strategy by connecting consumer behavior insights, communications planning fundamentals, and emerging technologies.

You will lead strategies for ambitious global brands, especially in enterprise technology and AI, ensuring that media and creative work together seamlessly to move audiences, build brands, and drive growth. You will also shape strategies through a deep understanding of each client’s business, market context, and ambitions, identifying growth opportunities, defining competitive advantage, and guiding them toward sustainable results.

What You’ll Do

Client & Strategy Leadership

• Lead integrated strategy across a portfolio of enterprise tech and innovation-driven clients.
• Develop forward-looking communications and connections strategies that reflect how consumers experience platforms, content, and culture.
• Translate consumer behavior insights into actionable advertising strategies that connect brand, performance, and customer experience.
• Build strong relationships with senior clients, acting as both a thought partner and challenger to elevate their ambitions.
• Serve as a trusted voice on the role of AI, data, and emerging tech in shaping modern media ecosystems and consumer experiences.
• Partner closely with client teams and business development leaders to ensure seamless communication, clear expectation setting, and strong client satisfaction.

Team & Agency Leadership

• Provide leadership, mentorship, and strategic oversight to directors and senior managers, while also supporting the growth of cross-functional team members.
• Foster a culture of relentless curiosity and creativity across the Integrated Media Strategy & Planning discipline.
• Partner with creative, media, data science, and technology leads to deliver integrated solutions that marry storytelling and experiences with targeting and activation.
• Support new business pitches and organic growth opportunities by shaping compelling strategy narratives.

What You’ll Bring

• 10-12+ years of progressive experience in consumer and cultural insights, strategy, communications planning, and integrated marketing—agency experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in enterprise technology brands and fluency in AI applications for marketing and media. Proven ability to lead integrated strategies across both B2B and B2C environments.
• Strong foundation in strategic planning, media strategy, and communications planning, with the ability to connect paid, owned, earned, and shared experiences.
• Ability to link strategy to measurable outcomes by setting clear objectives and KPIs, while staying sharp on industry trends, competitive dynamics, and emerging technologies to identify new opportunities for clients.
• Ability to translate data and cultural insights into clear frameworks that guide strategy.
• Strong command of measurement frameworks and attribution models that demonstrate ROI and business impact across enterprise-scale programs.
• Track record of successful client management. Proven ability to influence and align diverse stakeholders within large, complex organizations, building trust and driving consensus at multiple levels.
• Confidence in leading workshops, pitches, and C-level presentations.
• Deep familiarity with research and planning tools (e.g., MRI, GWI, YouGov, Kantar, ComScore, Pathmatics).
• Brings expertise in primary research methods, including qualitative (such as 1:1 interviews, focus groups, digital ethnography) and quantitative (such as surveys, content analysis, competitive analysis) to uncover insights that fuel strategy.

The Ideal Candidate

• Continuously seeks to refine their craft and elevate the quality and impact of their work.
• Is a student of media, platforms, and consumer culture, with a genuine curiosity for understanding diverse people, cultures, and behaviors; knows how to bring disparate observations together in new and resonant ways.
• Thrives in dynamic, fast-moving environments, adapting quickly to client priorities and emerging technologies to keep strategies future-forward.
• Has a sharp POV on the evolving media landscape and the impact of AI.
• Can unite creative and media disciplines through strategic planning.
• Is equally comfortable working with data, cultural insight, and instinct.
• Inspires teams through both their ideas and leading by example.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

We are a collaborative, open-door, best-idea-wins environment that fosters personal and company growth and has fun doing it. Here is a snapshot of our  benefits package:

• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision coverage
• 401k plan, plus matching
• PTO
• Paid Company Holidays
• Parental Leave

WE SUPPORT YOU BEING YOU:

DEPT® is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We believe our work is its best when our people feel safe and free to be themselves. We’re committed to an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process and workplace, regardless of anyone’s identity, background, beliefs, lifestyle or disabilities. So tell us about any accommodations you need. It’s totally confidential and only used to make sure you feel fully supported at every step.

DEPT® participates in E-Verify, meaning your Form I-9 information will be sent to the federal government to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.

We are a B Corp-certified company passionate about purpose-driven work.  Our hope is that you can feel good about the contributions DEPT® is making to the world and we always have an open door for your ideas in making the world a better place.

DEPT® is a pioneering technology and marketing services company that creates integrated end-to-end digital experiences for brands such as Google, KFC, Philips, Audi, Twitch, Patagonia, eBay and more. Its team of 2,500+ digital specialists across 30+ locations on 5 continents delivers pioneering work on a global scale with a boutique culture.

Learn more about DEPT®

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine.

We also encourage you  to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.

Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here.

#LI-Hybrid

This is remote role, however you must be located within 50 miles of San Francisco, CA to be considered

San Francisco, CA Salary Band

$191,200—$265,000 USD