Director, Commerce

Publicis Groupe · New York City · $129,485 (stated in the posting)

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Publicis Media harnesses the power of modern media through global agency brands Publicis Collective, Spark Foundry, Starcom and Zenith. A key business solution of Publicis Groupe, Publicis Media’s digital-first, data-driven global practices deliver client value and drive growth in a platform-powered world. It is present in more than sixty countries with over 23,000 employees worldwide.

The Director, Commerce Media is dedicated to Simply Good Foods (SGF), leading commerce across the business and serving as the Amazon strategy lead. Reporting to the VP, Media Strategy within SGF’s Integrated Media Team, the Director connects commerce strategy, activation, and platform expertise to drive client business growth. This role combines strategic account leadership with deep retail search expertise and a strong working knowledge of DSP/programmatic activation, guiding the team from planning through execution, measurement, and optimization.

The Director partners closely with client stakeholders and agency strategy, video, investment, analytics, shopper marketing, and operations teams to translate business objectives into integrated commerce plans. Amazon expertise is central to the role, complemented by working knowledge of major retail media networks, including Walmart Connect, Target/Roundel, and Criteo. The Director guides investment priorities, reviews and approves strategic recommendations and test-and-learn agendas, and connects performance insights to business outcomes rather than reporting platform metrics alone.

As the senior commerce point of contact for SGF, the Director builds trusted client and retailer relationships, leads recommendations and decision-making, and resolves issues with sound judgment on when to escalate. The Director independently manages and develops the commerce team, strengthening technical expertise, strategic thinking, client communication, and presentation skills. Success requires proactive ownership, consistent follow-through, and the ability to build practical processes that clarify responsibilities and keep cross-functional work moving.

• Lead SGF’s commerce strategy and oversee retail search and DSP/programmatic activation, serving as the Amazon strategy lead and ensuring channel plans work together to deliver agreed business and performance objectives.

• Drive proactive thought leadership, bringing forward growth opportunities, emerging retail media capabilities, and test-and-learn agendas; review and approve major recommendations and translate learnings into clear next steps.

• Own the senior commerce client relationship and serve as the point of escalation, confidently presenting recommendations, securing decisions, managing difficult conversations, and keeping stakeholders informed of opportunities, risks, and resolution plans.

• Build strategic relationships with Amazon and other relevant retail media partners, identifying opportunities that advance SGF’s business and translating platform developments into actionable client recommendations.

• Lead commerce input into quarterly business reviews and annual planning, turning team analysis into concise, senior-level narratives that explain performance, business implications, investment choices, and recommended actions.

• Own commerce planning priorities, including annual budgets, retailer and channel allocation, KPIs, partner selection, and innovation roadmaps, aligning recommendations with SGF’s broader marketing and retail objectives.

• Drive cross-functional delivery within the Integrated Media Team, particularly across Amazon commerce, video, and strategy workstreams. Establish clear owners, deadlines, dependencies, launch trackers, and QA checkpoints; resolve blockers and ensure commitments are completed on time.

• Oversee commerce financial management, including budget tracking, pacing, forecasting, billing, invoicing, and reconciliation. Partner with Operations and Finance to ensure accuracy, manage financial risks, and provide timely reporting to senior leadership.

• Connect SGF with the broader Publicis Groupe Commerce practice, applying relevant expertise, industry perspectives, and proven approaches to strengthen client recommendations and team capabilities.

• Identify relevant account growth opportunities and clearly communicate the value of Publicis commerce products, services, and technologies, recommending solutions based on client needs and measurable business value.

• Establish and refine practical workflows, documentation, and quality standards across planning, activation, reporting, and client communication. Partner with Analytics to ensure reporting accuracy and actionable measurement, and improve processes proactively as needs evolve.

• Independently manage direct and indirect reports where applicable. Set clear priorities and accountability, develop technical and strategic skills, and provide regular coaching on client communication, presentation skills, meeting preparation, and professional judgment while fostering a collaborative, inclusive team culture.

• Deep expertise in Amazon advertising and retail search, grounded in hands-on activation experience, with strong working knowledge of DSP/programmatic strategy, audiences, optimization, and measurement. Able to guide both search and programmatic specialists and evaluate a retail media plan holistically.

• 8+ years of account management experience in performance media, with proven experience managing large-scale campaigns and developing commerce strategies aligned with client business goals; client-side or agency-side experience preferred.

• Expert understanding of the retail media landscape, buying platforms, and evolving product offerings, with working knowledge of Walmart Connect, Target/Roundel, and Criteo.

• Demonstrated ability to translate activation knowledge into investment recommendations, performance improvements, and integrated search and DSP/programmatic plans.

• Strong command of commerce reporting, analytics, and competitive research resources. Experience with Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC), clean rooms or advanced retail measurement, Skai/Pacvue/Xnurta, and Profitero is preferred.

• 5+ years of demonstrated success managing and leading performance media specialists, with the ability to independently coach Supervisors and Managers and develop both technical expertise and client-facing skills.

• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills, with sound judgment on when to resolve issues directly versus escalate with a clear recommendation.

• Concise, confident, and considerate verbal and written communication; high proficiency in developing and delivering PowerPoint presentations that make complex information clear to senior stakeholders and support informed decisions.

• Excellent cross-functional project management and organizational skills, with a track record of aligning strategy, video, activation, analytics, and operations teams to deliver multiple workstreams accurately and on time.

