Expert Director Product Strategy & Media Products (all genders) mit Schwerpunkt Performance und Lower Funnel Solutions

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Expert Director Product Strategy & Media Products (all genders) with focus on Performance and Lower Funnel Solutions

Company: Publicis Groupe Holdings B.V

Location: Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Germany

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Revenue Operations / Product Strategy / Media Products

Date Posted: July 31, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (Implied 5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the strategic development and growth of a cutting-edge performance and lower-funnel product portfolio within a leading global media network.

• Spearhead the innovation and implementation of new product solutions across programmatic, search, social, retail media, and commerce advertising channels.

• Leverage deep expertise in data-driven marketing, AdTech, and MarTech to identify market opportunities and translate them into profitable product offerings.

• Effectively manage product roadmaps, business cases, and monetization strategies, demonstrating strong commercial acumen and P&L responsibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as an "Expert Director" without direct personnel responsibility, indicating a senior individual contributor role focused on strategic leadership, subject matter expertise, and driving initiatives rather than managing a team. The emphasis on "Performance and Lower Funnel Solutions" clearly places this within a revenue-generating GTM operations context, focusing on conversion optimization and direct business outcomes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Assume full responsibility for the strategy, expansion, and profitability of the performance and lower-funnel product portfolio, aligning with broader company revenue operations goals.

• Develop and launch innovative product solutions across Programmatic Advertising, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Social Media Advertising, Retail Media Networks, E-commerce Platforms, and broader Performance Advertising initiatives.

• Lead the creation and management of product roadmaps, robust business cases, and strategic pricing and monetization models to ensure portfolio viability and growth.

• Continuously analyze market trends, emerging platform innovations, and new growth sectors to maintain a competitive edge and identify future product opportunities.

• Foster deep collaboration with Investment, Client Management, Product Development, and Commercial teams to ensure seamless product integration and market success.

• Establish and maintain scalable processes, high-quality standards, and best practices for product development, deployment, and performance monitoring.

• Cultivate and manage strategic partnerships with key platforms, technology vendors, and publishers to enhance product capabilities and market reach.

• Provide expert functional leadership for interdisciplinary teams and strategic initiatives, guiding them towards successful outcomes and driving operational excellence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a strategic product management function with a strong revenue operations and GTM focus. The emphasis on "profitability," "business cases," "pricing," and "monetization" highlights the commercial accountability of this role. "Functional leadership" suggests influencing without direct authority, a common trait in senior operations roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Marketing, Business, Economics, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for a Director-level role in this domain.

Experience:

• Several years of progressive experience within digital marketing, product management, or a dedicated performance marketing environment.

• Demonstrated experience in the economic management of products or business units, including direct responsibility for Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Profit & Loss (P&L) statements. Required Skills:

• Deep understanding of digital marketing principles and practices, with a strong focus on performance-driven campaigns.

• Extensive knowledge of Programmatic Advertising technologies, strategies, and best practices.

• Proven expertise in Performance Marketing, including SEM, social advertising, and conversion rate optimization (CRO).

• Solid grasp of data-driven business models, enabling strategic decision-making and product development.

• Proficiency in AdTech (Advertising Technology) and MarTech (Marketing Technology) stacks, understanding their integration and application.

• Strategic thinking capabilities, coupled with a strong bias for execution and tangible results.

• Excellent negotiation and communication skills, with fluency in both German and English (negotiation level). Preferred Skills:

• Experience in developing and managing Retail Media and Commerce solutions.

• Familiarity with product roadmap development and lifecycle management.

• Experience in building and managing strategic partnerships.

• Strong analytical skills for market trend analysis and business case development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of technical marketing knowledge (Programmatic, AdTech/MarTech) and commercial/strategic acumen (P&L, Business Cases, Monetization). The "functional leadership" aspect implies strong influencing and communication skills are paramount.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a track record of successfully developing and launching digital media products, ideally within the performance or lower-funnel space.

• Provide case studies showcasing quantifiable improvements in key metrics such as conversion rates, customer acquisition cost (CAC), return on ad spend (ROAS), and overall revenue growth.

• Illustrate experience in defining and implementing product strategies, including market analysis, competitive benchmarking, and Go-To-Market (GTM) planning.

• Highlight experience in managing product P&Ls, pricing strategies, and monetization models that have led to profitable outcomes. Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of process design and optimization for product development lifecycles, from ideation through to launch and iteration.

• Detail experience in implementing and automating workflows related to product management, partner integration, and performance tracking.

