Associate, Political Paid Media

Who we are.

Tusk Strategies is a 40-person team of some of the most talented and tenacious communications, political, and policy strategists in the country. For over a decade, we have worked with leading startups, established companies, and organizations willing to think creatively and challenge the status quo. Our teams develop and execute public affairs and public policy campaigns on behalf of clients navigating complex political and regulatory environments.

The Role.

As an Associate on the Paid Media team, you will focus on designing and executing paid media programs to support client goals, while also contributing to the broader public affairs work across our client campaigns. You'll work across digital, CTV/streaming, and traditional channels, and you will be expected to understand not just how to execute a buy, but why: which channels and audiences fit a client's goals (building awareness, shaping public opinion, or influencing specific lawmakers) and how the message and creative need to work in each.

Your responsibilities will include:

Exposure vs. shaping public opinion vs. influencing specific lawmakers

• Designing and executing paid media programs that advance client goals, from strategy, messaging, and audience targeting through budgeting, launch, optimization, and reporting.
• Recommending the right media channel mix (paid social, programmatic and addressable, CTV/streaming, search, audio, print, and SMS) based on campaign goals, audiences, and budget.
• Building media plans and budgets, and helping develop creative concepts, scripts, and ad copy tailored to each platform.
• Building and launching campaigns directly in Meta, Google, and programmatic platforms, and managing paid media vendor relationships.
• Monitoring pacing, delivery, and performance; pulling reporting and turning it into clear, client-ready recaps and optimization recommendations.Identifying and securing third-party validators and grassroots and grasstops supporters for client campaigns.
• Planning and executing grassroots mobilizations, including paid digital advocacy campaigns, that generate significant numbers of emails and letters to government officials.
• Drafting and editing op-eds, testimony, speeches, polls, digital and social content, and client memos and decks.
• Developing high-quality strategy decks, workback plans, and other collateral.
• Organizing and maintaining client folders and agendas to ensure well-run client engagements.
• Researching relevant issues and sector areas to inform clients on political risks and opportunities.
• Assisting with new business proposal ideas and content.

What we look for from you.

• A minimum of 2 years of hands-on paid media or digital advertising experience at a public affairs firm, media buying agency, in-house, in government, and/or on political or issue advocacy campaigns.
• Examples of campaigns or projects that show how your creative communications efforts drove a successful client outcome.
• Excellent writing and messaging instincts.
• Ability to work on multiple projects at once and work under tight deadlines while responding quickly to team members and clients.
• Ability to work in our Manhattan office 4 days per week with occasional travel required.

Nice to Have

• Hands-on experience in Meta Ads Manager and Google Ads; familiarity with programmatic/DSP platforms, CTV, and broadcast/cable buying is a plus.
• Working knowledge of voter file data (e.g., L2, TargetSmart, i360), audience building, and list matching; experience with modeled audiences is a plus.

What you’ll get from us.

Tusk fosters a collegial and collaborative environment where the best ideas for our clients win, no matter your title. To that end, we aim to consistently create opportunities for professional growth and provide competitive benefits. Benefits include:

• Highly competitive base salary.
• Opportunity to earn new business commission.
• Eligible to earn an EOY bonus as a new employee.
• 401(k) with employer contribution of 3% of compensation.
• 100% covered premiums for medical, dental, and vision insurance; dependents and spouses are 50% covered.
• Unlimited vacation.
• Paid parental leave.
• Covered cell phone service.

The pay range for this position is expected to be between $60,000-$80,000 per year. However, the base pay offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, experience, market factors, and business need.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against candidates based on race, sex, gender expression, age, nationality, and disability. If you require reasonable accommodation to participate in this hiring process, please direct your inquiries to Evanie Peters, VP of Human Resources at Please include the job title you are applying to in the subject line. Only requests related to accommodations will be responded to.