Media Planner
Estimated pay range
Actual pay may be different — this range is estimated based on Media Planner in Durham, North Carolina, United States at similar companies.
Base pay range
$40,000.00/yr - $68,000.00/yr
Think about all the things you're exposed to on a daily basis, but don't really notice. We live in a world full of
invisible impressions. Adding to a sea of sameness where others have deeper pockets and hoping for anything
but the expected outcome is silly. We can't simply rely on reaching the right people in the right places at the right
times. We need them to engage with our messaging and ultimately share it in some way. That's what our team of
analytically minded, creative media thinkers work passionately to accomplish on a daily basis for our clients.
MUST HAVES
Let's talk if…
You are goal-oriented. You know exactly what you want. You're a habitual setter of specific,
measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound goals. And you hold yourself accountable.
You are insatiably curious. You're thirsty for knowledge. You want to know why things are the way they
are. You regularly ask "what if?" You're always looking for a better way. And you can't wait to find out
what the next trait is.
You are a task master. You make lists for everything that needs to be done and methodically prioritize
and reprioritize to make sure that it all gets done in a timely manner.
You are detail-oriented. In a client service business, especially one where you manage lots of money, it
pays to have an eagle eye. You proofread your work several times over to ensure that it flows contentwise,
is error-free and ready to send onward. (Like we obviously did writing this.
You make things happen. You regularly put forth new ways, placements, trends and technologies to
bring ideas to life in fresh, unexpected ways. You don't take "no" for an answer from your media partners.
You are an overachiever. You always do things better than people expect them to be done. That's just
the standard you've set for yourself.
Responsibilities
Plan development
Display a mastery of media fundamentals, including experience and interest across traditional and digital
Demonstrate proficiency with industry planning tools (e.g., DCM, Nielsen Media Impact, Nielsen Ad Intel,
etc.) to identify and evaluate media opportunities, assess the competitive landscape, pull plan deliveries
and manage media buys and reporting
Build and refine media plan recommendations that deliver on the client's business goals and objectives
Generate buy authorizations to secure client approval for planned media elements
Create contracts (buy details and insertion orders) to secure inventory from media partners
Build trafficking sheets by media type with all relevant information (placement, targeting, cost model, etc.)
Reporting and optimization
Monitor, optimize and report on the approved digital media plan elements
Accurately track media budgets and expenditures by media type and by month and manage flowcharts to
visualize placements by media type
Verify that all media ran substantially as approved, otherwise negotiate make-goods and/or credit as may
be applicable in accordance with industry practices
Receive, review, verify, approve and process media invoices and resolve discrepancies
Mentorship
Groom assistant media planners to successfully execute the responsibilities outlined above
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree required
2-3 years of media planning, buying, trafficking, reporting and optimization experience.
Knowledge of all aspects of digital media (programmatic, site direct, mobile, SEO, paid social, etc.) Proficient in
using the following: DoubleClick Campaign Manager, Adobe Audience Manager, Tableau and Nielsen Ad Intel.
Hands-on-keys experience with The Trade Desk and coding capabilities using Python are a plus.
invisible impressions. Adding to a sea of sameness where others have deeper pockets and hoping for anything
but the expected outcome is silly. We can't simply rely on reaching the right people in the right places at the right
times. We need them to engage with our messaging and ultimately share it in some way. That's what our team of
analytically minded, creative media thinkers work passionately to accomplish on a daily basis for our clients.
MUST HAVES
Let's talk if…
You are goal-oriented. You know exactly what you want. You're a habitual setter of specific,
measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound goals. And you hold yourself accountable.
You are insatiably curious. You're thirsty for knowledge. You want to know why things are the way they
are. You regularly ask "what if?" You're always looking for a better way. And you can't wait to find out
what the next trait is.
You are a task master. You make lists for everything that needs to be done and methodically prioritize
and reprioritize to make sure that it all gets done in a timely manner.
You are detail-oriented. In a client service business, especially one where you manage lots of money, it
pays to have an eagle eye. You proofread your work several times over to ensure that it flows contentwise,
is error-free and ready to send onward. (Like we obviously did writing this.
You make things happen. You regularly put forth new ways, placements, trends and technologies to
bring ideas to life in fresh, unexpected ways. You don't take "no" for an answer from your media partners.
You are an overachiever. You always do things better than people expect them to be done. That's just
the standard you've set for yourself.
Responsibilities
Plan development
Display a mastery of media fundamentals, including experience and interest across traditional and digital
Demonstrate proficiency with industry planning tools (e.g., DCM, Nielsen Media Impact, Nielsen Ad Intel,
etc.) to identify and evaluate media opportunities, assess the competitive landscape, pull plan deliveries
and manage media buys and reporting
Build and refine media plan recommendations that deliver on the client's business goals and objectives
- Develop a deep understanding of an existing and/or prospective client's business (e.g., sales,
- Review past efforts to understand role of media types utilized and historical performance as
- Collaborate with account management, strategy, creative and production colleagues
- Create initial draft of media planning goals and objectives and a measurement plan framework
- Gather and analyze relevant research to strategically inform plan development
- Create, organize and maintain relevant media partner information (contact info, media kits, etc.)
- RFP media partners to identify strategically relevant opportunities
- Review proposals leveraging agency resources and planning tools
Generate buy authorizations to secure client approval for planned media elements
Create contracts (buy details and insertion orders) to secure inventory from media partners
Build trafficking sheets by media type with all relevant information (placement, targeting, cost model, etc.)
Reporting and optimization
Monitor, optimize and report on the approved digital media plan elements
- Pull, scrub and analyze campaign data from DCM (or other relevant sources)
- Regularly implement optimizations based on partner performance
- Build and present performance reports as scoped per client
Accurately track media budgets and expenditures by media type and by month and manage flowcharts to
visualize placements by media type
Verify that all media ran substantially as approved, otherwise negotiate make-goods and/or credit as may
be applicable in accordance with industry practices
Receive, review, verify, approve and process media invoices and resolve discrepancies
Mentorship
Groom assistant media planners to successfully execute the responsibilities outlined above
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree required
2-3 years of media planning, buying, trafficking, reporting and optimization experience.
Knowledge of all aspects of digital media (programmatic, site direct, mobile, SEO, paid social, etc.) Proficient in
using the following: DoubleClick Campaign Manager, Adobe Audience Manager, Tableau and Nielsen Ad Intel.
Hands-on-keys experience with The Trade Desk and coding capabilities using Python are a plus.
-
Seniority level
Associate -
Employment type
Full-time -
Job function
Marketing and Sales -
Industries
Advertising Services
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Media Planner in Durham, NC
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