Director, Agency Strategy & Operations - Marketing & Growth Organization (MGO)

Director, Agency Strategy & Operations (MGO) This position requires office presence of a minimum of 5 days per week and is only located in the location(s) posted. No relocation is offered. At AT&T, we empower leaders to drive change in a fast-evolving, connected world. Your strategic vision will help serve customers and transform lives through innovative solutions and impactful connections. Role Overview The Director, Agency Strategy & Operations is a leadership role within the Marketing & Growth Organization (MGO), accountable for shaping and optimizing the agency ecosystem that supports enterprise marketing execution. This leader will define the strategy, governance, and operational model for agency engagement across the organization, ensuring external partnerships are structured to deliver high-quality work, measurable business impact, operational efficiency, and scalability. This role serves as a critical connector between internal marketing, business, and operational stakeholders and external agency partners. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in building high‑performing agency models that enable speed, consistency, innovation, and growth in addition to a strong blend of strategic thinking, operational rigor, financial discipline, and cross‑functional leadership. The Director will play a central role in advancing modern marketing operations, improving the effectiveness of agency investments, and establishing clear accountability for performance, delivery, and return on investment. Key Responsibilities Agency Strategy & Governance Define and lead the enterprise agency strategy across the Marketing & Growth Organization, including agency portfolio design, partner selection, capability mapping, and scope optimization Establish and evolve governance frameworks that create clarity in roles, responsibilities, decision rights, and ways of working across internal teams and agency partners Develop agency operating models that improve consistency, quality, compliance, and business alignment across marketing activities Lead evaluation and selection processes for agency partners, including RFPs, capability assessments, onboarding, and transition planning Ensure contracts, service models, and performance expectations are clearly defined and aligned to organizational priorities Operational Excellence Lead end‑to‑end agency‑enabled marketing operations to improve workflow efficiency, speed‑to‑market, quality, and scalability Design and implement standardized processes for briefing, intake, prioritization, approvals, creative development, campaign execution, and delivery Identify bottlenecks and operational inefficiencies across the marketing delivery lifecycle and drive solutions that simplify and streamline execution Partner with internal teams to ensure agencies are integrated effectively into planning and execution rhythms Champion best practices, playbooks, and operating standards that elevate executional excellence across the organization Performance & ROI Management Establish agency performance management frameworks, including KPIs, scorecards, SLAs, and business outcome measures Monitor and assess agency effectiveness across quality, responsiveness, strategic contribution, efficiency, and commercial value Partner with analytics and insights teams to connect agency outputs to campaign performance and business impact Translate data, performance trends, and stakeholder feedback into actionable optimization plans Drive a culture of accountability and continuous performance improvement across agency relationships Cross‑Functional Leadership Collaborate closely with Marketing, Digital, Product, Brand, Finance, Legal, Sourcing, and Procurement to align agency strategies with enterprise priorities and business goals Serve as a senior point of contact between internal stakeholders and external agency partners, fostering productive, transparent, and high‑performing relationships Influence senior leaders through clear communication, strong business cases, and thoughtful recommendations Build alignment across diverse stakeholders with differing priorities, ensuring decisions support both near‑term delivery and long‑term strategic outcomes Agency Operations Oversee agency planning across scopes, retainers, project work, and resource allocations to ensure efficient and effective use of budget Lead financial planning and budget management for agency‑related spend, with a focus on cost transparency, value realization, and resource optimization Partner with Procurement and Finance on contract negotiations, commercial structures, rate management, and ongoing vendor governance Identify opportunities to improve value from agency partnerships while maintaining quality, agility, and strategic support Manage ongoing agency relationships to ensure delivery against contractual commitments and business expectations Transformation & Continuous Improvement Identify and drive opportunities to modernize the agency operating model, including new capabilities, technologies, workflows, and ways of working Lead transformation initiatives that improve marketing agility, reduce complexity, and enhance the scalability of execution Assess evolving business needs and market trends to ensure the agency ecosystem remains fit for purpose Introduce innovative approaches that improve collaboration, production efficiency, measurement, and overall marketing effectiveness Foster a mindset of continuous improvement across teams, partners, and processes Qualifications 3-5 years of experience, usually requiring significant experience in marketing strategy, agency management, marketing operations, or related functions Deep experience leading and managing external agency ecosystems, including creative, media, digital, production, and specialized marketing partners Strong knowledge of marketing operating models, agency governance structures, and scalable delivery processes Demonstrated business and financial acumen, with experience managing budgets, contracts, scopes of work, and vendor performance Proven success leading complex, cross‑functional initiatives and influencing senior stakeholders across matrixed organizations Experience using data, reporting, and performance insights to drive decision‑making, optimization, and measurable business outcomes Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively across all levels of the organization Experience leading change and operational transformation in dynamic, fast‑paced environments preferred Key Skills Agency ecosystem strategy and governance Marketing operations and process optimization Vendor negotiation and financial management Performance measurement and ROI management Data‑driven decision‑making Executive communication and stakeholder management Cross‑functional leadership and influence Operational transformation and continuous improvement Our Director, Agency Strategy & Operations earns between $171,000 - $256,400 USD annually, depending on geography, experience, expertise, and education/training. Joining our team comes with amazing perks and benefits: Medical/Dental/Vision coverage 401(k) plan Tuition reimbursement program Paid Time Off and Holidays (at least 23 days of vacation each year and 9 company‑designated holidays) Paid Parental Leave Paid Caregiver Leave Additional sick leave beyond what state and local law require may be available but is unprotected Adoption Reimbursement Disability Benefits (short term and long term) Life and Accidental Death Insurance Supplemental benefit programs: critical illness/accident hospital indemnity/group legal Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) Extensive employee wellness programs Employee discounts up to 50% off on eligible AT&T mobility plans and accessories AT&T internet (and fiber where available) and AT&T phone If you’re ready to make an impact on our business and your career, bring your bold ideas to a world of possibility. Apply today! AT&T is an equal‑employment‑opportunity employer and encourages applicants of all backgrounds. EEO statement: AT&T provides equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of any protected characteristic. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities. AT&T is a fair‑chance employer and does not initiate a background check until an offer is made. #J-18808-Ljbffr AT&T