Responsibilities

• Own the media planning on tier-1 campaigns, from translating the brief into a channel strategy and budget framework through plan presentation and optimization guidance
• Define audience strategy for campaigns, identifying the right targeting approaches, data sources, and segmentation logic based on client goals and budget reality
• Advise on media mix across paid media channels, balancing reach, frequency, cost efficiency, and client objectives
• Partner with Account Managers in client conversations as the media planning authority, explaining channel decisions and pressure-testing assumptions in real time
• Build media plans, investment recommendations, and strategy decks that connect audience to channel to budget to KPI in a clear narrative
• Own planning math: budget allocation across channels, forecasting, pacing models, and reconciliation
• Lead research inputs that inform planning decisions, including competitive landscape, audience data, platform capabilities, and market context, and turn them into actionable media recommendations
• Evaluate and recommend media partners, platforms, and inventory sources; lead RFP response development where appropriate
• Design measurement frameworks and test-and-learn structures so we can prove what's working and optimize with intent
• Mentor junior planners by asking good questions, modeling strong process, and helping them level up

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or related field preferred
• Minimum 5 years in media planning or buying, with hands-on experience building and presenting full-funnel media plans for complex campaigns. Coaching or mentoring experience is a plus.
• Confident owning planning math: budget allocation across channels, forecasting, pacing, and reconciliation
• A track record of media plans, strategy decks, and investment recommendations you built and presented to clients
• Experience presenting and defending media plans to clients and stakeholders; you're comfortable explaining the why behind channel and budget decisions, not just walking through the slides
• Experience with media planning tools (Bionic, Strata, or similar) preferred
• Sharp organizational and analytical instincts, comfortable juggling multiple campaigns on tight timelines without losing the details

Preferred

• Coaching or mentoring experience is a plus.
• Familiarity with audience data platforms or third-party data providers (LiveRamp, GWI, or similar) is a strong plus
• Experience with media planning tools (Bionic, Strata, or similar) preferred
• Experience in political, advocacy, higher ed, or utilities verticals is a plus
• Comfort across digital media platforms with hands-on experience in search, social, and/or DSP a plus