Associate Media Operations Director

Chicago, IL (Hybrid)

$110K/yr – $135K/yrSenior Level6+ years expFull time

Posted 3 months ago

Top 1% of applicants do these two things.

The other 99% submit and hope. You're about to do something different.

Job Summary

Drive end-to-end media leadership and senior client partnership for a multi-channel portfolio, delivering measurable growth with white-glove service.

  • Own end-to-end media strategy across DSPs/ad servers and translate data into actionable plans.
  • Must-have: 6+ years in multi-channel media planning/buying with strong DSP proficiency.
  • Standout: Leadership of multi-million-dollar budgets and cross-functional collaboration across partner teams.

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • Client Leadership & Excellence: Serve as the senior strategic lead across a portfolio of clients, delivering a true white glove service experience. Act as an extension of the client’s team, highly responsive, proactive, and deeply invested in their success. Build trusted relationships at all levels while maintaining full accountability for all client-facing work, ensuring every deliverable reflects the highest standard of quality, accuracy, and thoughtfulness.
  • Strategic Media Leadership: Own the end-to-end media strategy across digital and traditional channels. Translate data, insights, and business objectives into bold, actionable plans that drive measurable performance and long-term growth.
  • Performance-Driven Approach: Lead with a performance-first mindset, going beyond impressions and clicks to focus on real business outcomes. Continuously push for smarter, more effective strategies that align with client growth goals.
  • Cross-Channel & Audience Strategy: Bring deep expertise across digital performance channels, including Programmatic Display, Paid Social, CTV/OTT, Pre-Roll, Paid Search, Audio, and direct publisher partnerships, while maintaining a strong understanding of traditional media. Develop advanced audience and addressability strategies to ensure precision and effectiveness across channels.
  • Platform & Ad Tech Leadership: Provide strategic oversight across DSPs (The Trade Desk, DV360, StackAdapt, Viant) and ad servers (Google Campaign Manager or equivalent). Ensure teams are executing with rigor, following best practices, and optimizing effectively to maximize performance.
  • Measurement & Performance Frameworks: Define KPIs, reporting structures, and measurement approaches. Leverage attribution, incrementality, and media mix insights to translate performance data into clear, actionable recommendations.
  • Creative & Messaging Guidance: Partner with creative teams to ensure messaging and assets are aligned to channel, audience, and objective, elevating overall performance and engagement.
  • Financial Stewardship & Accountability: Oversee and optimize multi-million-dollar media investments across complex account structures. Maintain full ownership of account financials, including scoping, forecasting, billing, and pacing, ensuring budgets are fully actualized and performance-driven, with no dollars left on the table.
  • Vendor & Partner Strategy: Lead relationships with media vendors, publishers, and technology partners. Negotiate partnerships, evaluate performance, and continuously identify opportunities to drive added value and innovation.
  • Team Leadership & Performance Culture: Lead, mentor, and manage a high-performing team, setting clear expectations and holding individuals accountable to the highest standards. Foster a culture where work is never “check-the-box,” but instead driven by superior performance and a commitment to client satisfaction.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Advertising, Communications, Business, or a related field
  • 6+ years of professional experience in media planning, buying, and/or operations within an agency or client-side environment
  • Proven experience managing integrated, multi-channel media campaigns across digital and traditional platforms
  • Strong proficiency in DSPs such as The Trade Desk, DV360, StackAdapt, or Viant
  • Hands-on experience with ad serving platforms (Google Campaign Manager or equivalent)
  • Deep expertise across digital performance channels including Programmatic Display, Paid Social, CTV/OTT, Paid Search, and Audio
  • Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Google Analytics and advanced Excel
  • Experience managing multi-million-dollar media budgets, including scoping, forecasting, pacing, and billing
  • 4+ years of experience leading, mentoring, and developing team members
  • Proven ability to build and maintain senior-level client relationships with a white glove service approach

Preferred

  • 6+ years managing integrated accounts with a track record of building strong, trust-based relationships. You operate as a true partner, highly responsive, solution-oriented, and committed to delivering a white glove experience.
  • You connect the dots across channels, data, and business objectives to develop smart, sometimes unconventional solutions. You lead with a performance-first mindset, focused on driving real business outcomes, not just surface-level metrics.
  • You hold yourself and your team to an exceptional standard, taking full accountability for the quality, accuracy, and impact of all work delivered.
  • 4+ years leading and developing teams. You motivate, challenge, and elevate those around you, driving better thinking, stronger execution, and continuous improvement.
  • Experienced in managing large, multi-million-dollar accounts with multiple stakeholders and moving parts, while maintaining clarity, control, and forward momentum.
  • Detail-oriented and accountable in managing budgets, ensuring dollars are strategically allocated, optimized, and fully maximized.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complexity, influence stakeholders, and present confidently in any setting.
  • Fluent in analytics tools (including Google Analytics) and advanced Excel, with a strong understanding of the digital ecosystem and working knowledge of traditional media to support integrated strategies.
  • Naturally curious and business-minded, you ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, and look beyond media to drive client growth. You take initiative, push beyond the task at hand, and continuously raise the bar.
  • Motivated to contribute to the growth of Mogul & Co., actively participating in new business efforts and helping shape the agency’s future.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, vision, dental, life, HSA, and disability benefits from day one of employment
  • Wellbeing programs include, but are not limited to primary care support, mental health services, pet wellness, and behavioral health
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Paid parental leave
  • 401(k) retirement plan
  • Company bonuses or sales commissions
  • Equity compensation
  • Higher Equity Ownership & Profit Participation
  • Accelerated Leadership Paths
  • Patents Contribution and Industry-Leading Innovation