• Present methodologies for measuring product performance, analyzing key metrics, and deriving actionable insights for continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: As this is a strategic product role, the "portfolio" will likely consist of documented strategies, business cases, product launch plans, and performance reports rather than code or design assets. The focus is on strategic thinking, commercial impact, and process efficiency.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the "Expert Director" title, extensive experience requirements (5-10+ years), and the German market for senior marketing/product roles in major metropolitan areas (Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich), a competitive annual salary range would likely fall between €100,000 - €150,000+. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in large advertising/media groups in Germany, considering location cost of living and the specialized nature of performance product strategy.

Benefits:

• Learn & Grow: Access to a digital learning platform, individual career development plans, extensive national and international development programs, structured performance management with an open feedback culture, and a dedicated mentoring program.

• Work Your World: Opportunity for international work assignments (up to 6 weeks per year).

• Flexible Work: Hybrid work model, flexibility to work from any Publicis Media location in Germany (Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich), flexible working hours, company-supported emergency childcare services ("Notfallmamas"), subsidy for the Deutschlandticket (public transport pass), and a BusinessBike program (corporate bicycle leasing).

• Feel Well: Overtime compensation, 30 days of annual leave plus additional special leave days, agency sports activities, a comprehensive Mental Health Program, and a Working with Cancer policy.

• Responsibility: Involvement in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, participation in a Sustainability Squad, and engagement in social projects.

• Your Start: A structured onboarding process including a Welcome Week and a Buddy Program.

Working Hours: While not explicitly stated, the "Full-time" employment type and hybrid work model suggest a standard full-time work week, likely around 40 hours, with provisions for overtime compensation and flexible scheduling.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is derived from industry salary guides for senior product strategy and performance marketing roles in major German cities and reflects the "Expert Director" level. The benefits package is extensive and typical for a large, international corporate group like Publicis Groupe, offering significant opportunities for professional development and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Advertising & Media / Marketing Services. Publicis Groupe is a major player in the global communications industry, known for its integrated approach across creative, media, data, and technology. Publicis Media is one of its core agency networks.

Company Size: Publicis Groupe is a large, multinational corporation with tens of thousands of employees globally. Publicis Media, as a significant division, also operates at a large scale, with numerous offices and specialized teams. This size offers stability, global reach, and diverse career opportunities.

Founded: Publicis Groupe was founded in 1926. This long history signifies a stable, established organization with deep industry experience and a proven ability to adapt to market changes.

Team Structure:

• The role sits within Publicis Media, likely within a product strategy or advanced solutions division. The team structure will be matrixed, involving close collaboration with various internal departments.

• Reporting is likely to a senior leader in Product, Strategy, or Media Solutions, with functional leadership extended to cross-functional teams (Investment, Client, Commercial, Product Development).

• Cross-functional collaboration is paramount, requiring seamless interaction with client-facing teams, investment specialists, data scientists, technology experts, and commercial stakeholders. Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: The role requires a strong reliance on data to inform product strategy, measure performance, and identify market trends. This includes analyzing campaign data, market research, and platform analytics.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: Developing and refining product roadmaps, GTM strategies, and internal processes to ensure efficient product development and market delivery.

• Automation & Efficiency: Leveraging technology and process improvements to drive efficiency in product operations, performance management, and partner collaborations.

Company Website: www.publicisgroupe.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Publicis Groupe's scale and long history suggest a corporate environment that values innovation, data-driven decision-making, and global collaboration. The emphasis on "driving growth, conversion, and business success" points to a results-oriented culture.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior individual contributor path at the "Expert Director" level. It's a highly specialized position focused on product strategy and market development within the performance media domain. It offers significant influence and strategic impact without direct people management, appealing to individuals who thrive on driving initiatives and deep subject matter expertise.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into a senior leadership position within Publicis Media, likely overseeing product strategy, media solutions, or commercial development. The functional leadership aspect means influencing and guiding cross-functional teams without direct hierarchical authority.

Operations Impact: The core impact of this role is directly tied to driving revenue and business success through innovative performance and lower-funnel media products. Success metrics will include portfolio profitability, market share growth, client campaign performance, and the adoption of new product solutions. This role is crucial for maintaining Publicis Media's competitive edge in the performance advertising landscape.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization & Leadership: Deepen expertise within specific areas like Retail Media, Commerce Advertising, or advanced programmatic solutions, potentially leading to a Principal or Global Head of Product role in these niches.

• Strategic Influence: Grow influence within Publicis Groupe by leading larger, more complex strategic initiatives or contributing to the overall GTM strategy of Publicis Media.

