Associate Media Director Minneapolis

Associate Media Director Department: Media - Media Planning and Activation Employment Type: Full Time Location: Minneapolis Description Join Our Global Team Gravity Global is the world’s most awarded marketing consultancy specialising in brands operating in complex markets. Led by strategy, innovation, technology, data, and creativity, we create brand-and-demand marketing programmes that drive transformational growth for our clients. With 14 wholly owned offices across the US, Europe and APAC, and our Global Talent Hubs in emerging markets, you can build a truly global career in a rapidly scaling organisation that’s shaping the future of marketing. At Gravity Global, we believe our people are our greatest strength. We’re a collective of creative thinkers, strategic storytellers, and data-driven innovators united by one mission – to deliver exceptional work that makes an impact. We’re growing fast – across continents and disciplines – and we’re looking for passionate individuals who want to make a difference: for our clients, our teams, and the world around us. About the role We are looking for a Associate Media Director who will be senior media planning leader within Gravity Global’s Digital Media & Strategy team, accountable for leading day-to-day media planning and media excellence across a complex global Technology client portfolio. The role ensures that media plans are strategically sound, operationally robust, and ready for senior client review. This role exists to convert business objectives and client briefs into effective cross-channel media strategies across multiple markets, campaigns, and stakeholders. It provides the operational leadership and planning discipline required to maintain quality, pace, and consistency across a large-scale international account. The Associate Media Director acts as the senior deputy to the Director of Digital Media & Strategy, taking ownership of planning workflows, report quality, optimisation direction, and media recommendations. The role creates capacity for broader strategic development while ensuring account delivery remains accurate, commercially disciplined, and insight-led. The role also carries people leadership responsibility, coaching media planners and analysts to improve output quality, strengthen thinking, and build capability across the team. It works closely with client services, media specialists, analysts, and senior client stakeholders to ensure media activity supports commercial outcomes and long-term partnership growth. Key Responsibilities Media Planning Leadership Lead first and second-round media planning for new programmes and campaigns across a global Technology account spanning multiple buying centres and markets. Translate client briefs, commercial priorities, and business objectives into channel strategy, audience approach, budget allocation, and clear planning rationale. Review, challenge, and approve planning recommendations produced by planners before senior review or client presentation. Ensure all media plans are accurate, strategically coherent, achievable within operational constraints, and aligned to agreed account objectives. Maintain planning standards across campaigns and markets, identifying risks, gaps, and improvement opportunities early. Channel Strategy, Innovation and Recommendation Quality Own the media point of view on channels, platforms, and partners across the account. Evaluate new media opportunities, audience solutions, and test-and-learn initiatives to improve performance and support client growth. Build evidence-based recommendations for pilots, alternative platform approaches, and optimisation priorities. Apply deep cross-channel judgement across programmatic, display, paid social, paid search, and broader video and digital media environments. Strengthen the quality of strategic thinking presented to internal and external stakeholders. Performance, Reporting and Optimisation Lead review of recurring campaign and account reporting before client delivery. Ensure reporting narratives are clear, commercially relevant, and supported by robust performance interpretation rather than data extraction alone. Direct optimisation decisions across live programmes, including continuation, pause, pivot, or test recommendations based on performance trends. Set analytical standards for the media pod and ensure recommendations are actionable, prioritised, and aligned to business goals. Identify patterns, performance risks, and opportunities that inform future planning and investment decisions. Client Partnership and Cross-Functional Leadership Act as a senior media contact for client services teams and client stakeholders on day-to-day planning and delivery matters. Present recommendations, explain trade-offs, and defend planning decisions with clarity and confidence. Deputise for the Director of Digital Media & Strategy in day-to-day account media leadership. Build strong working relationships across client services, analytics, finance, media operations, and channel specialists to maintain delivery quality and pace. Support a high standard of responsiveness, accuracy, and professionalism across all client-facing outputs. People Leadership and Team Development Manage and mentor media planners and analysts working on the account. Set expectations for quality, ownership, responsiveness, and professional standards across the media pod. Provide coaching that improves planning rigour, strategic judgement, and analytical confidence. Allocate and oversee work to ensure deadlines are met and capability is developed in line with account needs. Create a team culture that values accountability, curiosity, continuous improvement, and shared success. Operational Discipline and Account Delivery Maintain oversight of workflow, approvals, and planning quality across a high-volume, multi-market account. Ensure account activity is delivered in line with agreed service standards, processes, and governance requirements. Work within enterprise media workflows and support effective coordination across planning, reporting, billing, and purchase order processes. Escalate delivery risks, resourcing pressures, or quality concerns in a timely and solution-focused way. Contribute to stable, error-free account delivery while supporting growth and operational efficiency Skills, Knowledge and Expertise 5–7 years’ media planning and strategy experience, ideally within an agency environment. Experience leading complex multi-market or global media accounts. 1–3 years’ people management or team leadership experience. Experience developing cross-channel media plans across programmatic, display, paid social, and paid search. Strong media planning and strategic thinking capability across multiple digital channels. Ability to translate business objectives into channel strategy, audience planning, and investment recommendations. Strong analytical interpretation skills with the ability to derive insight from campaign and platform data. High standard of written and verbal communication, including presentation of recommendations to senior stakeholders. Ability to quality assure planning documents, reporting outputs, and optimisation recommendations. Working knowledge of tools such as Adobe Analytics, Tableau, DSP reporting platforms, and MediaOcean or Prisma. Strong organisational and prioritisation skills in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. What We Offer While specific benefits may vary by region due to cultural norms, all team members at Gravity Global can expect a supportive, inclusive, and rewarding environment designed to help you do your best work and grow your career. Key aspects of being part of the Gravity Global community: Competitive Reward & Pay – we recognise and value your contribution with fair and competitive rewards aligned to local market practices, designed to celebrate excellence and support long-term success. Career Growth & Development – we believe development is ongoing, not annual. Through our Continuous Performance Management (CPM) process, which includes regular feedback and coaching, we help you refine your skills, celebrate your achievements, and plan for future success enabling you to reach your full potential. Collaboration – be part of a cross-functional, global team that values sharing insights, ideas, and best practices to drive collective success. Professional Development – we invest in you through ongoing training and learning programmes designed to expand your expertise and confidence. Work-Life Balance – while we expect dedication to client success, we also value your wellbeing, offering flexible working arrangements and plentiful paid time off. Community & Recognition – we celebrate our people through social and team-building events, recognise length of service and life milestones, and appreciate individual contributions through our Gravity Gratitude ‘kudos’ recognition programme. Family Support – we understand family matters and our people benefit from family-friendly policies such as parental leave, and access to wellbeing resources to help you balance work and family life. Purpose & Belonging – we are committed to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles, fostering a workplace where positive impact matters. Our people are encouraged to get involved in employee resource groups that champion wellbeing, sustainability and culture. Important Disclosure: At Gravity Global, we believe in recognising every team member’s contribution. Your total rewards package – including salary and benefits – will align with country specific labor laws and our company policies. We’ll walk you through all the details during the offer stage. Gravity Global is an equal opportunities employer and we do not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, age, sexuality, disability and other protected status as required by applicable law. If your experience doesn’t align perfectly with the job criteria, but you meet some of the criteria and are excited about the role and Gravity, please don’t be put off applying! We would encourage you to apply for the role as you may be just the right person for this role or other roles. #J-18808-Ljbffr