Role : Director Digital Branding
Location : Gurgaon
Role Summary
The Director Digital Branding will lead the strategic planning, execution, and optimization of digital branding initiatives across key client accounts. This role requires a senior digital leader with deep expertise in brand-led digital planning, strong client stewardship capabilities, and the ability to translate business objectives into scalable digital media strategies.
The incumbent will own end-to-end digital media strategy, guide high-impact planning decisions, mentor teams, and act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders. The role demands both strategic depth and operational rigor, with accountability for media effectiveness, innovation adoption, and long-term brand growth.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Client Partnership
- Act as the primary digital branding and media strategy lead for assigned marquee accounts.
- Lead senior-level media discussions with clients, influencing brand strategy, investment frameworks, and long-term digital roadmaps.
- Develop a deep understanding of client's business models, category dynamics, and short- and long-term objectives.
- Partner closely with partner agencies to deliver integrated brand solutions.
Digital Media Strategy & Planning
- Own the development of full-funnel digital branding strategies, translating business and brand objectives into robust media frameworks.
- Provide strategic direction across key digital platforms including Meta (Facebook/Instagram), Google (Search & YouTube), Programmatic, Direct Publisher Buys, and Emerging Media.
- Lead the creation of media plans, POVs, innovation proposals, and performance narratives for clients.
- Set topline budget allocation across platforms and formats to maximize reach, salience, and brand outcomes.
Audience, Data & Measurement
- Lead audience strategy including audience definition, sizing, profiling, and validation using data and research tools.
- Leverage planning tools such as Comscore, Similarweb, GWI, etc and platform insights to inform media decisions.
- Define measurement frameworks, success metrics, and learning agendas aligned to branding KPIs.
- Oversee post-campaign analysis, extract insights, and ensure learnings are applied to future planning cycles.
Execution Oversight & Governance
- Oversee end-to-end campaign execution, ensuring seamless coordination across planning, buying, and ad operations.
- Guide teams on placement strategy (impact vs non-impact), tracking, serving, and quality control.
- Ensure delivery excellence, timely outputs, and adherence to agreed objectives and budgets.
Innovation & Industry Leadership
- Stay abreast of emerging technologies, platforms, formats, and media innovations that can enhance brand salience.
- Champion experimentation and innovation-led solutions aligned to client brand ambitions.
- Bring thought leadership and proactive ideas to clients, positioning the agency as a strategic partner.
Publisher & Ecosystem Management
- Build and maintain senior-level relationships with key publishers, platforms, and media partners.
- Negotiate value-added opportunities, innovation pilots, and strategic partnerships.
- Ensure strong understanding of media economics, inventory dynamics, and evolving platform capabilities.
Team Leadership & Capability Building
- Lead, mentor, and develop digital planning teams, fostering high performance and strategic thinking.
- Set quality benchmarks for planning, analysis, and client servicing.
- Drive collaboration across internal teams and central capabilities.
Key Competencies & Skills
- 10+ years of experience in digital branding and media strategy, with a strong agency background preferred.
- Deep expertise across Digital Media Ecosystem: Branding-led Search, Social, Programmatic, Video, Mobile, and Emerging Channels.
- Strong understanding of marketing and advertising principles, media economics, and brand-building frameworks.
- Proven ability to manage senior client stakeholders and lead complex, multi-market or multi-brand engagements.
- Excellent strategic thinking, communication, and presentation skills.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritise, multitask, and operate effectively under pressure.
- Demonstrated leadership experience in managing and scaling high-performing teams.
