Digital Media Specialist

The Paid Media Specialist is responsible for supporting UFCU’s paid media strategy across digital and traditional channels, including performance marketing, local media buys, and publisher partnerships. This role supports the team with media planning, execution, and optimization, while ensuring strong oversight of spend tracking, creative delivery, and performance outcomes. This role is hands on and highly collaborative, combining frequent performance analysis with close cross- functional partnerships to guide ongoing media optimization. The ideal candidate collaborates closely with Digital Growth Marketing Manager, Product Marketing Managers and the Creative team to align media strategy, messaging, and asset delivery, while also coordinating with multiple agencies and media partners. They are comfortable transitioning work in house and evaluating performance independently, making thoughtful recommendations and optimizations without relying solely on agency input. This role ensures media investments are efficient, compliant, and member focused. The Paid Media Manager reports to the Digital Growth Marketing Manager. About UFCU Our Credit Union was founded in 1936 and has grown to serve members throughout Texas and beyond. At UFCU, we are more than just a financial institution, and our people are more than just employees. We are dedicated to our purpose of empowering our Members to achieve financial success and build brighter futures . In pursuit of our aspiration that UFCU is loved by millions of Members and built to thrive for generations , we are guided by our values: Purposefully Member-Obsessed We are driven by a profound sense of empathy to deeply understand our Members’ needs and preferences, what brighter futures means to them, and the obstacles in their way. We act in our Members’ best interests, forever seeking to empower their financial success. Possibilities Reimagined We are inspired to courageously experiment, learn, and iterate in pursuit of positive impact for our Members, UFCU, and coworkers. We challenge assumptions, embrace diverse perspectives, and make use of data and insights. Performance Excellence Rooted in Unwavering Integrity We do the right thing, always. We champion teamwork, accountability, continuous improvement, and celebrate successful outcomes of others, fostering an inclusive environment of excellence and collaboration. Essential Functions Paid Media Strategy, Planning & Buying Lead with manager the paid media strategy across digital and traditional channels, including paid search, paid social, display, local publishers, print, and emerging media opportunities. Define channel mix, spend allocation, pacing, and media priorities aligned to acquisition, engagement, and brand goals. Coordinate and support media buys directly where appropriate, partnering with publishers and vendors on pricing, placement, and flighting. Support transitions of media responsibilities from agency led execution to in-house management as applicable. Serve as a primary internal partner in paid media planning, prioritization, and performance discussions. Campaign Execution, Creative Management & Optimization Manage hands on execution and optimization of paid digital campaigns across platforms. Coordinate creative asset delivery and execution, including creative rotations, refreshes, and versioning across channels. Analyze campaign performance and contribute optimization recommendations through regular performance reviews and testing cycles. Design and execute A B and multivariate tests across creative, audiences, formats, and placements. Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen performance, and scale effective approaches. Coordinate work across multiple agencies and media partners, ensuring alignment to strategy, timelines, and performance expectations. Review and evaluate agency recommendations, validating assumptions, performance drivers, and optimization approaches. Track agency deliverables, reporting quality, and adherence to agreed pacing and scope. Identify opportunities to streamline agency workflows and improve operational efficiency. Reporting, Budget Management & Data Integrity Track paid media spend, pacing, and forecasts across channels, ensuring alignment with approved plans. Produce clear, actionable reporting that explains what happened, why it mattered, and recommended next steps. Analyze performance data to inform planning, optimization discussions, and strategic adjustments. Partner with Analytics and Web teams to validate tracking, attribution, and measurement accuracy. Ensure media activity complies with platform policies, data privacy standards, and regulatory requirements. Knowledge/Skills/Abilities Knowledge Paid media strategy across digital and traditional channels. Media buying principles, vendor negotiations, and publisher partnerships. Paid media platforms such as Google Ads, Meta, and LinkedIn, as well as non-digital channels including print and local media. Media performance measurement, attribution concepts, and ROI analysis. Compliance and regulatory considerations for financial services advertising a bonus. Skills Ability to lead cross functional initiatives, manage agencies, and drive outcomes through influence. Hands on paid media execution and optimization across multiple channels. Strong skills in spend tracking, pacing management, and performance reporting. Analytical skills to evaluate performance trends and support optimization recommendations. High attention to detail, particularly related to creative QA, rotations, and execution accuracy. Clear written and verbal communication for presenting insights and collaborating across teams. Abilities Manage multiple campaigns, agencies, and media partners simultaneously. Support agency to in-house transitions for paid media execution. Balance strategic planning with hands on execution. Collaborate effectively in shared decision-making environments. Maintain accountability for performance quality, accuracy, and media stewardship. Core Competencies Demonstrating Member Obsession Puts themselves in the Member’s shoes Looks for friction points Makes it personalized and easy Demonstrating Performance Excellence Takes responsibility Conducts continuous improvement Demonstrating Innovation Challenges current thinking Approaches change with a positive mindset Experience Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Analytics, or a related field. 2-3 plus years of experience managing paid media across digital and or traditional channels. Experience working with and coordinating multiple agencies or media partners. Experience analyzing performance data and contributing optimization recommendations. Experience tracking media spend, pacing, and performance reporting. Experience supporting transitions from agency led to in house media management. Must be bondable. Preferred Requirements Experience placing media buys directly with publishers or vendors. Financial services or regulated‑industry marketing experience. Familiarity with GA4, attribution tools, or media mix modeling concepts. Physical Demands The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee, with or without accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus. Employee will make extensive use of the telephone and virtual communications requiring the ability to explain complex information effectively and accurately. The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. This position requires working onsite three days a week at UFCU Plaza in Austin, Texas. This position may involve periodic stressful conditions. May occasionally require an adjusted work schedule, overtime, and evening/weekend hours. Frequent computer use at a workstation of up to two hours at a time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Qualifications Skills Behaviors : Motivations : Education Experience Licenses & Certifications Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor. #J-18808-Ljbffr