Associate Director, Media Planning

Bully Pulpit International

$100K — $110K *
Media
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 6-9 years of experience in digital media strategy and planning, preferably in an agency setting.
  • Experience managing campaigns for corporate reputation, public affairs, or political clients.
  • Passion for Democratic/progressive politics and experience with non-profit and corporate social impact work.
  • Strong analytical skills with experience in media consumption tools like GWI and Comscore.
  • Proficiency in business intelligence software such as Datorama and Tableau.
  • Expertise in Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets for data tracking and analysis.
  • Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to juggle multiple projects.

Responsibilities

  • Run mid-spend client campaigns from initiation to execution independently.
  • Present media strategies, performance insights, and reports to clients.
  • Create data-driven media plans aligning with client goals and ensure strategic execution.
  • Manage end-to-end campaign implementations across various platforms, including negotiation and contracting.
  • Identify and enhance processes for improved cross-team communication and campaign execution.
  • Build collaborative relationships across client and internal teams to ensure a seamless workflow.
  • Mentor and develop junior team members in campaign management and client communication.

Benefits

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

In this position as an Associate Director, Media Planning, you will act as a core contributor to team priorities, effectively communicating the strategic value and "why" behind specific departmental goals to the broader media team. You will also help develop, articulate, and evangelize the agency-wide departmental view on media strategy, emerging tactics, and technical execution, in addition to conducting deep-dive media, industry, or company research to allow the agency to develop highly accurate, innovative, and strategic advertising and marketing plans.
  • 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

  • Independently run mid-spend clients and advertising campaigns from inception to completion.
  • Regularly present sophisticated media strategies, performance insights, and campaign reporting directly to clients.
  • Develop comprehensive, data-backed media plans that align closely with client and campaign objectives, collaborating with Client/Account Leads to ensure deliverables map back to high-level strategic approaches.
  • Lead end-to-end campaign implementation and management, overseeing how campaigns are executed, optimized, and analyzed across various digital and traditional platforms, including partner negotiation and contracting.
  • Proactively identify, improve upon, and develop new processes to streamline cross-team communication and ensure flawless execution of media plans.


Collaboration & Workflow Management

  • Foster strong, collaborative working relationships across all client and internal specialty teams (Buying, Marketing Analytics, Insights) to facilitate seamless execution.
  • Identify distinct areas for team-wide workflow and operational process improvements, partnering with Planning Directors to implement scalable solutions.


Team Management & Mentorship

  • Attract, retain, and elevate talent across the paid media team through active, empathetic management, regular mentorship, and structured training.
  • Serve as a role model for junior and mid-level planners, providing guidance on campaign management, analytical thinking, and client communication muscle.

Requirements

What You Bring
  • 6-9 years of relevant work experience in digital media strategy, planning, and direct-IO buying (agency experience preferred).
  • Proven track record of independently running campaigns for corporate reputation, public affairs, and/or political clients.
  • Enthusiasm for Democratic/progressive politics and excitement to work alongside our non-profit, advocacy, and corporate social impact clients in addition to larger, corporate reputation accounts.
  • Advanced analytical thinking capabilities, with strong hands-on experience utilizing media consumption tools (e.g. GWI, Comscore) and business intelligence/dashboard software (e.g. Datorama, Google Analytics, or Tableau).
  • Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and navigate new digital systems, emerging media tech, and specialized proprietary tools with minimal downtime.
  • Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets for budget tracking, performance analysis, and data manipulation.
  • Exceptional organizational skills, rigorous attention to detail, and a demonstrated ability to manage multiple high-stakes projects simultaneously.
  • A readiness to work independently, think big, solve complex problems creatively, and scale leadership capabilities rapidly within a fast-paced environment.


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.

Let's keep in touch. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter at bpigroup.com

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