Associate Planning Director

The purpose of this role is to manage senior strategists and planner/junior on day-to-day client strategy needs on a single account or group of accounts – guiding insight generation, creative briefs, selling narratives, strategic POVs and go-to market plans

Job Description:

Dentsu Creative operates in over [21] markets worldwide with more than [2,200] dedicated specialists. Bringing together our Japanese heritage in craft, data and technology, and our deep understanding of media and contemporary culture, Dentsu Creative is a new global creative agency. Born in Japan, raised in a digital world. We help transform brands and business through the power of Modern Creativity: which creates culture, changes society and invents the future and is accelerated by our deep specialist expertise in digital experience, earned attention and entertainment.

About dentsu international

Part of Dentsu Group, Dentsu International is a network designed for what’s next, helping clients predict and plan for disruptive future opportunities and create new paths to growth in the sustainable economy. Dentsu delivers people-focused solutions and services to drive better business and societal outcomes. This is delivered through five global leadership brands - Carat, Dentsu Creative, dentsu X, iProspect and Merkle, each with deep specialisms.

Dentsu International’s radically collaborative team of diverse creators unifies people, clients and capabilities through horizontal creativity to help clients create culture, change society, and invent the future.

Powered by 100% renewable energy, Dentsu International operates in over 145 markets worldwide with more than 46,000 dedicated specialists, and partners with 95 of the top 100 global advertisers.

Visit our website to discover more about what we do: www.dentsu.com 

What your typical day will look like:

As the Associate Planning Director, you will lead the development and delivery of strategic thinking across assigned brands and clients, translating business challenges, consumer insights, and market opportunities into impactful brand strategies and creative solutions. You will partner with senior strategy leadership, creative teams, and clients to drive strategic excellence, inspire innovative thinking, and deliver meaningful business outcomes. The role also provides leadership, mentorship, and direction to junior strategists, fostering a collaborative and high-performing strategy team.

Other responsibilities include:

• Strategic Leadership & Direction: Lead the development of strategic outputs across multiple brands, including brand strategies, creative briefs, research reports, strategic POVs, selling narratives, and go-to-market plans, ensuring alignment with client objectives and business priorities.
• Creative & Strategic Excellence: Act as a strategic partner to creative and brand teams, leveraging consumer insights, data, and cultural intelligence to inspire creative thinking, challenge conventional approaches, and identify opportunities for brand growth and innovation.
• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and develop junior strategists, providing strategic direction, guidance, and constructive feedback while building their capabilities and encouraging independent thinking.
• Client & Stakeholder Partnership: Build and strengthen relationships with senior and mid-level marketing clients, establishing credibility as a trusted strategic advisor. Proactively identify opportunities to add value, address business challenges, and strengthen client partnerships.
• Cross-functional Collaboration & Business Impact: Work closely with multidisciplinary teams across strategy, creative, media, and other agency functions to deliver integrated solutions, elevate the quality of strategic work, and contribute to new business opportunities and overall agency growth.

A bit about you:

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Advertising, Business, or a related field.
• Significant experience in brand strategy, strategic planning, advertising, consumer insights, or a related discipline, with demonstrated experience handling multiple brands and strategic projects.
• Strong expertise in consumer insights, data interpretation, brand positioning, cultural trends, and translating complex information into compelling strategic recommendations and creative briefs.
• Proven leadership and people development capabilities, with experience mentoring, coaching, or managing junior team members.
• Excellent client management, presentation, storytelling, and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders, lead strategic discussions, and drive collaborative solutions.

What’s in it for you:

• Hybrid work arrangement.
• The opportunity to give back with dedicated volunteer leave and our whole-company event, One Day for Change
• Career Development and Learning & Development opportunities, including access to our global online dentsu University
• Be part of a global network that truly invests in recognising performance with via our Never Before Awards, and social impact, including having a clearly mapped path to becoming net zero

Become a champion for meaningful progress:

Our diverse and inclusive culture enables our employees to bring their whole selves to work and be proud of doing so. For us, this is the foundation for great innovation which, in turn, generates better outcomes for our people, partners and communities. This is why we encourage applications from people with disabilities, and of all ages, nationalities, backgrounds and cultures.

Together we make our mark. Together we embrace the true potential of disruption. And together – across all our locations – we help our clients win in a changing world.

If you want to belong to a one global network where opportunities are limitless – we look forward to welcoming you.

Next Steps
Sound exactly like the sort of role for you? Apply now!

#LI-DNI

Location:

Brand:

Time Type:

Contract Type: