Senior Director, Media

Podean is the leading global marketplace marketing agency. We work with progressive brands across the globe to unlock potential on Amazon, Target, Walmart, and other marketplaces. Our services span eCommerce strategy, content creation and optimization, media management, retail operations, data and analytics, consulting, and social commerce. Recent award wins include Digiday’s Best Employer for Remote Employees and Amazon’s Global Expansion Partner Award.

We’re hiring a Senior Director, Media to take our media discipline to the next level. This is a high-impact leadership role that will shape the future of our media offering and team. You’ll lead strategy, team development, innovation, and cross-functional alignment. This is an opportunity to build something extraordinary and help define how brands win in the marketplace space.

What You’ll Do

Strategic Vision and Leadership:

• Define and articulate the company's comprehensive media vision and strategy, contributing to the overall media discipline long-term planning.
• Translate broader leadership goals into actionable, strategic media plans.
• Drive innovation and thought leadership in the media space, positioning the company as an industry leader.
• Proactively identify and capitalize on emerging market trends and technologies, ensuring competitive advantage.
• Oversee the vision and strategy for the media discipline, including long-term planning.
• Keep an eye on competitors and the market and develop strategic plans to stay competitive.

Executive Management and Team Development:

• Provide strategic guidance and leadership to the media team, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
• Set performance goals, ensure accountability, and mentor senior team members.
• Attract, develop, and retain top talent in the media department.
• Inspire the team to work towards broader discipline team initiatives together.
• Able to handle tricky situations with team etc. with minimal involvement from ELT.

Client and Partner Relationships & Commercial Acumen:

• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with key clients and media partners, ensuring long-term partnerships.
• Negotiate high-value contracts and partnerships, maximizing value for the company.
• Ensure client satisfaction at the highest level, serving as a trusted advisor.
• Deep understanding of client commercials and profitability.

External Reputation and Pitching:

• Develop and maintain a strong executive presence, representing the company at industry events and conferences.
• Drive the company's external reputation through strategic LinkedIn engagement and thought leadership initiatives.
• Focus on building out our media secret sauce / story, credentials, pitchware including videos and portfolios.
• Develop executive presence - communication skills, especially pitch involvement.

Financial and Operational Management:

• Oversee the development and management of the media budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources.
• Ensure operational efficiency and effectiveness, implementing best practices and optimizing processes.
• Implement and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress and drive results.
• Develop and implement financial forecasting and reporting processes.
• Drive cost efficiency.

Risk Management and Compliance:

• Ensure all media activities are compliant with relevant regulations and industry standards.
• Identify and mitigate potential risks, protecting the company's reputation and financial interests.

Vendor Management:

• Evaluate and manage relationships with media vendors and partners.
• Negotiate contracts and ensure adherence to performance standards.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Advertising, or a related field; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in performance media, with leadership experience.
• Deep understanding of marketplace media, especially Amazon, Walmart, and Target
• Proven success in scaling teams, driving revenue growth, and leading strategic media transformations
• Expertise across the digital media landscape: search, programmatic, retail media, social, analytics
• Strong financial acumen and experience with budget management, forecasting, and commercial negotiation
• Confident communicator with pitch experience and the ability to own a room
• Experience building pitchware, case studies, or thought leadership content that elevates brand presence
• Track record of managing globally distributed teams preferred