• Proactive, self-directed ownership and consistent follow-through, with the flexibility to work in an evolving environment and build effective processes rather than depend on established instructions or repeated direction.

• Ability to identify, package, and present growth opportunities and articulate the business value of performance media channels, tools, and services.

• Strategic perspective paired with strong attention to detail, financial discipline, and accountability for high-quality execution and client outcomes.
• Experience with Prisma and MediaOcean preferred; familiarity with planning tools such as TukTuk or Mediatools is a plus.
• Comfort using AI tools and helping team members apply them effectively within their workflows is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required; a concentration in business, marketing, or advertising is a plus.

Our Publicis Groupe motto “Viva La Différence” means we’re better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all that we do as an organization. We are focused on fostering belonging and creating equitable & inclusive experiences for all talent.

Publicis Groupe provides robust and inclusive benefit programs and policies to support the evolving and diverse needs of our talent and enable every person to grow and thrive. Our benefits package includes medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401K, as well as parental and family care leave, family forming assistance, tuition reimbursement, and flexible time off.

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact USMTTACompliance@publicis.com.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

• Lead SGF’s commerce strategy and oversee retail search and DSP/programmatic activation, serving as the Amazon strategy lead and ensuring channel plans work together to deliver agreed business and performance objectives.

• Drive proactive thought leadership, bringing forward growth opportunities, emerging retail media capabilities, and test-and-learn agendas; review and approve major recommendations and translate learnings into clear next steps.

• Own the senior commerce client relationship and serve as the point of escalation, confidently presenting recommendations, securing decisions, managing difficult conversations, and keeping stakeholders informed of opportunities, risks, and resolution plans.

• Build strategic relationships with Amazon and other relevant retail media partners, identifying opportunities that advance SGF’s business and translating platform developments into actionable client recommendations.

• Lead commerce input into quarterly business reviews and annual planning, turning team analysis into concise, senior-level narratives that explain performance, business implications, investment choices, and recommended actions.

• Own commerce planning priorities, including annual budgets, retailer and channel allocation, KPIs, partner selection, and innovation roadmaps, aligning recommendations with SGF’s broader marketing and retail objectives.

• Drive cross-functional delivery within the Integrated Media Team, particularly across Amazon commerce, video, and strategy workstreams. Establish clear owners, deadlines, dependencies, launch trackers, and QA checkpoints; resolve blockers and ensure commitments are completed on time.

• Oversee commerce financial management, including budget tracking, pacing, forecasting, billing, invoicing, and reconciliation. Partner with Operations and Finance to ensure accuracy, manage financial risks, and provide timely reporting to senior leadership.

• Connect SGF with the broader Publicis Groupe Commerce practice, applying relevant expertise, industry perspectives, and proven approaches to strengthen client recommendations and team capabilities.

• Identify relevant account growth opportunities and clearly communicate the value of Publicis commerce products, services, and technologies, recommending solutions based on client needs and measurable business value.

• Establish and refine practical workflows, documentation, and quality standards across planning, activation, reporting, and client communication. Partner with Analytics to ensure reporting accuracy and actionable measurement, and improve processes proactively as needs evolve.

• Independently manage direct and indirect reports where applicable. Set clear priorities and accountability, develop technical and strategic skills, and provide regular coaching on client communication, presentation skills, meeting preparation, and professional judgment while fostering a collaborative, inclusive team culture.

• Deep expertise in Amazon advertising and retail search, grounded in hands-on activation experience, with strong working knowledge of DSP/programmatic strategy, audiences, optimization, and measurement. Able to guide both search and programmatic specialists and evaluate a retail media plan holistically.

• 8+ years of account management experience in performance media, with proven experience managing large-scale campaigns and developing commerce strategies aligned with client business goals; client-side or agency-side experience preferred.

• Expert understanding of the retail media landscape, buying platforms, and evolving product offerings, with working knowledge of Walmart Connect, Target/Roundel, and Criteo.

• Demonstrated ability to translate activation knowledge into investment recommendations, performance improvements, and integrated search and DSP/programmatic plans.

• Strong command of commerce reporting, analytics, and competitive research resources. Experience with Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC), clean rooms or advanced retail measurement, Skai/Pacvue/Xnurta, and Profitero is preferred.

• 5+ years of demonstrated success managing and leading performance media specialists, with the ability to independently coach Supervisors and Managers and develop both technical expertise and client-facing skills.

• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills, with sound judgment on when to resolve issues directly versus escalate with a clear recommendation.

• Concise, confident, and considerate verbal and written communication; high proficiency in developing and delivering PowerPoint presentations that make complex information clear to senior stakeholders and support informed decisions.

• Excellent cross-functional project management and organizational skills, with a track record of aligning strategy, video, activation, analytics, and operations teams to deliver multiple workstreams accurately and on time.

• Proactive, self-directed ownership and consistent follow-through, with the flexibility to work in an evolving environment and build effective processes rather than depend on established instructions or repeated direction.

• Ability to identify, package, and present growth opportunities and articulate the business value of performance media channels, tools, and services.

• Strategic perspective paired with strong attention to detail, financial discipline, and accountability for high-quality execution and client outcomes.
• Experience with Prisma and MediaOcean preferred; familiarity with planning tools such as TukTuk or Mediatools is a plus.
• Comfort using AI tools and helping team members apply them effectively within their workflows is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required; a concentration in business, marketing, or advertising is a plus.

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