Executive Director (Media), Commerce
$300k - $325k USD
WHO WE ARE
Crossmedia is the global media independent. We’re committed to doing media and business the right way, guided by the principles of TRUST, REASON and the Pursuit of HAPPINESS. Crossmedia US was founded in NY in 2000 and is one of the largest minority-owned full-service media planning & buying agencies in the nation. We are 500+ Crossmedians worldwide with big ambitions to continue to grow with soul.
We focus on what media agencies should do: create innovative connections between brands and people regardless of channel or budget. And we do it in an honest way. We are and always have been a values-based organization. We earn our clients TRUST by ensuring media transparency in our business model and objectivity in decision-making. We apply REASON & logic to finding solutions to our clients' greatest business challenges. The Pursuit of HAPPINESS matters to us. Big time. We invest in each colleagues’ professional & personal wellbeing and growth. It’s why we have countless initiatives, clubs & cultural events dedicated to our people and why we have been the top ranked media agency named to Ad Age’s Best Places to Work for the past seven years in a row.
We have offices in the US in New York and Philadelphia, with employees across 25+ states, as well as in London and Germany. Our client roster includes U.S. Bank, Invesco, Newell Brands, NASCAR, Planet Fitness, American Cancer Society, Ricola, Herschend Family Entertainment, Edible Arrangements and more.
WHO YOU ARE
You are a strategic, entrepreneurial, and client-focused Executive Director, Commerce, with deep experience in media planning and strategy, and an expertise in Commerce and Retail Media. This senior leadership role combines executive-level client relationship management with oversight of our Commerce clients. You will lead a team of media experts, drive innovative strategies, and act as the primary strategic partner to executive client stakeholders.
You are an ambitious, seasoned leader who has total command of the field and significant experience working across all media channels. You are collaborative and entrepreneurial but structured in process and strategic thinking on blue-chip, large budget brands.
You are an inspiring leader and a connector with the ability to apply the best of big agency thinking to a future-forward model. Demonstrating a genuine commitment to client service and serving as a true business partner. A true collaboration agent with is dedicated to internal team growth while delivering best-in-class client service
(This is a New York based role, requiring proximity to our NY office)
YOUR OBJECTIVES
The Executive Director, Commerce is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction, relationship management, and growth of key client accounts in the commerce space. You will serve as the primary point of contact for executive client stakeholders, driving strategic alignment between client business objectives and media deliverables.
You will spearhead and guide the growth of a Commerce service. By offering subject matter expertise, you will drive strategy, optimization, and reporting across key platforms such as Amazon, Criteo, Walmart, Target, Instacart, and Kroger, as well as emerging retail media networks.
You are a trusted leader who inspires and motivates us all, driving continuous improvement and innovation, and fostering a culture of collaboration. While this is a senior leadership role, it will require a hands-on approach, particularly during the initial department development stages.
Commerce Focus
- Define and execute the vision, strategy, and roadmap for the Commerce and Retail Media division.
- Develop and lead strong partnerships with our clients, internal team leaders, and retail vendor partners
- Translate complex retail media solutions into actionable strategies for clients
- Integrate with broader media initiatives and strategies for both online and offline media executions
- Establish best practices and initiate agency-wide learnings and education
- Build a team of specialists, identifying internal and external talent
- Understanding and mastery of the latest technology and best practices to build a commerce practice.
Client Leadership
- Develop and implement an annual business plan focused on establishing growth targets, relationship management/client contact strategy, and the development of a clear learning agenda to drive client business forward.
- Create a process for assessing and quantifying the “health” of each account; SWOT analysis, organic growth opportunities, client-agency people mapping, and financials.
- Senior client (CMO+) relationship management including a regular cadence of business/relationship dialogue.
- Lead cross-channel marketing scope, collaborating with all discipline leads to ensure team staffing is aligned to projected workload, and deliverable parameters are in place to maintain team balance.
Agency Team Leadership
- Drive deep understanding of the client’s business, market, and competitive landscape with the full team to inform innovative strategies and solutions.
