Director of Paid Media & Strategy

Delavan Holdings

$90K — $120K *
Media
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 7-12 years of media strategy and buying experience with traditional and digital channels.
  • Hands-on DSP platform experience in major DSPs (e.g., The Trade Desk, DV360).
  • Strong command of Google Ads Manager and Meta Business Manager.
  • Proven ability to negotiate traditional media buys and manage the full buy lifecycle.
  • Experience managing multiple clients or campaigns simultaneously without losing detail.
  • Proficiency in budget modeling using Excel or Google Sheets.
  • Familiarity with third-party data tools like SRDS, Comscore, Nielsen, etc.
  • Experience with automotive OEM co-op advertising structures.

Responsibilities

  • Research markets and audiences to inform channel strategy and media plans.
  • Build comprehensive media plans including channel mix and campaign analysis.
  • Negotiate and execute traditional media buys across various channels.
  • Own and operate DSP seats for programmatic campaigns.
  • Manage paid search and paid social in coordination with agency partners.
  • Evaluate and establish direct DSP relationships as spending scales.
  • Implement tracking across digital campaigns including pixels and UTM parameters.
  • Review vendor proposals and provide buy/no-buy recommendations.
  • Contribute to agency infrastructure including planning templates and vendor evaluations.
  • Collaborate with marketing managers and agency partners to align media and creative efforts.

Benefits

  • Ground-floor opportunity to build and lead an in-house media function.
  • Direct collaboration with senior marketing leadership for impactful strategy.
  • Diverse portfolio spanning automotive, RV, hospitality, and lifestyle brands.
  • Potential for role growth and team leadership as the agency scales.
  • Collaborative and entrepreneurial culture based in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
  • Competitive health, dental, vision, PTO, and 401(k) benefits.
Full Job Description
Anchor a media team being built from scratch - own strategy, buying, and performance across traditional and digital channels.

What You'll Do
  • Research markets and audiences using third-party data tools (SRDS, Comscore, Nielsen, MRI-Simmons, Scarborough) and translate findings into channel strategy, budget recommendations, and media plans with clear KPIs
  • Build and own comprehensive media plans across all active verticals - channel mix, flighting, reach and frequency targets, and post-campaign analysis tied to business objectives
  • Negotiate and execute traditional media buys across broadcast TV, cable, radio, out-of-home, print, and direct mail; manage insertion orders, vendor relationships, makegoods, and invoice reconciliation
  • Own and operate DSP seats directly - plan, execute, optimize, and report on programmatic display, video, OTT/CTV, and streaming audio campaigns
  • Manage paid search (Google Ads, Microsoft/Bing) and paid social (Meta, YouTube, TikTok) in coordination with agency partners; provide strategic oversight and performance QA
  • Evaluate, recommend, and help establish direct DSP relationships as agency spend scales - including Simpli.fi and StackAdapt near-term, The Trade Desk longer-term
  • Implement and audit tracking across all digital campaigns - pixels, UTM parameters, conversion events, and attribution models
  • Review vendor proposals, rate cards, and media kits with a critical eye; provide buy/no-buy recommendations and negotiate with confidence
  • Contribute to agency infrastructure - planning templates, buying workflows, vendor evaluation frameworks, and reporting standards
  • Collaborate with vertical-specific marketing managers and external agency partners to ensure media and creative are working together.


Requirements

What We're Looking For
  • 7-12 years of media strategy and buying experience with a track record across both traditional and digital channels
  • Hands-on DSP platform experience - you have planned, executed, and optimized within at least one major DSP (The Trade Desk, DV360, Simpli.fi, StackAdapt, Basis, or equivalent)
  • Strong command of Google Ads Manager and Meta Business Manager; certification in either is a plus
  • Demonstrated ability to negotiate traditional media buys and manage the full buy lifecycle from insertion order to invoice reconciliation
  • Experience managing multi-client or multi-vertical campaigns simultaneously without losing detail or accountability
  • Proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets for budget modeling, scenario planning, and reconciliation
  • Familiarity with third-party data tools - SRDS, Comscore, Nielsen, MRI-Simmons, or Scarborough
  • Experience with automotive OEM co-op advertising structures is a meaningful differentiator
  • Excellent communication skills - able to present strategy and performance to senior stakeholders without drowning them in jargon

What Sets You Apart
  • You have worked in a multi-client or multi-brand environment and know how to shift context without losing precision
  • You are as comfortable in a spreadsheet modeling a budget as you are on a call negotiating with a TV rep or inside a DSP building an audience segment
  • You bring genuine respect to collaborating with a traditional media veteran - you bridge, not replace
  • You understand that direct mail is not a relic - it is the right tool in the right vertical, and you know when to reach for it
  • You want to build something - not a seat at a fully-formed table, but a role in designing the table and running it
  • You are comfortable with AI-assisted research, data interpretation, and workflow support as part of a modern media operation

Why Delavan Holdings
  • Ground-floor opportunity to build and eventually lead an in-house media function across a high-spend, multi-vertical portfolio
  • Direct collaboration with senior marketing leadership - your strategy decisions will have immediate organizational impact
  • Portfolio spanning automotive retail, RV, hospitality, and lifestyle brands - diverse channels, audiences, and creative challenges
  • A seat at the table as the agency scales - this role is expected to grow in scope and team leadership
  • Based in the Lake Geneva region of Wisconsin with a collaborative, entrepreneurial culture
  • Competitive compensation and benefits package including health, dental, vision, PTO, and 401(k)

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Delavan Holdings

More Media Jobs

Find similar Director of Paid Media & Strategy jobs: