Planning Director

At Leo Burnett Bucharest, part of Publicis Groupe Romania, we believe strategy is about understanding people deeply enough to create ideas that truly matter—and leading teams to build work that transforms brands.

We’re looking for a Planning Director who is a seasoned strategic leader, a compelling storyteller, and a trusted partner to creative leaders, account managers, and clients alike.

You might be a great fit if you:

• have a proven track record of steering overarching brand, business, and communication strategies across diverse portfolios;
• naturally decode complex cultural dynamics, consumer behaviors, and market shifts into actionable strategic vision;
• inspire creative teams with high-impact briefs and foster an environment where bold ideas thrive;
• enjoy mentoring and growing a high-performing strategy team within a collaborative ecosystem;
• seamlessly connect strategic rigor with creative excellence, business impact, and data-driven insights;
• bring extensive senior agency experience in brand positioning, integrated communication, and portfolio growth.

What you’ll do:

• Lead Strategic Direction: Drive the long-term strategic vision for major local and international accounts, ensuring strategic excellence across all touchpoints.
• Champion Creative & Business Impact: Translate research, data, and cultural nuances into powerful, effectiveness-driven strategies that inspire award-winning creative work.
• Lead Pitches & Growth: Drive strategic positioning for pitch opportunities and organic growth initiatives within the agency.
• Nurture Talent: Mentor, inspire, and guide the strategy team, fostering continuous development and high strategic standards.
• Collaborate Across Disciplines: Partner closely with Creative Directors, Client Service Leaders, Data, and Social teams to leverage the full Publicis Groupe "Power of One" model.

What we’re looking for:

• Senior Strategic Leadership: Extensive experience leading strategic planning within a top advertising agency context.
• Mastery in Storytelling & Pitching: Outstanding presentation skills with the ability to influence and inspire senior client stakeholders.
• Commercial & Business Acumen: Ability to connect creative communication strategies directly to measurable client business outcomes.
• Cultural & Human Curiosity: An innate passion for understanding human behavior, societal trends, and pop culture.
• Fluency in English: Fluent written and spoken communication skills.

What we offer:

• The opportunity to shape and lead strategy on ambitious, category-defining local and global brands.
• A collaborative environment where strategic rigor and creative bravery go hand in hand.
• Leadership exposure across integrated communication disciplines within Publicis Groupe’s “Power of One” model.
• A continuous learning culture backed by internal tools, data networks, and global frameworks.

About Leo Burnett Bucharest

Over the past decade, Leo Burnett Bucharest has become one of the most awarded agencies in Romania, earning multiple Agency of the Year titles at Effie Romania and international recognition at Cannes Lions, Effie Europe, Eurobest, Golden Drum, Clio Awards, and more.

Internationally, Leo Burnett Bucharest was named the most awarded agency in Europe at Effie Awards Europe 2021, becoming the only Romanian agency awarded at that edition. The agency has also contributed to Cannes Lions-winning work within Publicis Groupe Romania, helping position the group among the strongest creative networks in Central & Eastern Europe.

What defines Leo Burnett Bucharest is not only the number of awards, but the type of work behind them: culturally relevant ideas, strong human insights, and campaigns built to create measurable impact for brands and audiences alike.