Job Postings

Jr. Account Planner

Scope of Job

The Junior Account Planner plays a critical role in the development and sustained growth of EMG’s strategic consulting practice. This position is responsible for the identification of actionable insights grounded in traditional qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. The Jr. Account Planner works with the Lead Strategist and participates in the discovery and integration of clients’ corporate strategy, business processes, brand and market positioning, customer engagement, and technology resources/capabilities, to ensure the compelling vision defined is grounded in data. While the Jr. Account Planner’s core competency is in the digital channel, s/he has the ability to manage and synthesize multiple data sets and identify their impact on the total solution.

The outcome of these activities is to ultimately gather and define insights that serve as the foundation for strategic imperatives.

Areas of Accountability

• Assisting the Lead Strategist define and build the discovery plan
• Identify potential new sources of third-party/syndicated research to leverage for each new client engagement
• Identify and conduct the most appropriate research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) for both client work and EMG marketing initiatives such as webinars and white papers
• Research & Development and Thought Leadership

Specific Role Responsibilities

Project Strategy & Planning

• Assist the Lead Strategist on initiatives as assigned by Manager.
• Keep Manager abreast of strategic approach.
• Participate in multidisciplinary collaboration to identify and develop project requirements, internally and client-facing, for internal and client acceptance and implementation.
• Enlist other strategists as needed to gather and organize specific data sets
• Serve as primary client contact for project research on assigned initiative.
• Provide guidance and recommendation for multidisciplinary teams by offering expertise in market research, communication planning, and marketing channel mechanics.
• Collaborate with respective department as well as Client Services, Ceative and Technology teams to co-delveop strategic approaches and creative concepts.
• Collaborate with Analytics leads to target behaviors and understand motivational drivers of behavior that will result in more effective communication strategies.
• Work with the Client Services, Strategy and Analytic leads to crystallize for clients the return on investment of their communications and utilizes the results to increase the effectiveness of each new generation of work.
• Plan and assist in stakeholder interviews, focus groups and internal and external strategy sessions. Includes assisting in the creation of session materials and questionnaires.
• Synthesize a variety of research and data findings including primary research, secondary research, business audits/reviews, consumer analysis and competitive analysis to provide actionable insights and strategic recommendations. 
• Assist in the development of planning documents, which may vary is scope, but will include any and all of the following elements as needed:
  o Planning Framework – Goals, target audiences, identified strategic results
  o Communications & Content Strategy – Substantive and operational priorities and approaches defined
  o Collaborate with subject matter experts (SMEs) to assist in the development of directional roadmap for
   Business goals and requirements documentation
   Communications and messaging strategies
   User experience recommendations and requirements
   Content recommendations and requirements
   Creative recommendations and requirements
   Experience/feature/functional recommendations and requirements
   Marketing/media mix recommendations and requirements
  o Strategic deliverables (include but is not limited to)
   Findings and recommendations summary
   User personas and profiles

Business Development

• Provide consultative support to both clients and EMG Client Services team for developing and scoping strategic related project opportunities. Activities may include, but are not limited to, market/client/vendor research, think tanks, project scoping, gathering requirements and needs, documentation, evaluating business challenges, presenting solutions and providing initial business recommendations.

Research & Development and Thought Leadership

• Work closely with respective department, Client Services, Creative and Technology as needed to research and identify external knowledge sharing opportunities such as webinars, white papers, etc.
• Work with EMG management to understand each team on a detailed level to further leverage available resources and spark positive collaboration across the agency. 
• Foster strategy development and user-centered design learning opportunities across the agency.
• Work closely with respective department and Technology team to research and identify trends then coordinate the beta-development of new innovative technologies, methodologies and best-practices that have been approved by Executive Management for R&D.
• Work with Strategic Planner to identify areas for process improvement and new solutions. 
• Work with Strategic Planner to develop and revise strategic and operational practices for internal teams.
   

Perform all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge:

• Minimum of 1 year, developing and conducting primary and secondary research initiatives, including focus groups, user research sessions and surveys.
• Minimum of 1 years developing sound, highly strategic findings and recommendations briefs, reports and presentations.
• Minimum of 1 years communication analysis and planning experience, with an emphasis in digital channels.
• Minimum of 1 years facilitating strategic communication concept development in group and one-on-one settings.
• Basic analytical and integrated, high-level conceptual skills.
• Good knowledge of digital communications and content best practices.
• Must have rapport building skills that reflect a highly ethical demeanor and sincerity.
• Ability to collaborate with other team members to develop the overall solution.
• Willingness to grow into a key decision maker working with multiple teams.
• Proficient in office applications such as MS Office suite and Outlook.
• Proficient in prioritizing tasks, meeting deadlines and producing quality work in a fast-paced environment.
• Must have expert client communication, both verbal and written.

Desired:

• Client-facing discovery and concept facilitation experience
• Knowledge of user-centered design and/or creating user-centered design experiences (e.g., persona development, site mapping and wireframe/page flow development documentation)
• Knolwedge of usability testing methodologies.
• Knowledge of web, social, media analytics solutions such as Omniture SiteCatalyst and Google Analytics
• Experience preparing and presenting to executives and/or decision making clients is a plus
• Experience working in healthcare, higher education, highly regulated (e.g., financial services) or entertainment fields fields is a plus.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field such as Marketing, Advertising, Sociology, Cultural Studies, Communications, Journalism, Anthropology

Travel Requirements

• Minimal, up to 10% both locally and outside of CA
• Must be able to attend on-site client meetings as required

If you meet the above qualifications, please forward your resume to resume@earthboundmediagroup.com