Strategic Planner

Strategic Planner

We're looking for a Strategic Planner to work on a major consumer goods client. Candidates must reside in a commutable distance to one of Mars United Commerce's hub locations in Chicago, New York, Dallas or Denver for a 3-4 day/week hybrid work schedule.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as strategic liaison with internal and client teams for annual planning, program development, and brand stewardship across the integrated marketing mix.
• Assess and interpret existing consumer or shopper understanding; identify needs and knowledge gaps.
• Provide consumer and shopper perspectives and insights, including shopping and buying behavior, for individual projects. This includes the conducting of primary and secondary research.
• Influence creative strategy with compelling and thoughtful application of these insights.
• Be able to effectively integrate consumer and shopper insights into agency process.
• Maintain productive and regular communication with Account teams and client teams.
• Develop and deliver credible, succinct, and energetic presentations, briefs, or alternative planning deliverables that can be easily understood and acted upon.
• Identify emerging techniques and/or methodologies for qualitative projects (shopper insights, purchase motivation, consumer behavior, trend-spotting) or quantitative approaches.
• Perpetuate an understanding and utilization of Strategic Planning within cross-disciplinary teams.
• Share thought leadership pieces, new news, and industry ideas within Mars United Commerce.
• Contribute to agency New Business endeavors as called upon.

Demonstrations:

• Uses data to uncover insights.
• Finds and synthesizes trends and cultural fuel.
• Supports the development of and conducts primary research for either client or agency.
• Develops strategic implications.
• Drafts creative briefs and communication propositions.
• Attends internal meetings.
• Supports others across the larger planning team.
• Executes projects with excellence.
• Manages time effectively.
• Uses proprietary strategic models and tools on a regular basis.
• Continues to assist in knowledge sharing through internal communication events, training, and other written materials.

SKILLSETS REQUIRED:

A bachelor's degree (recognized internationally) plus:

• 2 plus years of professional service experience with client contact and project management.
• 1 plus years of experience in marketing or marketing communications.
• Qualitative research or ethnography experience.
• Baseline understanding of research academics and methodologies.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Strong intuitive skills.
• Ability to inspire creative process.
• Ability to recognize and develop creative ideas.
• Professional presentation skills.
• Solid interpersonal skills.
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal).
• Collaborative strong team working skills but also a self-starter.
• Organized and detail-oriented must demonstrate attention to detail and ability to handle multiple. tasks/projects
• Bias for action and implementation.
• Positive attitude towards the role, the department, agency, and its clients.
• Positive professional team player who takes ownership of tasks and who seeks and accepts other responsibilities.

Additional Information

The Power of One starts with our people! To do powerful things, we offer powerful resources. Our best-in-class wellness and benefits offerings include:

• Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more
• Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility
• Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption
• Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance
• Tuition Assistance
• Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more
• Matching Gifts programs
• Flexible working arrangements
• 'Work Your World' Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility)
• Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances

The benefits offerings listed are available to eligible U.S. Based employees, are reviewed on an annual basis, and are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents.

We also offer medical and voluntary benefits to our freelancers and temporary employees. Voluntary benefit options include supplemental medical insurance, transportation, and parking benefits, legal benefits, pet insurance, and auto and home insurance.

You must be actively employed for 90 consecutive calendar days in order to be eligible for Publicis medical and voluntary benefits. You will also be eligible to participate in the Publicis 401(k) Plan after you complete 1,000 work hours in a consecutive 12-month period.

Mars United? Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact USMSTACompliance@publicis.com. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Compensation Range: $53,960- $71,610 annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be July 31, 2026.