Director, Retail Media & Connected Commerce

Position Summary

Tech-driven and AI-powered, our Commerce team specializes in delivering integrated, holistic commerce performance and solutions. Our purpose is to help brands unlock their full potential in the complex and fragmented commerce landscape by unifying comprehensive commerce capabilities. This includes data-driven planning, omnichannel buying and execution, performance optimization, and robust measurement across retail media and commerce platforms. Our mission: to empower clients' commerce, shopper, and customer marketing teams by driving measurable sales online and in-store.

As Director, Retail Media & Connected Commerce, you will be a strategic leader, spearheading the development and execution of innovative retail media strategies. Reporting to the VP of eCommerce, you will serve as a lead consultant to help clients address their commerce challenges and achieve high-performance outcomes in retail media. You will provide actionable recommendations that align with clients’ goals across both paid and organic tactics.

You will be responsible for interpreting client needs, diagnosing performance metrics, and delivering strategic solutions with a problem-solving mindset. Acting as a project lead, you will oversee the delivery, execution, and quality of initiatives across our client portfolio. As a business leader with a growth mindset, you will excel in consultative solution-selling and identifying new client opportunities.

Your expertise will drive innovation, foster internal education on our solutions, and refine processes across teams. This role is ideal for a seasoned leader passionate about retail media and connected commerce who thrives on delivering measurable business outcomes through strategic consultancy and advisory services.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Expertise:

• Co-lead with eCommerce leadership to nurture, develop, and scale the end-to-end best-in-class approach to Retail Media, Shopper Marketing, and Commerce.
• Act as a lead expert connecting online and offline omnichannel commerce strategies for clients.
• Develop and execute innovative retail media and holistic commerce strategies for clients, driving impactful, high-performance outcomes across both paid and organic tactics

Strategic Leadership & Innovation:

• Develop and execute innovative retail media & holistic commerce strategies for clients, driving impactful, high-performance outcomes across both paid and organic tactics.
• Lead the development of retail media solutions leveraging emerging technologies and trends to enhance client performance.
• Co-design and implement processes to improve standardization and efficiency of commerce solutions and deliverables.
• Stay ahead of retail media and commerce trends, providing strategic recommendations inclusive of upcoming tools and tech solutions.
• Foster a culture of innovation within the team by encouraging experimentation and the exploration of new ideas.
• Co-Lead regional adaptation & adoption of global product roadmap, credentials, collaterals and capabilities.

Client Consulting & Relationship Management:

• Serve as a lead consultant to senior-level clients, offering strategic guidance and actionable solutions to address commerce and retail media challenges.
• Collaborate with clients to provide strategic insights, ensuring alignment with overall marketing and business strategies.
• Deeply understand client business objectives, target audiences, and competitive landscape, tailoring strategies and solutions to their specific needs.
• Diagnose performance metrics, and deliver strategic solutions with a problem-solving mindset.
• Build strong relationships with clients, acting as a trusted advisor and advocate for their success.
• Provide proactive thought leadership on emerging retail media advancements and challenges.
• Proactively manage client expectations and deliverables.
• Prepare and present client-ready materials, fostering strong partnerships.
  
  

Project Management & Execution:

• Oversee project delivery, ensuring quality execution across the client portfolio.
• Collaborate with internal teams (e.g. campaign design & planning, activation, data & analytics) to ensure seamless project execution and deliver high-quality results.
• Manage budgets, timelines, and resources effectively to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.
• Develop and implement robust project management processes to ensure efficient and effective project delivery.
• Partnering with our channel specialists across search, programmatic, social, experience and content disciplines to deliver integrated commerce solutions

Business Development & Growth:

• Prospecting and converting organic expansion opportunities with key client stakeholders, in partnership with our client leads across agencies.
• Develop and present compelling proposals to potential clients, articulating the value proposition of our services.
• Lead client pitches and presentations, showcasing expertise and thought leadership in retail media and connected commerce.
• Contribute to the growth and expansion of the Commerce team, identifying new markets and opportunities.
• Build partnerships and foster innovation with retail media partners, key commerce platforms, and vendors.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Inspire and mentor activation specialists to achieve strategic goals, fostering a collaborators.
• Drive internal education on retail media and commerce solutions, elevating team capabilities and processes.
• Act as a subject matter expert, educating agency teams and clients on best practices in retail media and commerce.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in retail media strategy with a successful track record of team leadership.
• Expertise in planning, executing, and measuring holistic omnichannel strategies within retail media networks.
• Strong experience with Shopper Marketing is highly desirable.
• Proficiency Familiarity with Canadian Retail Media Networks and key omnichannel platforms.
• Demonstrated expertise in understanding and leveraging 1P data to develop audience strategies, implement scalable audience solutions and targeting for retail media is highly desirable.
• Professional or educational background in Marketing and/or Advertising is advantageous.
• Senior-level experience in retail media with an understanding of integrating shopper and activation strategies with optimized non-media tactics.
• Mastery of full-funnel commerce channel implementation.
• Knowledge of broader media planning and buying to ensure integration with overall media objectives
• Experience in retail media monetization for brands and retailers is a plus.
• Experience with SaaS platforms for campaign management, optimization, and reporting (e.g., Skai, Pacvue).
• Previous experience working within an advertising agency and/or Commerce media partner or CPG experience is a must.
• Experience with multiple client and business categories.
• Ability to understand high-level client goals and translate them into effective commerce strategies.
• Client service oriented with a proactive approach to problem solving, assisting the team, and self-development.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for effective client collaboration.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Ability to work collaboratively, as well as independently.
• Passion for retail media, commerce strategy, data, emerging media, and technology.

KINESSO is the technology-driven performance marketing agency that sits at the very heart of IPG Mediabrands, providing actionable growth for both our agency partners and clients. We turn 'action' into 'outcome' for our clients, leveraging our unique capabilities in optimization, analytics, AI, and experimentation. KINESSO has brought together the collective power of what was formerly Matterkind, Reprise, and Kinesso under one collective entity that will serve as the most powerful delivery engine in the industry. We have extensive offerings spanning across performance marketing and data and technology. Fueled by a deep understanding of consumer behavior, we offer an end-to-end engine of planning and optimization while also delivering on data-driven strategy for social platforms, actionable growth in e-commerce, and creating curated marketplaces specific to each client's function and needs. The company has more than 6,000 employees operating in more than 60 countries. Learn more at www.KINESSO.com

What's in it for you?
• Generous paid time off with a minimum of 37 paid days off including vacation and monthly wellness days. We also have four-day long weekends, half-day summer Fridays, and meeting-free Friday afternoons year-round.
• A flexible hybrid work model that works for you.
• A focus on personal development with formal training opportunities, including mental health training and inclusion education for everyone.
• A chance to be part of and grow within a global network of agencies.
• The opportunity to contribute to our company culture by joining one of our many community-based employee groups, such as Black Employee Network, Girls on Fire, Hispanic or Latinx Alliance, Neuro Network, Pan-Asian Network, and Rainbow Lounge.

KINESSO is an equal opportunity employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, colour, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, disability, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, provincial, or municipal law. If you require an accommodation in any aspect of the selection process, please reach out to canadatalent@mbww.com