The Perfect Fit

New Search: Director of Insight and Planning #14091

We're very excited about starting this search for a brand new client (to us).  They've been in St. Louis for years.  They have an excellent reputation and a storied history!

Director of Insight and Planning #14091
Location: St. Louis

General Description:
Our client is looking for a smart, accomplished and versatile planning leader to help the agency enhance and support their creative.  We’re looking for that passion for understanding consumer trends and behavior and the ability to deliver that understanding with the goal of inspiring the creative team and the client.  We want an evangelist for Planning, who enjoys spreading the word with soapboxes, articles, white papers or at Conferences!

This person will lead the insight based strategic efforts of our client, who believes deeply in and is committed to the value of strategic planning.   You’ll help determine the strategic vision of the agency, as well as supporting internal and external stakeholders with research, data and consistently brilliant insights, which of course leads to inspired creative!  You’ll lead their clients’ annual planning.

Responsibilities:
In addition to traditional channels, we want that deeper, more specific understanding of how consumers live and use media; all media . . . from TV and video to social (of course), but nuanced social, i.e. which consumers blog and/or Tweet, but don’t “Pin” or Instagram, etc..  Sometimes the right data might not be available, so an understanding of both quant and qual research methodology and experience with syndicated research is essential.  Clients often don’t know what they don’t know, because of bad (or non-existent) research.

Don't Know Your Place! ... Lessons From The Midwest

The Midwest as a creative destination
That’s not how people typically refer to the Midwest. Usually they call it “flyover country,” “the boonies,”or my favorite, “East Bumfuck.” I’ve even heard someone refer to it as “a creative desert.”  We get why people say that, but there is a deep creative undercurrent that runs through the Midwest. For example, every week we all watch TV shows and movies put together by people from here.
 
We actually prefer being the underdog
There’s more opportunity to surprise. And when you have something to prove, it energizes the team: we’d rather be playing offense than constantly defending our ground.
 
We don’t need to be first with everything. “The Coasts” typically set trends, but it doesn’t mean we always follow. All it means is we have to be original.