<p>Company description</p> <p>Mars United? Commerce is a global commerce marketing practice that aligns people, technology, and intelligence to make the business of our clients better today than it was yesterday. Our worldwide capabilities coalesce into four key disciplines - Strategy & Analytics, Content & Experiences, Digital Commerce, and Retail Consultancy - that individually deliver unmatched results for clients and collectively give them an unparalleled network of seamlessly integrated functions across the entire commerce marketing ecosystem. These disciplines are powered by our industry-leading technology platform, Marilyn, which helps marketers understand the total business impact of their commerce marketing activation, enabling them to make better decisions, create connected experiences, and drive stronger, measurable results. Learn more at https://www.marsunited.com/.</p> <p>Overview</p> <p>We are seeking a Director, Strategic Planning. As a Director, Strategic Planning, you are a key standard bearer of strategic thought within the business. Candidates must reside in a commutable distance to our New York office for a hybrid work schedule.</p> <p>PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:</p> <p>Growing Client Brands and Business:</p> <ul> <li>Serve as senior-level contact on individual client businesses and brands. Demonstrate a solid grasp of current industry dynamics and be able to provide agency perspective on the impact, influence, and implications of these dynamics on brand or agency health. </li><li>Provide long-term perspective for brand and business growth that exceeds the scope of individual projects. Be able to clearly articulate a strategic vision in a confident and persuasive manner to clients and teams; connect the vision to business imperatives and measures. </li><li>Develop working hypotheses and methods to test/apply thinking to a variety of marketing challenges that leads to the discovery of new insights. </li><li>Ensure proactive strategic thought leadership across the integrated marketing mix; be able to effectively apply and integrate strategy into agency process. </li><li>Raise the bar of Mars United Commerce's work for clients. This includes instituting research and testing methods and practices using insights to inspire, guide, and evaluate work. </li><li>Identify unmet research/planning needs and knowledge gaps in clients' business. Lead the solution and develop into out-of-scope revenue opportunities for the agency. </li><li>Grow the role of Strategic Planning through the development of effective working relationships with key clients and Senior Management. </li></ul> <p>Agency Initiatives/Growth/Management:</p> <ul> <li>Make original contributions to company growth through contributions to original research/thinking, participation in internal cultural initiatives, and development of new professional capabilities and perspectives. </li><li>Supervise and advance the growth of Strategic Planning staff. Oversee the quality of their work. </li><li>Create dialogue and share innovations and new methods across internal teams (account service, creative, customer development, media, production, etc.). </li><li>Understand company's business model and be able to work with senior colleagues to manage the agency investment in Strategic Planning resources, secondary research providers, and other Strategic Planning relevant suppliers. </li><li>Intellectual property - develop and adapt to the business, all Mars United Network intellectual property ensuring it helps to deliver on Mars United goals and positioning. </li></ul> <p>Demonstrations:</p> <p>Agency Growth:</p> <ul> <li>Responsible for client relationships at senior level. </li><li>Participates in new business pitches. </li><li>Develop and merchandise Strategic Planning "products". </li><li>Responsible for a functional, productive, and happy team. Also, responsible to maintain healthy team culture. </li><li>Attract, train, and develop talent, ensuring Strategic Planning keeps a diversity of skills, backgrounds, and experience. </li></ul> <p>Agency Initiatives:</p> <ul> <li>Continues to assist in knowledge sharing through internal communication events, training, and other written materials. </li><li>Develops and participates in training and teaching and other initiatives. </li></ul> <p>Original & Proprietary Intellectual Property:</p> <ul> <li>Conducts primary research, client, or agency. </li><li>Uses proprietary strategic models, helps to drive their development, use, and institutionalization. </li><li>Develops and participates in client presentations. </li><li>Leads and develops people on the team (indirectly and directly). </li><li>Coaches and mentors others within the department. </li><li>Identifies new opportunities for revenue growth with clients. </li><li>Supports annual planning initiatives with clients. </li><li>Supports award efforts with account & creative. </li><li>Supports new business RFP & pitching efforts. </li><li>Identifies unmet needs within the department, develops proposals to satisfy needs. </li><li>Supports wider agency initiatives. </li><li>Writes white papers, agency "points of view", blog posts, etc. </li></ul> <p>SKILLSETS REQUIRED:</p> <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree or greater </li><li>Minimum of 8 years' experience in strategy and planning with experience in marketing directly with / for retailers </li><li>Dynamic personality able to effectively engage and influence a variety of audiences </li><li>Passion for understanding the 'why's' of human behavior and a strong desire to improve/grow our clients' business </li><li>Strong analytical skills </li><li>Proven leadership and organizational skills </li><li>Excellent verbal, written, presentation and interpersonal skills </li><li>Self-starter with strong problem-solving ability </li><li>Capable of handling multiple projects simultaneously </li><li>High level of energy and enthusiasm </li><li>Comfortable with high pressure, fluid and ambiguous situations </li><li>Ability to travel on an as-needed basis </li></ul> <p>Additional information</p> <p>The Power of One starts with our people! To do powerful things, we offer powerful resources. Our best-in-class wellness and benefits offerings include:</p> <ul> <li>Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more </li><li>Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility </li><li>Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption </li><li>Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance </li><li>Tuition Assistance </li><li>Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more </li><li>Matching Gifts programs </li><li>Flexible working arrangements </li><li>'Work Your World' Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility) </li><li>Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances </li></ul> <p>The benefits offerings listed are available to eligible U.S. Based employees, are reviewed on an annual basis, and are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents.</p> <p>We also offer medical and voluntary benefits to our freelancers and temporary employees. Voluntary benefit options include supplemental medical insurance, transportation, and parking benefits, legal benefits, pet insurance, and auto and home insurance.</p> <p>You must be actively employed for 90 consecutive calendar days in order to be eligible for Publicis medical and voluntary benefits. You will also be eligible to participate in the Publicis 401(k) Plan after you complete 1,000 work hours in a consecutive 12-month period.</p> <p>Mars United? Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.</p> <p>If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact USMSTACompliance@publicis.com.</p> <p>All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.</p> <p>Compensation Range: $129,485- $207,324 annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be April 30, 2026.</p>