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Director, Commerce & Retail Media

Dentsu · Chicago, IL · $99,500–$150,000 a year · Full time

Posted Aug 5, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a go-to-market or monetization strategy you built for a commerce media client. What changed as a result?

What they are checking: Whether they have driven strategy at the business level and can show measurable impact.

How do you coach Strategic and Execution Leads who have very different strengths?

What they are checking: Whether they develop each person deliberately and build a team that covers strategy and delivery.

Tell me about a time you had to align several departments with competing priorities around one decision.

What they are checking: Whether they can act as the central hub the posting describes and drive decisions forward.

What would you do

In an embedded team model, you sit closely with the client's senior leaders. How do you stay a trusted advisor while still representing dentsu?

What they are checking: Whether they can balance deep client integration with honest advice and agency accountability.

A key supplier is unhappy with measurement and threatening to cut spend. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can manage supplier relationships with transparency and real fixes, not only account smoothing.

About the work

Explain how a retail media network makes money and where you see the biggest monetization levers for one today.

What they are checking: Whether they understand RMN economics from the network's side, not only from the advertiser's side.

How do you think about B2B2C strategy for a retail media network, where suppliers are the buyers but shoppers are the audience?

What they are checking: Whether they can serve advertisers without degrading the shopper experience that makes the network valuable.

How would you design ways of working for a client's retail media organization that is growing fast?

What they are checking: Whether they can shape operating models, roles and processes, as the posting asks.

What innovation would you put on a retail media network's roadmap for the next year, and how would you prove it is worth building?

What they are checking: Whether they can prioritize innovation by profitability and evidence instead of chasing trends.

How do you translate media performance data into business insights a retail executive cares about?

What they are checking: Whether they connect media metrics to revenue, margin and supplier value at the executive level.

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The full job description

As published by Dentsu.

Job Description: The Commerce & Retail Media team at dentsu leads monetization, strategy, activation, and optimization for a large Commerce or Retail Media client. We are looking for a dynamic, collaborative, and experienced leader to join our growing team. As the Director, Commerce & Retail Media, you will be the go-to Commerce and Retail Media Network expert, leading strategic management of a commerce media network (CMN) or retail media network (RMN) engagement. You will act as the central hub of collaboration and retail media expertise across several departments/resources including senior level colleagues at dentsu, leading decision making with an eye for driving profitable innovation on behalf of your CMN or RMN client. You will work directly with senior level business leaders with your client via an embedded team model. You will translate media-led strategies into actionable business insights for your client. You will be responsible for monetization and go to market strategy, roadmap initiatives and planning for innovation, organizational ways of working design, and B2B2C strategy. You will oversee a team of Strategic and Execution Leads while maintaining ownership of a portfolio of key supplier relationships. This role is responsible for driving monetization strategy, operational excellence, fostering strong client and supplier partnerships, coaching and developing team members. You will partner closely with Sales, Analytics, Audience, Activation, Planning and senior leadership to solve complex business challenges, drive growth opportunities, and continuously improve the client experience. This role reports to the Group Director, Commerce & Retail Media. Responsibilities • Lead, coach, and develop a team of Strategic and Execution Leads, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. • Own and manage monetization tools and artifacts for your commerce or retail media network client (I.E. rate card, margin tracking, and business case forecasting etc.) Develop strategic roadmaps and test plans, orchestrating across all functional groups to ensure holistic management and delivery • Serve as the primary escalation point for complex supplier, seller, operational, and team-related issues. • Maintain ownership of a strategic portfolio of supplier relationships while serving as a trusted advisor to internal and external stakeholders. • Partner with Sales leadership to develop account strategies, prioritize resources, and ensure consistent support across the organization. • Drive strategic planning, business reviews, and growth initiatives across assigned accounts. • Establish and reinforce best practices, operational processes, and quality standards across the Account Management team. • Balance leadership responsibilities with active involvement in strategic accounts, serving as both a leader and hands-on contributor. • Collaborate across Sales, Account Management, Analytics, Audience, Activation, Planning, Finance, and Operations teams to solve complex business challenges and improve operational efficiency. • Monitor account health, team capacity, workload distribution, and overall business performance, making recommendations to optimize support models. • Support hiring, onboarding, coaching, performance management, and career development for team members. • Champion innovation, thought leadership, and continuous improvement across the Commerce & Retail Media organization. • Contribute to organizational planning, change management initiatives, and long-term business strategy. Qualifications • Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, Analytics, or a related field preferred. • 10+ years of digital performance marketing experience in eCommerce, retail media, search, programmatic, or a related field. • 5+ years of people leadership experience, including coaching, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams. • Proven experience managing strategic client or supplier relationships and leading executive-level business discussions. • Strong business acumen with the ability to balance strategic thinking and day-to-day operational execution. • Demonstrated ability to lead through change while managing multiple competing priorities and stakeholders. • Experience building cross-functional partnerships and driving alignment across Sales, Audience, Analytics, Activation, and Operations teams. • Excellent communication, presentation, and executive presence. • Proven ability to identify business opportunities, solve complex problems, and develop scalable solutions. • Experience managing organizational priorities, resource planning, and team workload. • Familiarity with retail media networks, eCommerce ecosystems, and digital advertising platforms preferred. • Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into strategic business recommendations. • Passion for developing people, improving processes, and driving business growth. The annual salary range for this position is $99,500 -$150,000. Placement within the salary range is based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and other factors permitted by law. Benefits available with this position include: • Medical, vision, and dental insurance, • Life insurance, • Short-term and long-term disability insurance, • 401k, • Flexible paid time off, • At least 15 paid holidays per year, • Paid sick and safe leave, and • Paid parental leave. Dentsu also complies with applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies. For further details regarding Dentsu benefits, please visit www.dentsubenefitsplus.com . To begin the application process, please click on the "Apply" button at the top of this job posting. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and qualified candidates will be contacted for next steps. At dentsu, we believe great work happens when we're connected. Our way of working combines flexibility with in-person collaboration to spark ideas and strengthen our teams. Employees who live within a commutable distance of one of our hub offices, currently located in Chicago, metro Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York City, are required and expected to work from the office three days per week (two days per week for employees based in Los Angeles). Dentsu may designate other Hub offices at any time. Those who live outside a commutable range may be designated as remote, depending on the role and business needs. Regardless of your work location, we expect our employees to be flexible to meet the needs of our Company and clients, which may include attendance in an office. #LI-AD2 #LI-Hybrid Location: New York Brand: Iprospect Time Type: Full time Contract Type: Permanent Dentsu is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. We do this without regard to race, color , national origin, sex , sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, political affiliation, religious practices and observances, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Dentsu is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with us, please send an e-mail to  ApplicantAccommodations@dentsu.com  by clicking on the link to let us  know the nature of your accommodation request and your contact information. We are here to support you.

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