Senior Director

WHY DEPT®?

We are pioneers at heart. What this means, is that we are always leaning forward, thinking of what we can create tomorrow that does not exist today. We were born digital and we are a new model of agency, with a deep skillset in tech and marketing. That’s why we hire curious, self-driven, talented people who never stop innovating.

Our culture is big enough to cope and small enough to care. Meaning, that with people across 20+ countries, we’re big enough to provide you with the best tools, global opportunities, and benefits that help you thrive. While acting small by investing in you, your growth, your team, and giving you the autonomy to solve our clients' problems, no matter where you are in the world. 

Please note you must be located in the Greater Chicago area in order to be considered for this opportunity.

About You

You’ll be the beating heart of DEPT®’s retail media team to one of the world’s most iconic brands in wearable technology. At DEPT®, we don't just fill roles, we create careers. If you're ready to redefine what retail media leadership looks like, we'd love to meet you.

We’re hiring a Senior Director Retail Media to be at the heart of the operation for one of our flagship global partnerships in the Consumer Electronics space, specifically ‘wearables’. This role is perfect for someone who thrives at the intersection of commerce, marketing, and retail, has an affinity with tech and is someone who can partner closely with a team of strategists, project managers and media planners to help shape and define wearable technology.

As a senior retail media director, you oversee a team of extremely passionate, qualified and experienced retail (media) specialists, across DSP, Search, Content and Retail Strategy. You are the connecting tissue between the sheer brainpower of the specialists and the strategic lead(s) on the client, ensuring alignment with the client’s vision. You drive strategy, sales, and delivery within retail, with support of the project management organization across Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart and dozens of other platforms across the globe. 

To achieve your goals in this role, you will maintain senior-level agency relationships with the client’s counterparts and consult on the best path forward to achieve tactical goals developed in relation to the client vision with the other cross-channel leads (e.g. Direct To Consumer) . Furthermore, you maintain the relationship with the big US retailers and support the co-development of features, functionality and reporting needs in partnership with the retailers. 

You are experienced in consulting for varied clients in the digital marketing, retail and ecommerce spaces, and capable of driving conversations towards different capabilities within DEPT®’s retail media offering.

Success in this role after 12 months looks like: 

• You’ve built strong relationships with key client stakeholders across media, e-commerce, and partnerships, and are seen as the go-to expert for all things retail media.
• Your team is firing on all cylinders, delivering consistently excellent performance across Search, DSP, Content, and Retail Strategy with clarity, accountability, and collaboration.
• You’ve shaped and launched a global retail media roadmap.
• Retail media is no longer siloed, you’ve integrated it into broader DTC, and channel strategy conversations, tying it directly to business impact and incrementality.
  You’re helping the client push the edge of what’s possible whether through a new targeting model, a custom beta with a retailer, or a full-funnel approach that breaks the mold.
• You’re laying the groundwork for what’s next, whether that’s deeper measurement, expansion into new retailers, or a bold POV on how wearables can win on the digital shelf.

This is more than media management; it’s global retail media ownership. This translates in the following key responsibilities. 

Key responsibilities & Essential duties (Other duties may be assigned)

• Lead the end-to-end development and delivery of retail media programs across Search, DSP, Content, and Retail Strategy; partnering with specialist leads to ensure executional excellence and innovation.
• Co-create and drive the global retail media roadmap for the client in close collaboration with DEPT® strategists, project managers, and media planners.
• Act as a senior lead across all retail touchpoints, ensuring seamless integration across Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and emerging retail platforms globally.
  Translate brand and product strategy into retail media activation plans that drive measurable outcomes, especially in consideration and conversion.
• Own the relationship with retail media networks, advocating for beta access, strategic visibility, and joint innovation efforts (e.g., new functionality or measurement models).
• Lead the integration of retail media data and insights into broader marketing and performance strategies, tying channel activity to business impact.
• Work closely with client stakeholders across media, retail, e-commerce, and partnerships to align on budgets, KPIs, and evolving retail requirements.
• Define performance targets across retail channels and lead reporting that connects channel execution with business growth and profitability.
• Be the strategic voice for retail within the cross-functional team, advocating for its role in shaping category leadership.
• Own and nurture senior-level client relationships; become a trusted partner that is not just focused on short term commercial success but a long lasting partnership. 
• Support new business development or expansion of services through retail media strategy consultation and thought leadership.
• Provide resourcing recommendations and continuously monitor the effectiveness and bandwidth of the team (in collaboration with Project Manager).  

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in retail media, performance marketing, or e-commerce ideally at a leading agency, consultancy, or platform. 
• Deep understanding of retail platform mechanics, digital shelf drivers, and how media, content, and merchandising intersect.
• Proven leadership of omnichannel retail programs across search, DSP, on-site content, and audience strategy, particularly with Amazon Ads, Walmart Connect, Target Roundel, etc.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams of specialists with accountability for strategy, performance, and operational quality.
• Ability to confidently navigate client-side marketing, retail, and commercial teams, providing strategic clarity and earning trust.
• An analytical mindset with experience using data to tell stories, inform decisions, and optimize investments.
• Collaborative, empathetic leadership style with a bias toward clarity, accountability, and shared outcomes.
• Experience working with complex, matrixed client orgs with multiple stakeholders and objectives.
• Willingness to travel to client sites regularly

Bonus points if you: 

• Experience working across multi-market or global accounts, with fluency in regional retail dynamics.
• Have partnered with category or retail channel owners at large brands to shape media strategy and investment plans.
• Bring experience navigating the wearables or consumer tech category and understand product lifecycle and DTC/retail dynamics.

Are passionate about building team culture, mentoring others, and raising the bar in how retail media is perceived and executed.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

We are a collaborative, open-door, best-idea-wins environment that fosters personal and company growth and has fun doing it. Here is a snapshot of our  benefits package:

• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision coverage
• 401k plan, plus matching
• PTO
• Paid Company Holidays
• Parental Leave

The anticipated salary range for this position is $120,000 - $165,000. Salary is based on a range of factors that include relevant experience, expertise, and organizational impact. This is based on a 40-hour workweek and leveling. Keep in mind, we’re flexible.

WE SUPPORT YOU BEING YOU: 

DEPT® is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We believe our work is its best when our people feel safe and free to be themselves. We’re committed to an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process and workplace, regardless of anyone’s identity, background, beliefs, lifestyle or disabilities. So tell us about any accommodations you need. It’s totally confidential and only used to make sure you feel fully supported at every step. 

DEPT® participates in E-Verify, meaning your Form I-9 information will be sent to the federal government to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S. 

We are a B Corp-certified company passionate about purpose-driven work.  Our hope is that you can feel good about the contributions DEPT® is making to the world and we always have an open door for your ideas in making the world a better place. 

DEPT® is a pioneering technology and marketing services company that creates integrated end-to-end digital experiences for brands such as Google, KFC, Philips, Audi, Twitch, Patagonia, eBay and more. Its team of 2,500+ digital specialists across 30+ locations on 5 continents delivers pioneering work on a global scale with a boutique culture. 

Learn more about DEPT®

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine. 

We also encourage you  to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.

Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here.

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