Director, Media Planning

About Us:
With a history that dates back over 80 years, Starcom is a global communications planning and media leader. We are an agency still grounded in our founding principle that people are at center of all we do. Each day, we apply this belief to harness the transformative power of data and technology to inspire and move people and business forward. With more than 7,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, Starcom partners with the world's leading marketers and brands.
Company Description:
Within Canada, Starcom is a part of Publicis Media within Publicis Groupe, one of the world’s leading communications groups. Our team spans across our Windsor, Toronto and Montreal offices. We truly love the world of Media and Advertising. We see the planning and buying process as art. However, it is an art that is always best when backed by the science of empirical data.
Great Places to Work certified three years in a row
Only communications company to be ranked in LinkedIn’s Top 25 Great Places to Work
2022 Media Agency of the Year
2023 Media Agency of the Year finalist
Work Your World program enabling you to experience working from anywhere in Canada or overseas for up to 6 weeks a year
Extended long weekends throughout the year with an additional day off each long weekend
Wellness & Tech benefits to support what’s most important to you
Birthday leave
Extensive Learning & Development opportunities, including more than 15,000 learning programs via our online learning platform as well as a Professional Development Allowance
Local and Global Mobility within the Publicis Groupe network
OverviewThe Digital Media Director is responsible for driving end-to-end digital media strategy, performance, and client excellence across planning, activation, optimization and insights. This role blends strategic media leadership with deep performance expertise, ensuring campaigns deliver measurable business outcomes while strengthening client partnerships and team capability.
You will lead cross-channel digital media efforts across paid search, paid social, programmatic and broader digital media planning, translating client objectives into holistic strategies that balance innovation, effectiveness, and operational excellence. You will also guide, mentor and contribute to the overall growth and career path of the team.
Location: Vancouver, BC (Hybrid – remote and on-site at client office)ResponsibilitiesClient & Strategic Leadership
Own senior client relationships and act as a trusted strategic advisor across digital media and performance.
Lead the development and sell-in of integrated digital media strategies aligned to client business objectives.
Maintain a deep understanding of client categories, performance goals, and growth opportunities.
Identify opportunities to make the agency indispensable through innovation, insight, and measurable impact.
Digital Media Strategy & Performance Excellence
Lead digital media planning and performance strategy across paid search, paid social, programmatic and broader digital channels.
Apply platform best practices, audience signals, and data-driven insights to maximize ROI and business outcomes.
Oversee the implementation of prioritization models and frameworks to ensure focus on highest-impact initiatives.
Ensure alignment between strategy, execution, and optimization across regions or teams as applicable.
Reporting, Insights & Optimization
Own reporting frameworks, dashboards, and insight cadence to deliver clear, actionable performance narratives in a timely manner to impact future campaigns.
Translate data into strategic insights that inform real-time optimizations and future planning.
Continuously evolve reporting processes to improve clarity, scalability, and speed to insight.
Team Leadership & Development
Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing digital media and performance teams.
Coach teams on strategic thinking, client communication, and platform expertise.
Partner with senior leadership on talent planning, hiring decisions, and team resourcing.
Ensure teams are effectively utilized and supported to deliver high-quality work within scope and budget.
Operational, Financial & Governance Oversight
Maintain governance standards for campaign delivery, reporting, and escalation processes.
Act as a key partner in agency-wide initiatives, new business efforts, and cross-functional collaboration.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university.
10+ years of progressive experience in digital media planning, performance, and leadership roles.
Proven expertise across paid search, paid social, and digital media strategy.
Strong business acumen with experience managing client financials and forecasts.
Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
Demonstrated ability to lead, inspire, and scale high-performing teams.
Highly analytical, with the ability to translate data into strategic direction.
Strong negotiation, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
Additional InformationSalaryTransparency matters to us. The salary range for this position is $105,000-$125,000 per year. Actual compensation within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and applicable certifications. This range reflects what we reasonably expect to offer based on current market data.
AI UseWe use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of our hiring process, such as reviewing applications or analyzing resumes. These tools assist our recruitment team but never replace human decision-making. We believe in a human-first approach, where your experience and potential are recognized by people.
Starcom is an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. We create and nurture a vibrant work environment that celebrates, values and leverages all aspects of diversity and inclusiveness, attracts world-class talent and serves as the industry benchmark for best practices. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and will provide appropriate accommodation for candidates with disabilities or accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process, upon request. Please contact our recruiter for any questions, accommodations or specific requests. We thank all candidates for their interest in Starcom however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
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