Director - Digital Branding

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.