Director, Commerce Media

Director, Commerce Media

The Director, Commerce Media is responsible for leading activation strategy and integrated media planning for Commerce clients, ensuring programs are designed to meet client objectives, drive measurable business outcomes, and support growth across the connected commerce ecosystem. This role will partner closely with client leads, strategy, creative, analytics, and commerce media teams to develop and guide media plans across key retail media networks, including Amazon, Walmart, Target/Roundel, Kroger, Albertsons, ADUSA, Instacart, Shipt, and regional partners, as well as retail media technology and partner platforms such as Criteo, CitrusAd, Pacvue, Skai, CommerceIQ, and The Trade Desk. This person will serve as a strategic activation lead across primary retail media networks and complementary third-party commerce tactics, including offsite display, CTV/OLV, paid social, in-store media, shopper incentives, and other emerging retail activation solutions. The Director will be responsible for connecting retailer, shopper, and media strategies into cohesive plans that deliver engaging shopper experiences, drive conversion, improve ROI, and support broader client business goals. The role requires strong command of retail media platforms, programmatic buying, retail media technology, campaign planning, performance optimization, and marketplace dynamics. The Director will bring thought leadership to Acosta Group's commerce media practice, helping shape strategic recommendations, test-and-learn agendas, partner selection, measurement frameworks, and client-facing narratives that support strong execution and long-term client growth.

Essential Functions:

• Lead commerce media activation strategy across key retail media networks, including Amazon, Walmart, Target/Roundel, Kroger, Instacart, Albertsons, ADUSA, and regional partners, ensuring plans are aligned to client objectives, retailer priorities, and measurable business outcomes.
• Guide integrated media planning across onsite, offsite, search, display, CTV/OLV, paid social, in-store media, incentives, and other third-party commerce activation tactics.
• Serve as a senior strategic partner to client leads and commerce media teams, acting as a bridge between client objectives, retailer opportunities, media execution, and performance optimization.
• Actively contribute to media account strategy, including KPI development, budget allocation, vendor and partner selection, test-and-learn priorities, performance tracking, and ongoing industry monitoring.
• Build and present strategic media recommendations, business reviews, and activation plans that translate client goals into clear, actionable commerce media solutions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including client engagement, strategy, creative, analytics, operations, agency partners, retailer partners, and ad technology partners to ensure advertising strategies are connected to broader business objectives.
• Partner with analytics and media teams on post-campaign analysis, identifying insights, implications, and recommendations that support repeat business, performance improvement, and organic growth.
• Maintain strong working relationships with retail media networks, media agencies, technology partners, and internal stakeholders to identify new opportunities, improve executional efficiency, and advance client outcomes.
• Stay current on retail media, marketplace, programmatic, shopper marketing, and commerce industry trends to proactively evolve client strategies and maintain a competitive advantage.
• Oversee flawless media execution in compliance with client-approved processes, ensuring proactive communication, cost management, optimization, and continuous improvement across assigned programs.
• Manage stewardship responsibilities, including tracking time worked by project, maintaining margins, and proactively managing hours and scope in partnership with client service teams.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Minimum Education Requirements: High School Diploma/GED, Bachelor's Degree
• Work Experience Requirements: Eight or more years of relevant experience in retail media, commerce media, shopper marketing, performance marketing, or related media strategy roles. Five or more years of experience in retail media, retail commerce media, or shopper marketing. Three or more years of supervisory or management experience. Experience managing retail media solutions across Amazon, Walmart, Target/Roundel, Instacart, Kroger, and/or other major retail media network
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Requirements: Strong command of retail media networks and commerce platforms, including Amazon, Walmart Connect, Target/Roundel, Kroger/KPM, Instacart, and other primary retail media partners. Strategic thinker with the ability to translate shopper, retailer, media, and client business objectives into actionable commerce media plans. Adept at analyzing results, synthesizing data, identifying insights and implications, and developing clear, actionable recommendations. Confident presenter and persuasive communicator with the ability to explain complex data, media strategy, and performance recommendations to clients and internal stakeholders. Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with the ability to operate across client engagement, strategy, creative, analytics, operations, retailer, and agency teams. Ability to manage multiple priorities, concurrent clients, deadlines, and campaign workstreams in a fast-paced environment. Strong partner management skills, including identifying partnership opportunities, evaluating vendors, supporting negotiations, and ensuring excellence in execution. Player-coach mindset with the ability to mentor team members, support specialists, and help elevate commerce media expertise across the broader organization