Associate Media Director

Associate Media Director

M&C Saatchi World Services is a full-service marketing company renowned for using commercial advertising to solve the world's toughest challenges. World Services is a specialty branch of M&C Saatchi Group, and we provide strategic communications, behavior change, and marketing support to Public Sector clients with special emphasis on the US Federal Government and State, Local, Tribal, & Territorial leaders.

M&C Saatchi World Services US is seeking an experienced and highly strategic Associate Media Director. This role provides leadership across integrated media planning and campaign execution, ensuring media strategies, audience targeting approaches, and channel investments align with communications objectives, stakeholder needs, and mission priorities while guiding cross-functional teams, optimizing performance, and driving measurable impact across global and domestic campaigns.

The Role

M&C Saatchi World Services is seeking a strategic and forward-thinking Associate Media Director to lead the evaluation, adoption, and optimization of emerging digital platforms that support communications, outreach, stakeholder engagement, and service delivery objectives across a diverse portfolio of federal and Department of Defense programs.

Serving as a senior advisor on platform innovation and digital ecosystem strategy, you will assess new technologies, engagement platforms, and digital tools to determine their suitability, scalability, and strategic value. Working closely with communications, stakeholder engagement, UX, analytics, technology, and leadership teams, you will guide platform adoption efforts, evaluate operational readiness, and ensure new solutions align with organizational goals, audience needs, and governance requirements.

You will combine your deep expertise in digital strategy, platform ecosystems, audience engagement, and innovation management with the ability to translate complex technical considerations into actionable business recommendations. You are also comfortable operating in ambiguous environments, evaluating emerging technologies, and providing strategic guidance to senior stakeholders on platform investment, risk, and long-term value.

This is a hybrid role; however, ideally you will live in the greater NYC area or the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the evaluation and strategic assessment of emerging digital platforms, technologies, and engagement solutions that support communications, outreach, and service delivery objectives across channels including social media platforms (e.g., Meta, LinkedIn, YouTube, X), CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot), email marketing platforms, content management systems, traditional media, and paid advertising ecosystems.
• Analyse platform performance, audience behaviour, adoption trends, engagement metrics, and operational analytics to identify optimisation opportunities, measure ROI, and inform strategic recommendations. Produce dashboards, executive reports, business cases, risk assessments, and briefings for leadership and stakeholders.
• Lead platform adoption initiatives, including pilot programmes, proof-of-concept testing, implementation planning, onboarding, training, and change management efforts to ensure successful deployment and user adoption.
• Assess integration, interoperability, governance, accessibility, cybersecurity, privacy, compliance, and operational requirements, establishing policies, measurement frameworks, and operational standards for adopted platforms.
• Develop recommendations regarding platform adoption, implementation, governance, and long-term management, evaluating technical feasibility, strategic alignment, user needs, scalability, and business value.
• Partner with communications, stakeholder engagement, analytics, UX, creative, technical, and leadership teams to identify emerging technology opportunities and evolve digital engagement strategies, platform ecosystems, and innovation frameworks.
• Provide day-to-day management and mentorship for a team of at least two Senior Media Planners, fostering professional development, knowledge sharing, and high-quality strategic delivery.

Key Attributes:

We are seeking a Media Director with strong experience operating at the intersection of media, digital platforms and audience engagement. You will lead integrated media strategy and campaign delivery for a portfolio of federal and defence clients, helping maximise the effectiveness, reach and adoption of digital platforms and engagement channels. The ideal candidate will bring expertise in media planning and performance, combined with a strong understanding of platform ecosystems, UX, CRM and MarTech environments.

• Experience evaluating, implementing, managing, or optimising digital platforms, technology solutions, or engagement ecosystems within complex organisational environments.

• Strong expertise in digital strategy, platform ecosystems, audience engagement, user experience, analytics, performance measurement, and technology adoption, with the ability to evaluate feasibility, business value, user adoption potential, operational readiness, and long-term sustainability.

• Experience leading platform assessments, pilot programmes, proof-of-concept initiatives, or innovation projects, including development of executive-level recommendations, business cases, strategic briefings, and technology assessments.

• Strong analytical capabilities with experience interpreting audience data, platform analytics, digital performance metrics, and campaign insights to drive optimisation and strategic decision-making.

• Experience leveraging AI-enabled media planning, audience targeting, campaign optimisation, and measurement technologies, with a strong interest in emerging technologies and their impact on communications.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with experience collaborating across communications, analytics, UX, technology, stakeholder engagement, and leadership teams and translating technical concepts for non-technical audiences.

• Strong understanding of accessibility, governance, privacy, cybersecurity, and compliance considerations related to digital platforms.

• Experience managing vendors, platform providers, implementation partners, or technology stakeholders is preferred.

• Knowledge of social media platforms, CRM systems, digital advertising ecosystems, content management systems, audience engagement platforms, or emerging platform trends is preferred.

• Experience supporting federal government, Department of Defense, public affairs, digital engagement, or mission-driven programs is preferred.

• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams, including direct management of senior-level professionals.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance, as required by the position.

• Degree or relevant experience in Digital Strategy, Communications, Information Systems, Marketing, Public Policy, Technology Management, Business Strategy, or a related field preferred.

• Language Requirements: Fluent written and spoken English required.

• Location: Hybrid, able to commute regularly to Washington DC or New York office spaces.

Why You'll Love It Here:

• Work on impactful programs supporting federal and defense-related initiatives.
• Collaborate with high-performing cross-functional teams across communications, digital and analytics disciplines.
• Opportunity to shape strategic public engagement initiatives at enterprise scale.
• Flexible hybrid working environment.
• Exposure to complex, mission-driven stakeholder engagement challenges.
• Career development opportunities within a fast-growing global organization.

Security & Clearance Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship: Must be a United States Citizen (required by government contract).
• Clearance Eligibility: Must be able and willing to obtain a U.S. Government Secret or Top Secret security clearance immediately upon employment.
• Background Screening: Must be willing to submit to a rigorous federal background investigation, which includes an in-depth review of personal finances, criminal history, employment history, and drug use.

The salary range provided reflects the anticipated compensation for this role across our Washington, DC and New York locations. Actual starting salary will be determined based on geographic location, relevant experience, skills, and other job-related factors.

What You Get:

• We offer a competitive salary and a benefits package designed to support your health, family life, financial wellbeing, and growth. Family & parental support

• 12 weeks' full pay for Primary Carers and 6 weeks for Secondary Carers (after one year of service; return requirements apply for subsequent leave)
• Applies to birth, adoption, and surrogacy
• Up to 10 days' paid fertility leave per year (5 per cycle)
• 2 days' paid leave for new grandparents
• $2,500 annual interest-free parental loan
• $6,000 interest-free fertility treatment loan

Healthcare & wellbeing

• Choice of three medical plans (HSA at $0 cost; EPO 75% employer funded; PPO 65% employer funded)
• 70% employer-funded dental and vision coverage
• Generous paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays, including an office closure between Christmas & New Year's
• Gym membership reimbursement and/or Wellhub subscription
• 401(k) with 4% employer match
• 24/7 mental health support through Self Space
• Social events, happy hours, professional development trainings, etc.

Culture & development

• $300 annual cultural stimulation allowance (accrued monthly; available after 90