- Accountability for work quality – ensuring the team are confidently and successfully validating all work with foundational planning and commerce principles
- Collaborate with cross-functional team leads (Redbox, Strategy, Integrated Investment, Biddable, Technology, Audience) to ensure the team is delivering integrated insights and solutions.
- Provide senior oversight on campaign execution, troubleshooting issues, and managing escalations.
Client Financial and Accountability
- Identify client growth opportunities, proactively recommending tools, services, and processes
- Handling all financial aspects of clients, including full knowledge of SOW terms and staffing plan monetization
Team Growth
- Mentor and manage all direct reports while extending support to broader teams. Ensure clarity of personal performance goals that ladder down from agency OKRs.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation.
- Responsible for ensuring total compliance for talent performance and evaluation
Thought Leadership
- Represent the agency as a thought leader, attending industry events and contributing to content that brings positive visibility to the agency
- Stay informed on industry trends, innovations, and best practices to inform client strategies and agency offerings.
REQUIREMENTS
- 20 + years of media planning experience with a focus on a managing commerce and retail media clients.
- Deep knowledge of commerce media platforms (e.g., Amazon, Walmart Connect, Instacart) and expertise in retail and e-commerce media strategies.
- Hands-on experience with SaaS platforms (e.g., Pacvue, Skai, CommerceIQ, Podean)
- Direct retail media platform activation experience
- Experience building client relationships in newer media channels where clients may have high enthusiasm but limited knowledge.
- Knowledge of first-party data strategies, audience segmentation, and measurement.
- Strong financial acumen and P&L management experience.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a solid ability to operate both strategically and tactically.
- Excellent leadership and team-building skills.
- Superb communication and presentation skills.
- Proven experience managing team members and developing the next wave of talent.
- Fearless and relentless desire to be the industry leader
- Comfortable in a dynamic, fast-paced, and collaborative environment
- Expert listening skills and problem-solving ability
Salary range $300k - $325k. Commensurate with experience. Compensation is determined on the skills, qualifications and tenure of the applicant.
This role requires proximity to New York City. We offer a hybrid work arrangement, with a combination of onsite work and the flexibility to work from home
CROSSMEDIA BENEFITS
Our principles of Trust, Reason, and the Pursuit of Happiness are brought to life through benefits that recognize and support the diversity and physical, emotional, and professional well-being of our people, including:
- Flexibility to work in hybrid manner with in-office and work from home options (depending on role).
- Open/Flexible PTO with US & UK specific policies
- Sponsored healthcare options and agency-wide physical & mental health support
- 401k with company match (USA), and generous Pension (UK)
- Paid sabbatical at significant milestone anniversaries
- Generous paid parental leave policy
- Life milestone recognition & support
- The Pursuit of Happiness Fund devoted to helping Crossmedians find their happy (be it travel, enrichment class, fitness membership or professional development)
- Cell phone/tech reimbursement
- Student Loan payment plan (US)
- Tuition reimbursement
- Learning & Development and training programs
- And burgers – lots and lots of burgers
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Diversity is in our DNA. As a minority-owned company, our commitment to an inclusive environment has long been embedded into agency practices and at every level. Almost one third of senior leadership identifies as a person of color and over half of our executive leadership are women. We have active mentoring & internship programs that create opportunities for underrepresented groups. Internal agency programming is anchored by XMEquity365, a permanent, year-round initiative fostering acknowledgement and support of marginalized communities within five pillars – Excellence, Voices, Education, Giving & Representation.
Crossmedia is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and creating a diverse and inclusive company culture and that does not discriminate against candidates and employees because of their disability, sex, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law.
All job requirements are subject to possible revision to reflect changes in the position requirements, business necessities and/or to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Essential and other job functions are subject to modification. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to which will be required in this position. Employees will be required to follow other job-related duties as requested by their supervisor/manager (within guidelines and compliance with laws in the US and UK ).
Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.” Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (US based)
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
- Ability to stand, bend, and reach
- Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
- The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
- The ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
In compliance with the current Americans with Disabilities Act and state and local laws, if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position with Crossmedia, please email people.team@xmedia.com. (US based candidates).