Associate Media Director, Integrated Media Planning

Open position in all True Media office locations, including Kansas City, MO, Columbia, MO, St. Louis, MO, and Minneapolis, MN; Hybrid work schedule: 3 days in the office, 2 days working from home

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position, now or in the future. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis without requiring employer sponsorship.

The Associate Media Director of Integrated Media will be an extension of our leadership team across the Integrated Media group, bringing a higher level of strategic expertise across both traditional and digital media channels and senior support and experience for activation and buying processes. This individual will help oversee and provide guidance to how we refine our media planning products, utilizing advanced tools and strategic principles. They will be proficient in the establishment of strategy both from a media perspective into channel strategies that drive effectiveness in go-to-market media plans. They will be advanced in measurement techniques to ensure we are developing structure strategies that align with client business goals. They will also have oversight and experience in activation tools and functions.

This position requires a proactive approach to substantiating work both in documentation and in practice, ensuring that all media strategies and execution plans are well-founded and effectively communicated based on the established project parameters, goals, and budgets, providing clear justifications for your decisions. Your responsibilities will include contributing to business improvement by achieving personal and departmental goals and objectives efficiently and effectively.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Other duties may be assigned)

Integrated Media Planning and Strategy Development:

• Oversee the development of integrated media strategies and full media plans across traditional (TV, radio, print, OOH) and digital (social media, programmatic, paid search, etc.) channels.
• Align media strategies with client objectives, target audiences, media and industry landscape while supporting campaign goals.
• The development of strategic and effective tactical plans that align with the integrated strategy and channel mix.
• Manage and provide input on media briefs to ensure strategies and integrated plans align with the client's core business goals and are structured to effectively achieve objectives.

Research and Insights:

• Conduct research and analysis for assigned clients, including audience insights, competitive landscape, consumer journey, market trends, and industry/category knowledge. Ensure the development of clear, actionable insights to inform and enhance the Integrated Media plan.
• Understand the agency's research tools and know how to leverage them to create strategic media plans.
• Provide support into the evolution of our tools and products to enhance our planning and strategy capabilities.
• Develop points of view (POVs) and maintain a clear understanding of the evolving media landscape, emerging technologies, and other critical factors shaping the industry.

Measurement and Reporting:

• Effectively develop and manage Measurement Strategies that connect media with clear KPIs and optimized metrics to ensure success of the media campaigns.
• Create learning agendas within the measurement plan to guide insights and optimization efforts, ensuring clear hypotheses, methodologies, and timelines are established.
• The Supervisor of Integrated Planning will oversee and take ownership of final reporting outputs. By collaborating with activation and account teams, this role will ensure reports are maintained and insights are developed effectively

Client Relationship:

• Establish and maintain goodwill and strong working relationships with the client, including regular calls, visits and check-ins to ensure the agency is meeting their needs.
• Understand plans to the degree necessary to answer most questions. Work with teams across the agency to ensure timely signoff and feedback from clients.

Vendor Relationships & Negations:

• Develop and maintain key vendor relationships, forming partnerships and seeking innovative approaches/opportunities.
• Develop vendor POVs on various opportunities, technologies and solutions for submission to the teams and agency groups.
• Guide RFI/RFP efforts with new and existing vendors, gather and synthesizing proposals, plans and rates with teams.
• Manage, mentor, and motivate activation strategy team members to encourage professional development while providing guidance.
• Proactively and collaboratively work with Performance and Spot Activation teams to manage, plan and execute campaigns, and bring forward new ideas to expand on media opportunities.
• Provide negotiation guidance and tactics to activation strategists.
• Oversee media agreements and contracts with outside media vendors.

Qualifications - To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Proven ability to develop and maintain strong professional relationships with clients, colleagues, and vendors.
• Proven ability to analyze data and market research to identify trends and make data-driven decisions.
• Proficient in media planning tools and software, as well as analytics platforms (GA4, Commspoint, Nielsen, MRI, Bionic, Media Tools, Media Ocean, etc.)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly to clients and internal teams.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with clients, team members and other stakeholders in our agency.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing client needs, industry trends, emerging media channels and internal structure changes
• 5 - 7 years in planning & executional roles for media, publisher/vendor, or communications discipline (digital, content)
• 5- 7 years of experience in a traditional and digital media planning/buying position at an advertising/media agency
• Experience delegating assignments to junior staff and providing oversight on project development, deliverables and adhering to timelines.

Education

• A bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university, with a degree or concentration in advertising, marketing, or communications preferred.

Total Perks Package

• The chance to be a part of a growing company and the next success story
• Amazing opportunities for career development
• Recognition programs
• Employee referral bonus
• Hybrid work schedule; 3 days in the office, 2 days working from home
• Fun and collaborative work environment
• Casual dress code
• Insurance Coverage (medical, dental, vision, life, and disability)
• 401(k) retirement plan, with employer 4% match
• Work/life benefits, including mental health and wellbeing support
• Flexible Time Off Policy
• Paid holidays, including agency soft closing Christmas Eve-New Year's Day
• Paid leave options, including sick leave, medical leave for self and family, and parental leave