Starcom is a part of Publicis Media within Publicis Groupe, one of the world’s leading communications groups. Our team spans across our Windsor, Toronto and Montreal offices. We truly love the world of Media and Advertising. We see the planning and buying process as art. However, it is an art that is always best when backed by the science of empirical data.
One of our core tenants of media planning and buying is that human experiences drive impact through tangible results. Not only do we seek to deeply understand our clients’ business and what truly motivates consumers, but we seek to design experiences that drive meaningful consumer actions our clients care about – Move People, Move Business.
You will be joining a well recognised agency with credentials:
- Great Places to Work certified two years in a row
- Only communications company to be ranked in LinkedIn’s Top 25 Great Places to Work
- 2022 Media Agency of the Year
- 2023 Media Agency of the Year finalist
As part of Publicis Media Canada we are proud to be Great Places to Work™ certified and recognized with Best Workplaces™ for Today’s Youth. We provide continuing opportunities for career growth by fostering a diverse work environment that respects and supports individual contributions and opinions.
Overview
We are seeking a strategic and data-driven Director of Research & Analytics to lead our growing research and insights practice. This role is ideal for a media-savvy analytics leader who thrives on translating complex data into compelling narratives and actionable business strategies. You will be a critical partner to internal strategy, planning, and client teams—responsible for driving our research capabilities forward and delivering cutting-edge insights that fuel smarter media decisions.
Responsibilities
- Lead Research Strategy: Own and evolve the agency’s research and analytics capabilities, including primary and secondary research, quantitative and qualitative methodologies, and advanced modeling techniques.
- Media Mix Modeling (MMM): Oversee the development, execution, and interpretation of MMMs to optimize cross-channel media performance and ROI.
- Audience Insights: Design and deliver audience segmentation studies that guide targeting, personalization, and media strategy.
- Insights Development: Synthesize multiple data sources (MMM, consumer research, platform analytics, 1P/3P data, etc.) into cohesive narratives that inform client strategy and inspire creative.
- Client Consulting: Serve as a senior strategic advisor to clients, presenting findings and recommendations clearly and persuasively.
- Collaboration & Integration: Work cross-functionally with planning, strategy, media, and data science teams to ensure insights are embedded throughout the campaign lifecycle.
- Innovation & Thought Leadership: Stay ahead of industry trends, research methodologies, and measurement frameworks to keep the agency and our clients at the forefront of media analytics.
- Team Leadership: Manage and mentor a high-performing team of analysts and researchers; foster a culture of curiosity, rigor, and continuous learning.
Qualifications
- 8+ years of experience in research, analytics, or strategy roles within a media agency, consultancy, or similar environment.
- Proven expertise in media mix modeling (MMM), including vendor management and interpretation of model outputs.
- Deep knowledge of media channels (TV, digital, social, CTV, etc.) and their respective measurement strategies.
- Hands-on experience with audience segmentation, brand tracking, and consumer journey mapping.
- Exceptional communication skills – both written and verbal – with a demonstrated ability to translate data into compelling stories for executive-level audiences.
- Strong leadership skills with experience managing teams and collaborating cross-functionally.
- Proficiency in tools such as Excel, PowerPoint, Tableau, and statistical platforms (e.g., R, Python, SAS) is a plus.
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in Marketing, Statistics, Economics, or a related field preferred.
Additional information
Why Join Us
- Work with top-tier clients across diverse industries
- Be part of a collaborative, forward-thinking team that values innovation and impact
- Opportunity to shape the future of data-driven marketing in a media-first world
Starcom is an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. We create and nurture a vibrant work environment that celebrates, values and leverages all aspects of diversity and inclusiveness, attracts world-class talent and serves as the industry benchmark for best practices. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and will provide appropriate accommodation for candidates with disabilities or accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process, upon request. Please contact our recruiter for any questions, accommodations or specific requests. We thank all candidates for their interest in Starcom however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted
