Associate Director, Media Buying

Bully Pulpit International

$100K — $110K *
Media
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of hands-on experience in programmatic and social media buying in an agency setting.
  • Background in public affairs, strategic communications, advocacy, and political campaigns.
  • Proven expertise in audience planning and campaign forecasting.
  • Strong leadership and team management capabilities.
  • Exceptional communication and analytical problem-solving skills.
  • Experience with various digital ad platforms and DSPs, including Google Campaign Manager.
  • Familiar with ad tech platforms and industry trends.

Responsibilities

  • Oversee medium-spend client campaigns with a focus on flawless execution.
  • Collaborate across client teams to effectively communicate and resolve issues.
  • Manage and supervise multiple campaigns across various channels and buying platforms.
  • Analyze platform metrics to provide actionable insights and optimize campaign performance.
  • Drive workflow improvements and adopt new technologies in partnership with senior leaders.
  • Serve as the primary contact with ad tech partners and inventory suppliers.
  • Handle client requests efficiently to ensure smooth campaign operations.

Benefits

  • 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • 401(k) program with employer match up to 4%.
  • Generous vacation time and unlimited sick leave.
  • Monthly phone reimbursement of $50.
  • 16 weeks of paid leave for new parents.
  • Focus on employee wellness and support for a diverse workforce.
Full Job Description
The Impact You Will Make

In this position as an Associate Director, Media Buying, you will act as a core contributor to team priorities, effectively communicating the strategic value, operational rigor, and "why" behind media activation goals to the broader media team. You will also help develop, articulate, and evangelize BPI's agency-wide approach to buying strategy, platform best practices, and technical execution. Additionally, you will conduct analysis into programmatic inventory, and vendor research to ensure BPI negotiates and executes highly effective, innovative, and market-leading media activations that drive measurable impact for our clients.
  • Starting Salary Range: $100,000 - $110,000 (+ annual bonus)
  • Expectation to work from one of our offices (Chicago, DC, NYC, SF, LA) at least 3 days a week


What the Day-to-Day Looks Like

Media Strategy & Execution

  • Able to run most mid-spend clients + campaigns independently. Responsible for overseeing flawless media execution on campaigns you are supporting
  • Work efficiently across numerous client teams by communicating effectively, setting and meeting expectations, securing buy-in, and creatively solving problems
  • Manage and supervise campaigns hands-on across multiple verticals, channels and all major buying platforms, including Google Ads, YouTube, Meta, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Reddit, TikTok, The Trade Desk and DV360
  • Be able to contribute to client reports by analyzing platform metrics, provide actionable insights, and make smart optimizations to influence performance.


POV/Offering
  • Identify areas for team-wide workflow and process improvements, and work with senior leaders to implement them
  • Contribute to decisions on new tech and tools for the team to adopt and help effectively onboard them to the team
  • Act as senior-level agency point of contact with selected ad tech partners, inventory suppliers, and data providers


Collaboration
  • Act as a main point-of-contact within the team to manage client and account team requests - i.e., budget changes, campaign flighting, and audience recommendations
  • Work closely with creative and insights team on execution of challenging media placements and implementation of campaign measurement
  • Delegate appropriately and collaborate with media planners to support plan development.


Management
  • Eligible after 6 months to lead a group of and directly manage Media Buyers, Senior Media Buyers, Media Managers, and Media Supervisors
  • Act as a mentor to junior team members across your accounts
  • Attract, retain, and improve talent on the Buying team through effective management, mentorship, and training


Requirements

What You Bring
  • Proven hands-on experience in programmatic and social media buying, preferably in an agency environment, with a track record of successful campaigns for at least 4 years
  • Experience working across some of our client verticals, including public affairs, strategic communications, advocacy and political campaigns
  • Proven experience in audience planning and forecasting for clients
  • Strong leadership, direct team management, and training skills
  • Exceptional communication and problem-solving abilities
  • Hands-on experience running campaigns across all digital ad formats in multiple DSPs, including The Trade Desk, DV360, Yahoo and Amazon
  • Ability to oversee ad operations and trafficking in Google Campaign Manager
  • Familiarity with ad tech platforms and partners, tools, and emerging industry trends
  • Excellent analytical and strategic thinking capabilities
  • Demonstrated ability to meet and exceed client performance targets
  • A passion for mentoring and developing team members


Benefits

BPI offers a wide range of benefits to U.S.-based employees, including 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) program with employer match up to 4%, generous time off for vacation, $50 monthly phone reimbursement, unlimited sick time, and 16 weeks of paid leave for new parents. BPI's benefits prioritize employee wellness and progressive support to our diverse workforce.

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