Director, Commerce Strategy & Retail Media Planning
Job Location:
Chicago, IL - USA
Monthly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
Job Description:
The Commerce & Retail Media team at dentsu helps clients navigate an increasingly complex commerce ecosystem by connecting business objectives retailer priorities shopper behavior eCommerce growth opportunities and retail media investment strategies. We are looking for a strategic collaborative and experienced leader to join our growing Commerce organization.
As the Director Commerce Strategy & Retail Media Planning you will serve as a strategic lead responsible for translating client business priorities into clear actionable commerce and retail media strategies across key retail partners including Amazon Walmart Target Kroger Instacart and other retail media networks. This role acts as the strategic bridge between Client Service Planning Activation Analytics retailer partners and client stakeholders to ensure commerce programs are grounded in clear objectives thoughtfully prioritized investments aligned KPIs and actionable planning outputs.
You will lead the development of annual quarterly and campaign-level commerce strategies while helping clients and internal teams make better business decisions through retailer prioritization investment recommendations measurement frameworks and executive-ready strategic narratives. This role is responsible for ensuring workstreams move into Activation and Analytics with clear objectives strategic direction and business rationale.
This is not a project management role. Rather than owning timelines task management and workflow coordination this role owns the why what and strategic direction of commerce and retail media planning. The ideal candidate combines commerce expertise strategic thinking business acumen and senior stakeholder leadership with the ability to influence across highly matrixed teams.
This role reports to the VP Commerce & Retail Media.
Responsibilities
Commerce Strategy Leadership
Lead the development of integrated commerce and retail media strategies that connect client business objectives retailer priorities shopper behavior eCommerce goals and media opportunities.
Translate complex business challenges into clear strategic recommendations planning frameworks and commerce roadmaps.
Shape annual quarterly and campaign-level commerce planning initiatives across priority retailers brands and business units.
Identify opportunities where retail media investments can accelerate sales growth support customer priorities drive new-to-brand acquisition improve share performance and strengthen retailer partnerships.
Develop strategic POVs recommendations thought leadership and planning frameworks that inform client investment decisions.
Retailer & Investment Planning
Lead strategic retailer prioritization and investment planning across retail media networks.
Develop budget allocation recommendations investment rationale and scenario planning models aligned to business objectives.
Create retailer-specific planning approaches that reflect customer priorities market opportunities and commerce growth objectives.
Connect Joint Business Plan (JBP) priorities shopper insights eCommerce objectives and media opportunities into a unified planning narrative.
Partner with client and agency leadership to evaluate emerging opportunities innovation programs and growth strategies across the commerce ecosystem.
Strategic Briefing & Planning Excellence
Serve as the primary strategic interpreter of client requests ensuring all workstreams have clear objectives business context decision criteria and expected outcomes.
Establish planning frameworks briefing standards and strategic processes that improve planning quality and alignment across teams.
Build strategic briefs and recommendation frameworks that enable Activation and Analytics teams to define executional requirements and measurement approaches.
Identify strategic gaps conflicting priorities unclear direction and missing inputs before work progresses into execution.
Drive greater consistency rigor and clarity across commerce planning activities.
Client Partnership & Leadership
Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to client stakeholders and cross-functional agency leadership teams.
Lead client-facing discussions related to commerce strategy retailer prioritization budget allocation measurement frameworks and growth opportunities.
Present executive-ready recommendations planning narratives and business cases to internal and external stakeholders.
Partner closely with Client Service National Planning Commerce Activation Analytics Creative and retailer partners to deliver integrated commerce solutions.
Accurately represent the client perspective while balancing agency expertise retailer realities and business objectives.
Team Leadership & Organizational Impact
Mentor coach and develop commerce strategy team members while fostering a culture of collaboration accountability and strategic excellence.
Establish best practices planning standards and strategic frameworks across the Commerce Strategy discipline.
Contribute to organizational planning capability development operating model evolution and long-term commerce practice growth.
Champion innovation thought leadership and continuous improvement initiatives across the Commerce organization.
Influence cross-functional partners to improve planning processes decision-making quality and overall client outcomes.
Success in This Role Looks Like
Commerce strategies are clearly connected to business priorities retailer opportunities and measurable outcomes.
Client requests are translated into well-defined strategically grounded briefs before moving into Activation or Analytics.
Teams receive clearer direction stronger planning inputs and fewer ambiguous requests.
Clients view the Commerce team as a strategic partner not simply an executional resource.
Retailer investment decisions are supported by clear rationale business context and measurable objectives.
Cross-functional teams operate with stronger alignment planning consistency and accountability.
Commerce planning becomes more proactive business-led and strategically focused.
The Commerce Strategy discipline continues to evolve through improved frameworks thought leadership and strategic best practices.
Qualifications
Bachelors degree in Marketing Business Communications Analytics or a related field preferred.
8 years of experience in media strategy digital planning or performance marketing with a focus in commerce & retail media and/or shopper marketing.
3 years of leadership experience managing mentoring or developing high-performing teams.
Demonstrated experience developing commerce and retail media strategies across major retailers and retail media networks.
Deep understanding of retail media ecosystems including Amazon Ads Walmart Connect Roundel Kroger Precision Marketing Instacart Criteo and similar platforms.
Proven ability to translate business objectives into actionable commerce shopper and media planning frameworks.
Experience leading executive-level business discussions and presenting recommendations to senior stakeholders.
Strong analytical mindset with the ability to synthesize business retailer consumer and performance inputs into strategic recommendations.
Experience working within highly matrixed environments that include Client Service Planning Activation Analytics retailer partners and external agencies.
Excellent written verbal presentation and storytelling skills.
- Medical vision and dental insurance
- Life insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance
- 401k
- Flexible paid time off
- At least 15 paid holidaysper year
- Paid sick and safe leave and
- Paid parental leave.
Location:
New YorkBrand:
Dentsu MediaTime Type:
Full timeContract Type:
PermanentDentsu is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. We do this without regard to race color national origin sex sexual orientation gender identity age pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions ancestry physical or mental disability marital status political affiliation religious practices and observances citizenship status genetic information veteran status or any other basis protected under applicable federal state or local law.
Dentsu is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to among others individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with us please send an e-mail toby clicking on the link to let usknow the nature of your accommodation request and your contact information. We are here to support you.
Required Experience:
Director
About Company
Dentsu is an integrated growth and transformation partner to the world’s leading organizations. Founded in 1901 in Tokyo, Japan, and now present in approximately 120 countries.
