Director, Advertising & Communications

The Director, Advertising & Communications is responsible for leading the communications strategy and advertising development for SONIC. This role will develop the overall brand creative communications strategy inclusive of target consumer and channel strategy. It will lead the briefing, creative development, and creative AOR to develop creative assets for the market across all paid channels. This role will brief the Demand Generation teams to develop the annual media plans as well as with the analytics team to measure creative effectiveness and develop creative best practices. The Director, Advertising & Communications sits on the SONIC Integrated Marketing team and reports to the VP, Integrated Marketing Communications. This role manages two direct reports.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Translate brand experience strategy into communications and campaign calendar as part of the Annual Brand Plan process.
• Lead creative development for advertising assets across channels (including TV, OLV, and some paid digital/social).
• Deliver best-in-class communications by driving collaboration and efficiency across internal constituencies and agencies.
• Ensure creative is on strategy and on brief, with all deliverables received in the desired timeframe.
• Partner with Analytics group to conduct Creative testing (iBat, iMus, ACE) and develop creative best practices.
• Define the overall brand creative communications and collaborate on channel strategies with the IMC and cross-functional commercial teams.
• Brief agencies to develop annual strategy and in-year plans (media + creative).
• Manage and develop two direct reports.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum: 4 Year Degree in marketing or business-related program required.
• 10+ years of creative/brand experience in a creative leadership role, managing people and processes.
• Advertising production experience preferred.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, or ABILITIES

• Foundation in integrated marketing and multi-media channel marketing including a deep understanding of social media channels.
• Critical eye for world-class creative strategy and campaign development.
• Ability to collaborate with agencies to develop and communicate brand messages that engage consumers.
• Ability to manage campaigns from concept to completion including briefing and execution in collaboration with agencies.
• Thrives in an environment where multiple projects are managed for on-time delivery.
• Strong communication skills and ability to speak and write concisely and effectively, adapting messages to a range of audiences.
• Self-starter and entrepreneurial leader who performs in a lean, fast-paced environment.
• Thrives in collaborative, matrixed, and cross-functional organization with a strong ability to influence.
• Ability to develop and mentor others.

At SONIC, we encourage and attract wildly creative people. Bold, unique personalities whose passion for what they do shows in the food, the experience and the culture of our brand. Sound like you? Join us as we deliver delightful and delicious moments to our guests!

Inspire Brands is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 32,000 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC restaurants worldwide.

We’re made up of some of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands, but we’re much more than just a restaurant company. We’re a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple—it’s an experience. At Inspire, that’s our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.