Senior Associate, Planning

Responsibilities

• Lead the management of integrated media plans, flowcharts, and budget allocations across digital, social, programmatic, search, television, streaming, audio, out-of-home, and other relevant channels, grounded in a clear understanding of client business objectives.
• Translate audience insights, category dynamics, and campaign objectives into channel mix, targeting, and investment recommendations with clear planning rationale.
• Analyze syndicated research and planning data to draw actionable audience and marketplace insights.
• Manage the media partner RFP process, evaluate proposals, and negotiate added value and terms with vendors.
• Compile and interpret competitive media spend and category reports for assigned brands, highlighting implications for client strategy.
• Act as the "go-to" person on assigned accounts, owning day-to-day plan maintenance, plan changes, and budget management throughout the planning cycle.
• Relay clear direction to activation, investment, and ad operations teams through media authorizations, plan guidelines, and briefs.
• Oversee campaign setup and execution, providing quality assurance that insertion orders, trafficking, and live campaigns align with approved plans, budgets, and flight dates.
• Monitor pacing and billing, ensure accurate budget actualizations, and resolve discrepancies with media partners and finance teams.
• Prioritize and direct workflow across the planning team to ensure timely, accurate delivery of plans and client deliverables.

Requirements

• 1–3 years of media planning experience, preferably in an agency setting and ideally across integrated traditional and digital channels.
• Bachelor's degree in Advertising, Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field.
• Solid command of media planning fundamentals, including reach and frequency, budgeting, media mix, and measurement, along with core metrics (e.g., CPM, CPA, CTR, ROAS).
• Hands-on proficiency with media planning, research, and measurement platforms such as Nielsen Media Impact, MRI-Simmons, MediaRadar, TelmarHelixa, or Comscore; experience with media management systems such as Prisma is a plus.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets and Microsoft PowerPoint/Google Slides, including building flowcharts, budgets, and client-ready presentations.
• Demonstrated comfort using LLMs and AI tools for research, analysis, and written or numerical deliverables.
• Experience managing day-to-day client relationships and presenting media recommendations.
• Experience guiding, training, or reviewing the work of junior team members preferred.
• Experience in travel or healthcare categories is a plus, including familiarity with healthcare marketing considerations such as HCP and DTC audiences and privacy-compliant targeting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple accounts and shifting priorities in a fast-paced agency environment.