• Cross-Functional Advancement: Transition into broader GTM leadership, commercial strategy, or even business unit management roles within Publicis Media or other Publicis Groupe entities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Expert Director" title suggests a path for deep specialization and strategic influence, rather than a traditional management track. Growth opportunities will likely involve increasing scope, complexity, and strategic impact within the product and media solutions domain.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Publicis Media operates in modern, well-equipped office spaces designed to foster collaboration and innovation. Given the hybrid work model, these offices will serve as hubs for team meetings, client engagements, and focused work sessions.

Office Location(s): The role is open to Publicis Media's major German locations: Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, and Munich. This offers significant flexibility for candidates within Germany.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is expected to be dynamic and collaborative, with frequent interaction between teams responsible for investment, client management, product, and commercial strategy.

• Access to cutting-edge AdTech, MarTech, and data analytics tools will be standard, facilitating data-driven decision-making and product development.

• Opportunities for interaction will include team syncs, project-specific working groups, client pitches, and industry events, fostering knowledge sharing and cross-pollination of ideas.

Work Schedule: The hybrid model and flexible working hours provide a significant degree of autonomy. While core hours will likely exist for collaboration, individuals can tailor their schedules to optimize productivity and work-life balance, a key consideration for roles requiring deep analytical work and strategic planning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and multiple office locations indicate a modern approach to work, emphasizing flexibility and employee well-being while ensuring essential in-person collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a call with an HR representative or recruiter to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and understanding of the role's core demands.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A deep dive into your experience with product strategy, performance marketing, AdTech/MarTech, P&L management, and your strategic approach to developing lower-funnel solutions. Expect questions about past successes and challenges.

• Cross-Functional Team / Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with key partners from Investment, Client Management, or Commercial teams to evaluate collaboration style, communication effectiveness, and ability to align diverse stakeholder needs.

• Case Study / Presentation: A common step for senior strategy roles. You may be asked to prepare a presentation on a relevant topic (e.g., developing a new retail media product strategy, optimizing a lower-funnel campaign framework) or analyze a business challenge.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a more senior executive (e.g., VP of Product, Chief Strategy Officer) to assess strategic vision, leadership potential, and overall fit within the organization's leadership team.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Quantify Everything: For each project or initiative, highlight the specific business problem, your strategic approach, the tools/processes used, and, most importantly, the quantifiable results (e.g., % increase in conversion, $ saved, ROAS improvement).

• Focus on Strategy & Impact: Showcase your strategic thinking – how you identified opportunities, developed roadmaps, and navigated complex stakeholder landscapes. Emphasize the business impact and ROI of your work.

• Demonstrate Process Understanding: Explain the processes you designed, optimized, or implemented, particularly for product development, performance tracking, and partner management.

• Tailor to the Role: If possible, align your portfolio examples with the specific requirements of this role, emphasizing performance marketing, lower-funnel solutions, AdTech/MarTech, and commercial acumen.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the "Why": For any proposed solution or strategy, be prepared to articulate the underlying business rationale, market drivers, and expected outcomes.

• Data-Driven Defense: Be ready to support your recommendations with data and analytical reasoning.

• Stakeholder Empathy: Consider how your proposed strategies impact different teams (client, investment, commercial) and be prepared to address potential concerns.

• Future-Oriented Thinking: Demonstrate an understanding of current and future trends in digital advertising, particularly in performance and lower-funnel areas.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be rigorous, focusing on strategic thinking, commercial impact, and collaborative leadership. A well-prepared portfolio that clearly articulates strategic contributions and measurable results will be critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• CRM: Likely Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, or a similar platform for managing client and partner relationships.

• Product Management Tools: Jira, Asana, Trello, or specialized product roadmap software for managing development cycles and backlogs.

• Data Visualization & BI Tools: Tableau, Power BI, Qlik Sense for creating dashboards and reporting on product performance.

• Collaboration Tools: Microsoft Teams, Slack, Google Workspace for day-to-day communication and project management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics for website and campaign performance tracking.

• Ad Platforms: Expertise in Google Ads, Meta Ads Manager, LinkedIn Ads, programmatic DSPs (e.g., Google DV360, The Trade Desk), and potentially retail media platforms (e.g., Amazon Advertising).

• BI & Data Warehousing: Experience with SQL, data warehousing concepts (e.g., Snowflake, BigQuery), and advanced analytics tools.

CRM & Automation:

• Marketing Automation: Tools like Marketo, HubSpot, Adobe Marketing Cloud might be relevant for customer journey orchestration.

• Integration Platforms: Understanding of how different MarTech/AdTech components connect (e.g., via APIs).

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, a senior role in this domain requires proficiency with a broad range of AdTech, MarTech, analytics, and collaboration platforms. The emphasis will be on understanding how these tools integrate to drive performance and support product strategy.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A core value, emphasizing the use of analytics and insights to guide strategy and measure success.

