Associate Director, Planning at Brainlabs

At Brainlabs, we are building the world’s largest and most effective independent media agency. We pride ourselves on being a high-performance organization that delivers sustained business impact through media planning and buying. Our success is driven by superteams of dedicated professionals who leverage data and technology to achieve results. We are a culture-first company, guided by our Culture Code, which emphasizes continuous development and a commitment to winning together. We are currently looking for a senior-level Associate Director of Planning to join our team in Toronto, Ontario, for a full-time, on-site position starting in July 2025.

Key outcomes

• Translate business objectives and advertising goals into comprehensive, cross-channel media strategies that span paid, owned, earned, and shared media.
• Lead the development of media plans, including audience analysis, channel selection, budget optimization, and flighting recommendations.
• Serve as a trusted day-to-day advisor to our clients, building strong relationships and leading strategic workshops and presentations.
• Partner with internal teams across data, measurement, digital, traditional media, and creative departments to ensure a cohesive strategic vision.
• Drive innovation by staying ahead of industry trends and incorporating best practices into our planning approaches.
• Provide proactive thought leadership to account teams and clients to address business challenges effectively.

Requirements

• At least 4 years of professional experience in media planning, with a strong focus on digital media.
• Proven experience working within the CPG, Petcare, or Retail sectors.
• A track record of successfully executing full-funnel, cross-channel media strategies.
• Proficiency with audience planning and segmentation tools such as GWI, MRI, YouGov, or Google Insights.
• Experience utilizing media planning and optimization software like Commspoint, Nielsen Media Impact, Comscore, Ad Intel, Pathmatics, or Claritas.
• A deep understanding of both brand-building principles and performance marketing methodologies.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the digital landscape, including social, search, programmatic, and emerging channels.
• Exceptional presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex data into clear, visually compelling narratives.
• Must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, as we are unable to provide work authorization sponsorship for this position.

Preferred qualifications

• Strong grasp of media measurement, including attribution modeling and digital or traditional metrics.
• Experience with marketing technology platforms, such as DSPs, DMPs, and various attribution tools.
• Knowledge of multi-touch attribution and marketing mix modeling.
• Ability to translate raw data into actionable insights and craft effective brand strategies.
• Experience with data visualization tools and advanced analytics.
• Background in managing integrated campaigns across multiple markets.

How to apply

We invite you to join our team and contribute to our collaborative environment. Our hiring process includes a comprehensive series of skills-based interviews designed to help us get to know you while providing you with an opportunity to learn more about our culture and team. Please submit your application to be considered for this role. We look forward to reviewing your experience.