VP, Media and Performance

Lead the media strategy. Develop the talent. Drive the results.At Marriner, we believe great marketing starts with clarity. And great media strategy goes beyond delivering impressions. It connects the right audiences with the right messages and experiences to drive meaningful business results.We're looking for a Vice President, Media & Performance to lead our Media & Performance department, strengthen our capabilities and help shape the future of our agency.MUST BE AVAILABLE TO WORK TO WORK ON SITE AT MARRINER'S COLUMBIA, MARYLAND OFFICE EVERY TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY! MARKETING AGENCY EXPERIENCE PREFERRED.This is a senior leadership role for someone who combines strategic thinking, deep media expertise and a passion for developing people. Someone who understands how digital, traditional, trade and emerging media work together. Who can confidently advise clients, challenge conventional thinking and translate data into smarter decisions.We're looking for a true player-coach. A leader who sees the big picture but knows how to get into the details. Who can evaluate a media plan, diagnose a performance issue and provide hands-on guidance when needed, while building a team capable of delivering exceptional work independently.THE JOBLead and develop a high-performing team.Provide strategic and operational leadership for our Media & Performance department. Mentor and develop talent, establish clear expectations and foster a culture of curiosity, collaboration and accountability. Oversee staffing, resource allocation and departmental priorities while helping team members grow their expertise, confidence and independence.Champion integrated media strategy.Lead audience-informed media planning and investment across digital, traditional, trade and emerging channels, including paid search, social, programmatic, video, television, radio and out-of-home. Connect paid, earned and owned media into cohesive strategies aligned with the customer journey, client business objectives and measurable outcomes.Serve as a trusted client advisor.Build strong relationships with clients, providing strategic counsel, informed recommendations and clear direction on media investment. Collaborate closely with our Strategy, Creative, Client Services and Technology teams to develop integrated marketing solutions that connect media, messaging, experiences and conversion opportunities.Turn performance data into business results.Oversee media activation, optimization, measurement and reporting, ensuring accuracy, accountability and continuous improvement. Establish meaningful KPIs, maintain confidence in tracking and reporting and translate performance data into actionable insights. Stay sufficiently hands-on with key platforms to evaluate campaign setup, challenge recommendations, troubleshoot issues and support execution when necessary.Drive operational and financial performance.Lead departmental financial planning, forecasting, resource management and profitability. Oversee media budgets, investment controls and operational processes to ensure efficient delivery, strong financial stewardship and exceptional client value. Partner closely with Finance and agency leadership to support sound business decisions.Strengthen partnerships and advance capabilities.Guide media partner and platform selection, build productive vendor relationships and empower team members to develop their own industry connections. Evaluate emerging channels, AI, automation, analytics and measurement technologies to continually strengthen our capabilities and improve how we work.Help shape the future of Marriner.Contribute to agency leadership, new business development and organic client growth. Develop deep expertise in the industries we serve, including foodservice, retail food and beverage, and travel, tourism and hospitality. Bring industry knowledge, fresh thinking and strategic perspective to help our clients navigate challenges, identify opportunities and grow their businesses.What You BringSignificant agency experience leading integrated media strategy, planning and investment across digital and traditional channels.Deep expertise in digital and performance marketing, complemented by a strong understanding of traditional, trade and emerging media.A proven ability to lead, mentor and develop talented media professionals.A player-coach mindset with the technical fluency to evaluate campaign execution, platform performance and measurement integrity.Strong analytical instincts and the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable business recommendations.The confidence and communication skills to serve as a trusted advisor to senior-level clients.Experience managing media investments, vendor relationships, departmental resources and financial performance.A collaborative leadership style, sound judgment, intellectual curiosity and a commitment to continuous improvement.Experience in foodservice, retail food and beverage, or travel, tourism and hospitality is a plus. A genuine desire to become an expert in our clients' businesses is essential.Why Marriner?Marriner is an independent, integrated marketing communications agency specializing in foodservice, retail food and beverage, and travel, tourism and hospitality. We bring strategy, creativity, media and technology together to help our clients build stronger brands and achieve meaningful business results. As an independent agency, we offer the opportunity to make a real impact. Our senior leaders are actively involved in the work, collaboration happens across disciplines and great ideas can come from anywhere.We're proud of the relationships we've built, the work we do and the people who make it possible. Our culture is grounded in five core pillars:Innate CuriosityFearless CreativityPurposeful CollaborationMutual TrustGenerosity of SpiritWe're looking for someone who shares those values and wants to help our people, our clients and our agency continue to grow.If you're a media leader who loves developing talent, solving complex challenges and turning smart strategy into measurable results, we want to hear from you.