• Innovation & Agility: Encouraging the development of new solutions and the ability to adapt quickly to market changes and technological advancements.

• Client Centricity: Focusing on delivering measurable business outcomes and value for clients through effective media products.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Valuing strong working relationships internally across departments and externally with technology partners and platforms.

• Efficiency & Performance: A constant drive to optimize processes, improve campaign performance, and maximize ROI.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where product strategy is developed and executed in close partnership with investment, commercial, and client teams.

• Process Review & Feedback: A culture that encourages open discussion, feedback exchange, and continuous improvement of workflows and product offerings.

• Knowledge Sharing: Emphasis on sharing best practices, market insights, and learnings across teams to foster collective growth and expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: Publicis Groupe, as a major player, likely fosters a culture that balances corporate structure with a drive for innovation and client results. The values reflect a modern, data-centric approach to media and advertising.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapid Market Evolution: The digital advertising landscape, particularly in programmatic and retail media, evolves at an unprecedented pace. Staying ahead of platform changes, new technologies, and competitive threats will be a continuous challenge.

• Data Integration & Privacy: Navigating complex data ecosystems, ensuring data quality, and adapting strategies to evolving privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) are critical.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Balancing the diverse needs and priorities of internal departments (client, investment, commercial) and external partners requires strong negotiation and communication skills.

• Measuring Lower-Funnel Impact: Accurately attributing conversions and demonstrating the ROI of performance and lower-funnel initiatives can be complex, requiring sophisticated measurement frameworks.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Training: Access to internal and external training on emerging AdTech, MarTech, and specific platform advancements (e.g., AI in advertising, advanced retail media strategies).

• Industry Conferences: Opportunities to attend major industry events (e.g., DMEXCO, Advertising Week) to stay abreast of trends and network.

• Leadership Development: While not direct people management, opportunities to lead large strategic projects and initiatives will build leadership capabilities.

• Mentorship: Benefit from mentorship from senior leaders within Publicis Groupe, gaining insights into strategic thinking and career progression.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to the fast-paced digital media and advertising industry. The growth opportunities are substantial, leveraging the resources of a global leader like Publicis Groupe.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for identifying and prioritizing opportunities in the performance marketing landscape. How would you evaluate the potential of a new retail media solution for our portfolio?" (Focus on market analysis, business case, and strategic alignment).

• "Walk me through a time you had to align multiple stakeholders with conflicting priorities on a new product initiative. How did you achieve consensus and drive adoption?" (Focus on communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management).

• "How do you approach defining and managing the P&L for a digital media product? What KPIs are most critical for measuring success in lower-funnel solutions?" (Focus on financial acumen and performance metrics). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Publicis Media and our position in the market? How do you see our performance product strategy evolving in the next 2-3 years?" (Research the company, its brands, and recent industry news).

• "This role requires functional leadership. How do you influence teams and drive initiatives without direct reporting lines?" (Prepare examples of cross-functional leadership and collaboration).

• "How do you measure the impact of your work on business outcomes and revenue growth?" (Be ready to discuss your approach to ROI calculation and impact reporting). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a concise executive summary of your role and the overall objective. Then, present 2-3 key projects, detailing the challenge, your strategic solution, the process followed, and the quantifiable results. Conclude with key learnings and future recommendations.

• Metrics Focus: Ensure every project includes clear, relevant metrics. Use visuals (charts, graphs) to present data effectively. Focus on metrics directly related to revenue, conversion, efficiency, and ROI.

• Storytelling: Frame your experience as compelling narratives. Explain the 'why' behind your decisions and the impact they had.

• Interactive Elements: Be prepared to answer detailed questions about your work, demonstrating deep understanding and strategic thinking.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on articulating strategic thinking, commercial impact, and collaborative leadership, backed by quantifiable results and a deep understanding of the digital media and performance marketing landscape.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Publicis Groupe careers portal.

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight experience directly relevant to product strategy, performance marketing, lower-funnel solutions, AdTech/MarTech, and P&L management. Use keywords from the job description and ensure achievements are quantified.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your strategic thinking, process implementation, and measurable impact on revenue and performance. Focus on case studies with clear data and ROI.

• Research Publicis Media: Understand their agency brands (Zenith, Starcom, Spark), their market position, and recent industry news. Familiarize yourself with their approach to data, technology, and media solutions.

• Practice Your Narrative: Rehearse your responses to potential interview questions, particularly those focused on strategy, problem-solving, and collaboration, using your portfolio examples to illustrate your points.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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