Director, Client Strategy (Director, Media Planning)

The Director, Client Strategy is responsible for partnering with Sales to achieve regional revenue goals, leading the Deal Response stage (Pre-Sales Phase) of the sales cycle to close opportunities that have a voiced budget (or, if programmatic, specific planned initiative). This entails working cross-functionally across GumGum’s Sales Team to prepare recommendations that address the client’s needs and objectives and position GumGum to partner effectively with the client on each potential campaign. They will also be responsible for managing and developing a team that includes junior-level individual contributors, mid-level player/coaches, and managers, fostering their growth and ensuring the team's overall success. This role will mentor and advise these more junior and new team members, manage / lead the whole team directly and play an active role in continuously improving the team’s effectiveness.

Additionally the Director, Client Strategy works closely with the Sales VPs and SVP to grow revenue across targeted key accounts. This requires in-depth understanding of clients needs and objectives, as well as an understanding of their market, consumers, competitors, and popular culture.

The Director, Client Strategy will act as an SME on the areas in which GumGum leads, specifically related to Context, Creative, and Attention, which make up our Mindset Platform. They will develop expertise in our Mindset Graph solution, helping clients understand the value this can bring to their business.

Success in this position requires the ability to understand client needs, craft solutions that match needs to GumGum’s offerings, project manage, storytelling, and prioritize competing response demands. Core performance measures will include, but are not limited to: team ‘Pulse Survey’ results; RFP win rate; YOY revenue growth of select strategic clients/accounts. 

This role will operate in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines, and is expected to deliver autonomously with limited oversight and guidance from team leadership. The role reports to the Head of Client Strategy for NA and EMEA (based in London) but will have a dotted reporting line to the SVP of Sales for East Coast and Canada, a key senior stakeholder in the business.

Note: GumGum fosters a flexible work environment, offering GumGummers the ability to work either in-office or remotely/from home. However, for occasional in-person collaboration, we kindly ask that this position be located within a 'commutable' distance to our office.

What You'll Achieve

• Oversee team of strategists for North America and manage day-to-day operations
• Manage team development
• Oversee the highest quality of proposals created by the team
• Lead the largest proposals for the region (e.g., $1M+) - encompassing strategic oversight and/or hands-on curation of deliverables
• Collaborate closely with sales leaders to help grow client investment
• Establish and develop relationships with key clients in communications planning and strategy, as well as existing clients of GumGum
• Be seen as a thought leader, demonstrating expertise in specific client verticals (e.g., retail), and areas of focus for GumGum (e.g., data, attention measurement)
• Be an expert in GumGum’s Mindset Graph™ and use it to develop bespoke insights and storytelling for clients
• Travel as required to meet clients (primarily New York City, but could infrequently include other locations on East Coast and Canada)

Skills You'll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in business or a related discipline
• 10+ years of work experience, ideally in media agencies, but also possibly in media sales, ad tech, client side media teams
• Experience developing proposals and pitches to senior and executive level stakeholders
• Experienced in leading multilayered team
• Storytelling, using both qualitative and quantitative information
• Strong presentation skills, particularly to large audiences, both in-person and virtually
• Ability to use, or quickly learn, research and reporting tools
• Knowledge of using data tools/platforms and converting them into actionable insights
• Expert understanding of online advertising and how media agencies and brands make decisions 
• Proficient in PowerPoint and Google Slides
• Proficient in Excel / Google Sheets

What We Offer

At GumGum, competitive base pay is a part of a total rewards package which also includes benefits, an emphasis on recognition, development, and wellness. The reasonable estimated base pay range for this role is from $170,000 - $205,000 annually.  The actual amount may be higher or lower. Individual compensation will vary based on factors including, but not limited to, relevant qualifications, work location, and labor market conditions.

The total rewards package offered also includes an employer-matched 401(k) retirement plan. Your recruiter can share more specifics during the hiring process. Learn more about our U.S. benefits & perks package at gumgum.com/benefits.