The ChallengeMost agencies staff senior roles with people who are good at managing up and delegating down. We need someone who's good at the actual work. Our clients need a strategist who can build the plan, defend it to a skeptical CMO, and optimize it when reality doesn't match the forecast. You'll own accounts end-to-end with real P&L accountability-not "support" them from the sidelines.
What You'll Own- Full P&L accountability for 4-6 accounts
- Strategic media planning: channel mix, budget allocation, testing roadmaps
- Direct client relationships-you're the face of performance for your accounts
- Mentorship of Media Coordinators and Specialists on your accounts
- Identifying scaling opportunities and when to pump the brakes
- Complex problem-solving: when attribution breaks, compliance flags campaigns, or performance craters-you fix it
How You'll Know You're Winning- Your book of business hits or exceeds client KPIs consistently
- Clients renew and expand because of your strategic leadership
- You've developed at least one Coordinator into a Specialist within 12 months
- You can present to a CMO and make them smarter about their business
- The Media Director is pulling you into new business pitches
- You're building playbooks and processes that make the whole team better
Day-to-Day Impact- 35% - Strategy and optimization across your accounts (channel mix, budget allocation, scaling decisions)
- 25% - Client leadership (weekly calls, QBRs, strategic planning)
- 20% - Team development and QA oversight for junior team members
- 15% - Reporting and analysis that drives decisions, not just documents results
- 5% - New business support and pitch development
Real example: Monday you're restructuring a client's Meta account after iOS changes tanked performance. Tuesday you're presenting a quarterly plan to a CMO. Wednesday you're coaching a Coordinator through their first solo client call. Thursday you're troubleshooting a complex pixel setup with our tech partner. Friday you're in a pitch meeting for a new prospect.
RequirementsYour Background- 4-6 years managing paid media, with at least 2 years owning accounts end-to-end
- You've managed meaningful budgets and can speak to results
- Deep Meta expertise is non-negotiable; strong Google skills required
- You've built media strategies, not just executed someone else's plan
- Experience presenting to clients and stakeholders who ask hard questions
- You understand incrementality, MMM concepts, and why last-click attribution lies
- Bonus: You've managed or mentored junior team members
BenefitsThe Role & Growth PathTitle: Senior Media Manager
Band: $95,000-$120,000 (+ bonus)
Department: Paid Media & Performance
Reports to: Media Director
Growth path: Success here leads to Media Director ($125-155K) within 18-24 months
Benefits: Health, dental, vision, and 401K match
Location: In-office, NYC Garment District
Start: Q1 2026
