Associate Director Analytics, Performance Media (media agency)

Growing media agency in Chicago is seeking a talented Associate Director of Analytics with deep Performance Media and Retail experience join its team. Retail or commerce experience from within a media agency is a must as the role will focus on a retail client. The agency offers an employee-centric working environment, with a proven track record of allowing for continued growth and career advancement from within, as well as unlimited PTO and many other benefits unique to the agency. This position will be hybrid with 2 days in office, a few days at home. Apply to learn more details about what makes this opportunity so unique!

Role Overview

This position serves as a key advisor to both internal partners and clients, bringing a commerce-focused lens supported by strong analytical and quantitative capabilities. The ideal candidate is comfortable working directly with clients, delivering clear, well-supported insights, and engaging in thoughtful discussion around strategy and performance.

They contribute meaningfully to team direction by applying rigorous analysis to retail and media challenges, and are able to navigate unclear or evolving situations with flexibility. Success in this role requires a willingness to step outside defined responsibilities when needed, while maintaining a strong balance between analytical excellence and relationship management.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Direction & Analytics Application

• Translate complex datasets into clear recommendations that guide media strategy and broader business decisions
• Lead the evolution of measurement approaches, including developing structured learning plans, testing strategies, and scalable frameworks (e.g., marketing mix modeling alignment, forecasting, and predictive methods)
• Go beyond surface-level reporting by identifying implications and crafting compelling narratives that connect performance to business outcomes
• Take ownership of how media performance is quantified and communicated, demonstrating strong quantitative expertise
• Partner closely with cross-functional teams to ensure insights are effectively applied in planning and activation
  
  

Testing & Measurement

• Build and manage comprehensive experimentation plans across channels (such as controlled tests, geographic splits, and incrementality studies)
• Ensure findings are actionable, clearly communicated, and tied to next steps and strategic decisions
  
  

Audience & Commerce Insights

• Use first-party data and retail audience understanding to shape targeting and segmentation approaches
• Apply these insights to improve performance and efficiency across campaigns
  
  

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Establish strong working relationships with data-oriented clients through clear, thoughtful, and insight-led communication
• Build trust across stakeholders by being responsive, precise, and solutions-oriented
• Identify opportunities to expand capabilities or introduce new approaches based on client needs and challenges
  
  

Qualifications

• 8 years of experience in a retail, commerce, or media environment with a focus on analytics and performance marketing across both digital and offline channels
• Strong familiarity with retail or commerce-driven media strategies
• Demonstrated experience working with clients and presenting analytical insights to a range of stakeholders, including senior leadership
• Proven ability to design and lead testing strategies and measurement frameworks
• Deep understanding of audience development and data-informed segmentation
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to guide and support cross-functional teams (e.g., improving insight quality, mentoring junior team members, or sharing analytical methodologies)
• Experience with data visualization tools such as Looker, Power BI, or comparable platforms is a plus