Senior Media Planner

What do you want from your career? Why did you get into this business in the first place? Maybe it was to push boundaries and use your powers to change communication for good? Preston Spire is the Good Wins agency, supercharging the good in brands so they positively grow. We are a full on creativity company, surrounding ourselves with smart people who want to do amazing work for our clients and electrify their futures. It takes courage, originality, openness and positivity to work here. If that sounds like you, this role could be a perfect fit. What we need from a Senior Media Planner As a senior-level media planner, you are the technical and strategic heartbeat of our client accounts across the media landscape. We’re looking for a self-starter who brings cutting-edge, digital-first thinking to the table and has a restless desire to push for the best work possible. You’ll oversee the full spectrum of digital media activities—strategy, execution, optimization, reporting, and billing with a level of precision that makes our entire agency stronger. Beyond the day-to-day, you are a data-driven thinker who can translate complex performance metrics into actionable insights for our teams and clients alike. If you are a detail-oriented professional with an entrepreneurial spirit and a strong desire to continuously expand your skills and grow your career within a thriving team, you’ll find plenty of room to lead and innovate here. Develop and implement data-driven, multi-channel digital media strategies (including programmatic, paid search/SEM, paid social, digital video, and display) that align with client KPIs and business objectives. Owns day-to-day in-platform campaign management across media channels, including campaign setup, pacing, optimization, QA, audience management, budget allocation, and performance monitoring to ensure delivery against client KPIs and business objectives. Lead the full lifecycle of media activities — from authoring briefs and issuing RFPs to negotiating with digital publishers and securing buy authorizations. Analyze campaign datasets to uncover trends, translating digital performance metrics into actionable insights and visual presentations for client meetings. Proactively manage, monitor, and optimize live campaigns, holding inventory and platform partners accountable to performance benchmarks and pivoting tactics to maximize ROI and exceed expectations. Oversee the digital\"paper trail\"—managing flowcharts, spend summaries, billing, and reconciliation (via Advantage Software) to ensure 100% financial transparency. Partner closely with the analytics and ad ops teams for robust tagging, tracking, and pixel implementation, and collaborate with Creative teams to provide technical ad specs and asset alignment. Conduct deep-dive competitive research, digital landscape audits, and industry trend analyses to keep the agency and clients ahead of emerging ad technologies. Supervise and train Assistant Media Planners, overseeing their workflow and professional development. Maintain and update essential planning artifacts, including media flowcharts, tactical recommendations, and comprehensive measurement plans. Work fluidly across Account, Analytics, and Creative departments to ensure a unified agency approach to client challenges. Ideal experience 5+ years of paid media experience, with a heavy emphasis on digital channels; 3+ years at an ad agency is preferred. Advanced understanding of the fundamentals of digital advertising, programmatic ecosystems, and paid search/social platforms. Exceptional analytical skills with proven experience analyzing, interpreting, and storytelling with complex data. Strong hands-on experience with digital marketing platforms including: Meta, Google Ads/PMax, Google Analytics, Google Sheets, Gemini/ChatGPT, TikTok and demand side platforms such as The Trade Desk or StackAdapt. Knowledge of dashboarding solutions such as Power BI, Tableau, Data Studio or Datorama Expertise with spreadsheets, including functions like pivot tables and complex formulas Strong interpersonal, verbal and written skills as well as proven ability to develop clear and concise communications, documents and presentations Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to remain cool under pressure Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize workload and multiple projects in order to meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment Natural curiosity and a desire to learn and apply new skills Experience and desire to work in a collaborative environment based on open communication, listening and exchange of ideas Potential for future leadership role, supervising and mentoring media team members What makes Preston Spire special Our CO-OP Culture that attracts and empowers the most ambitious and successful talent in the industry Proud 2024 & 2025 Ad Age Best Places to Work winner Independent and employee-owned agency, making decisions that are right for our people, our agency and our clients Values-obsessed, our CO-OP values are Courage, Openness, Originality and Positivity Relentlessly innovative and always working to be better Positive work environment where everyone assumes the best of each other, and empowers each other to lead and contribute Healthy work-life balance and a fun atmosphere Belief in doing the right thing for our clients, our community and the environment What it looks like to be a team member at Preston Spire This position is based in Minneapolis We embrace a hybrid work model, with three days in the office (Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday) and two days remote (Tuesday and Friday) Preston Spire offers flexible time off and many other competitive benefits We are committed to creating an inclusive experience for all. Regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, or disability, we firmly believe that our work is at its best when everyone feels free to be their most authentic self Title: Senior Media Planner Department: Media Reports to: Associate Media Director Position: Non-exempt, full-time at 40 hours/week Travel expectations: From time to time this job will require travel #J-18808-Ljbffr