Director, Media

JOB OVERVIEW

Red Lobster, one of the most iconic advertisers and restaurant brands, is offering an exciting opportunity to lead our strategic media planning efforts. We are seeking a visionary Director of Media who will play a pivotal role in shaping the company’s media strategy and execution to drive brand growth, customer engagement, and measurable business outcomes. This individual will oversee strategic planning, execution, and optimization of paid multi-channel campaigns, manage a multi-million-dollar budget, collaborate with executive leadership, and drive a culture of innovation and excellence. The Director of Media will lead agency relationships, optimize performance analytics, and be the go-to organizational lead for Media.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual media strategy that aligns with overarching business and marketing goals.
• Own quarterly and promotional window media strategies, ensuring alignment with overall plan
• Provide strategic counsel to senior leadership, translating complex media trends and performance metrics into actionable insights.

Campaign Oversight

• Lead the conceptualization, development, and execution of omnichannel media campaigns, leveraging traditional channels (e.g., linear TV, radio, out-of-home) and emerging platforms (e.g., streaming TV, digital, social, programmatic, influencer marketing).
• Collaborate with agency to continually optimize campaigns to maximize ROI.

Financial Stewardship

• Oversee the strategic allocation and optimization of the marketing budget to maximize ROI.
• Partner with finance and agency teams to conduct regular performance analyses, identifying trends and opportunities for reallocation of resources to high-performing initiatives.
• Lead development of marketing mix modeling (MMM) in collaboration with MMM vendor and media agency and implement changes accordingly.

Agency and Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the primary media point of contact for external agencies, ensuring accountability for deliverables and adherence to strategic goals.
• Build and nurture cross-functional relationships within the organization, including marketing, finance, and operations, to foster alignment and drive results.
• Act as an internal thought leader and subject matter expert, ensuring alignment of media initiatives with company priorities.

Innovation and Data-Driven Optimization

• Drive the adoption of innovative media tools and platforms to enhance campaign effectiveness and audience targeting.
• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitor activities to keep Red Lobster at the forefront of media excellence.
• Use advanced analytics to evaluate campaign performance, providing actionable insights and recommendations to refine strategies.

Leadership and Team Development

• Directly manage and mentor team members, fostering a culture of growth, accountability, and collaboration.
• Establish clear objectives and performance metrics for direct report and agency partners.
• Lead executive presentations, delivering data-backed recommendations to influence decision-making.

REQUIRED TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Strategic Vision: Expertise in aligning media strategies with broader business objectives, leveraging insights to influence brand direction.
• Omnichannel Proficiency: Advanced understanding of both traditional and modern media channels, with the ability to integrate strategies for maximum impact.
• Analytical Expertise: Skilled in analyzing complex data sets, including campaign performance and budget allocation, to inform strategic pivots.
• Communication Mastery: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to present confidently to executive stakeholders.
• Leadership Acumen: Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional teams and mentoring talent within high-performance organizations.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Advertising, Business Administration, or a related field; MBA preferred.
• A minimum of six (6) years of progressive media planning experience across agency and/or client-side roles.
• Proven track record of managing multi-million-dollar budgets and delivering measurable ROI.

OTHER KEY QUALIFICATIONS

• Visionary Leadership: A proactive, can-do mindset, with a passion for driving innovation and navigating complex challenges.
• Consumer-Centric Focus: Deep understanding of consumer behavior, market trends, and industry best practices.
• Collaborative Spirit: Ability to build strong relationships across all levels of the organization and with external partners.
• Results-Driven Approach: A relentless focus on delivering results and achieving excellence in all initiatives.