Group Account Director, Planning

Company description Zenith is the ROI Agency. Our more than 6,000 specialists across 95 markets offer unparalleled capabilities in Media, Data, Technology, Commerce and Content. We put effectiveness at the heart of our work to solve complex challenges, drive successful business outcomes, and grow our clients’ businesses. Zenith is part of Publicis Media, the media arm of Publicis Groupe. Over the past year, Publicis Media has been transforming the way we do our business. From structuring our investment practice around data and digital to bringing our strategy, data sciences and research practice under one house, we’ve been shaping Publicis Media to be the media network of tomorrow. One that both you and I want to work at. Publicis Media Canada is proud to be Great Places to Work™ certified and recognized with Best Workplaces™ for Today’s Youth. We provide continuing opportunities for career growth by fostering a diverse work environment that respects and supports individual contributions and opinions. We also offer our employees market leading benefit and incentive programs. You’ll be provided with 3 weeks minimum vacation to start plus additional long weekend Publicis days, holidays closures, your birthday off, free Headspace memberships, wellness and technology credits, and a market leading savings plan. We strive to provide what matters to you personally with the ability to choose and modify programs to suit your lifestyle Overview We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Senior Director. This individual will be the face of the agency, managing a diverse portfolio of brands. You’ll need 10+ years of experience, exceptional storytelling skills, high emotional intelligence (EQ), and the resilience to navigate complex, high-pressure environments. This role is for an experienced Group Account Director at Zenith, the ROI Agency, within Publicis Media Canada. As the primary client lead, you will be responsible for building and nurturing strong client relationships while managing media strategy development and execution to meet client goals. You'll oversee cross-channel campaign planning, drive thought leadership and lead a high-performing team. Additionally, you'll manage financial health, including budgeting and forecasting, and identify growth opportunities for client accounts. This role also requires a strategic focus on campaign performance, innovation, and leveraging data insights to maximize ROI. The position offers strong leadership opportunities, professional development, and a supportive work environment with competitive benefits. Responsibilities • Serve as the primary client lead, fostering strong relationships with key stakeholders • Act as a strategic partner, understanding client business challenges and proactively providing solutions • Lead the development and execution of media strategies to meet client objectives • Manage client expectations, ensuring satisfaction and long-term retention • Develop innovative and data-driven media strategies that align with client goals • Oversee campaign planning, ensuring alignment with audience insights, market trends, and business objectives • Drive thought leadership by identifying new opportunities and industry trends • Partner with internal teams to craft integrated, multi-channel media plans • Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of account managers and planners • Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning • Provide clear direction, ensuring alignment on client goals and agency priorities. • Oversee resource allocation and workflow to optimize team performance. • Own the financial health of client accounts, including budgeting, forecasting, and profitability. • Identify opportunities for account growth and drive new business initiatives. • Collaborate with leadership on agency revenue and business development strategies. • Negotiate contracts, scopes of work, and media investments with vendors and partners. • Ensure flawless execution of campaigns across digital, traditional, and emerging media platforms. • Oversee performance tracking, measurement, and optimization to maximize ROI. • Drive innovation by testing new media technologies and platforms. • Partner with analytics teams to translate data into actionable insights Qualifications • 10+ years of experience as an Account Director with a focus on client management and team leadership • Minimum 3 years as Associate Director/Director experience • University or College degree/diploma in Media, Marketing, Business, Project Management or related field • Direct client-servicing experience • Demonstrated supervisory, delegation and strong mentorship skills • Challenges traditional boundaries and demonstrates consistent creative approaches to business problems• Working knowledge of Syndicated tools (DDS, Prisma, DCM, DBM & Vividata etc • Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite of products • Strong storytelling and communication skills, with the ability to manage high-level client relationships • Proven experience managing multiple senior client stakeholders and multi- disciplinary teams • Demonstrated mentorship skills, with a passion for team growth and development • Working knowledge of syndicated tools (DDS, Prisma, DCM, DBM, Vividata, etc.) Additional information We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. Accommodations are available throughout the hiring process upon request. Salary Transparency matters to us. The salary range for this position is $120k - 140k 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 Use We 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. Zenith is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome and encourage applications from all interested parties. Accommodations are available, upon request, for all stages of the interview and employment process for those with a disability or medical need during any stage of the recruitment process. We thank all candidates for their interest in Zenith , however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.