IAT Director, Strategy

Spark Foundry is the agency that is shaped by ideas. We believe everyone’s ideas are powerful – big or small. Our knack for exploring them makes us better.

We strongly believe in collaboration, where a thriving working relationship leads to everyone’s best work. Luckily, this conviction attracts likeminded clients and talent to create a positive and magnetic team.

We’re constantly adapting to each of our clients’ businesses’ needs to avoid stagnation. This ensures that our clients get the best service to tackle their future-facing challenges and that our team stays on their toes.

Above all, we love to go above and beyond what’s expected of us. We’ve done this through media innovation that is recognized by both the industry and by our clients who reap the benefits.

The near future is very bright for Spark Foundry, whether that’s a result of Publicis Groupe’s investment in groundbreaking global & local tools and data solutions or because of the contagious momentum amplified by new team members and new clients.

The IAT Strategy Director is responsible for guiding the Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) process by aligning strategic and tactical deliverables with business and brand objectives. This role is responsible for bringing together each of the IAT agencies to drive meaningful collaboration, leading insight and ideation sessions to deliver a seamless audience-led connections plans across paid, owned and earned channels.

This role serves as an integrated client resource working hand-in-hand with the creative and media agencies to ensure outputs are cohesive across all channels while maximizing effectiveness through portfolio management.

The IAT Strategy Director will play a significant role through annual strategic planning as well as throughout the tactical planning initiatives throughout the year. Their remit will include working collaboratively with the client team to adapt global planning process for the Canadian market. In addition, they will be responsible for the development, oversight and management of the communications framework through planning to activation – ensuring a connected experience for the consumer across all touchpoints.

• Regional accountability to global governance, in-market application and representation of local needs
• Lead IAT process and provide strategic partnership
• Orchestration of audience-led consumer journeys & comms plans through integrated ecosystem (Media (PESO), Creative, Influencer, Creative, Commerce)
  Develops Measurement Framework & Learning Plan; Tracking & Optimization against KPIs
• Project Management; toolkit deployment, market communication, adoption tracking and feedback
• Lead the strategy on industry leading brands that require not only the ability to develop effective ideas but also knowledge of best practice media principles
• Determine the communications tasks for each campaign while deciding the right channels and their roles
• Understand macro and micro trends in culture in ways that inform strategies.
• Establish measurable campaign KPIs, helping to enhance creative effectiveness and improve sell rate of innovative ideas
• Partner closely with inter-agency teams to ensure the creative idea make most effective use of an integrated mix of owned, earned and paid channels, and are deployed via innovative, targeted media and technology
• Partner closely with the Media Planning, Research and Data Sciences team to drive the creation of media and data plan that pays dividends to your connections plan
• Partner closely with the clients’ owned channel teams to ensure that the communication idea is adopted and executed seamlessly throughout social, PR, and .com properties
• Responsible for demonstrating an understanding of consumer behaviors within media, and a working knowledge of media relevant to the client’s business including TV, digital, social, experiential, print, OOH, and search
• Showcase an understanding of digital, social and emerging platforms and technologies
• Report up to and collaborate with VP Strategy to drive best-in-class work
• Bring thought leadership to clients and Spark Foundry as a whole
• Interact with clients and lead brainstorming sessions and workshops
• Partake in new business pitches with the Spark Foundry team

Professional skills

• Great thinker and an even better storyteller
• Collaboration
• Curiosity
• Creativity
• Passion for innovation
• Ability to package information in clear, concise and impactful ways
• Excellent at summarizing and making complex information accessible
• Relationship-minded to collaborate with internal teams, external partners, and clients

Very strong written and oral communication skills

Requirements

• 6+ years of Communications, Brand Strategy or Media Strategy role
• Mastery of technological, cultural, media trends & best practices
• Degree in a related discipline an asset (preferably in a Business, Communication, Marketing, or Cultural Studies program)
• Exposure to the creative ideation process
• Fully fluent in English, French fluency a strong asset

Transparency matters to us. The salary range for this position is $85,000-$95,000 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.

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.

Spark 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 Spark however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.