Director of Paid Media & Strategy

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Anchor a media team being built from scratch — own strategy, buying, and performance across traditional and digital channels.

Delavan Holdings is a diversified holding company with interests spanning automotive retail, RV dealerships, hospitality, and lifestyle brands across Wisconsin and the greater Midwest. Our portfolio includes Kunes Auto Group, Kunes RV, Lake Lawn Resort, and Camp Timber-Lee. We are building an in-house advertising agency and are looking for a senior media professional to anchor it — someone with genuine fluency across traditional and digital channels, hands-on DSP experience, and the strategic instincts to translate business goals into media plans that perform.

What You'll Do

• Research markets and audiences using third-party data tools (SRDS, Comscore, Nielsen, MRI-Simmons, Scarborough) and translate findings into channel strategy, budget recommendations, and media plans with clear KPIs
• Build and own comprehensive media plans across all active verticals — channel mix, flighting, reach and frequency targets, and post-campaign analysis tied to business objectives
• Negotiate and execute traditional media buys across broadcast TV, cable, radio, out-of-home, print, and direct mail; manage insertion orders, vendor relationships, makegoods, and invoice reconciliation
• Own and operate DSP seats directly — plan, execute, optimize, and report on programmatic display, video, OTT/CTV, and streaming audio campaigns
• Manage paid search (Google Ads, Microsoft/Bing) and paid social (Meta, YouTube, TikTok) in coordination with agency partners; provide strategic oversight and performance QA
• Evaluate, recommend, and help establish direct DSP relationships as agency spend scales — including Simpli.fi and StackAdapt near-term, The Trade Desk longer-term
• Implement and audit tracking across all digital campaigns — pixels, UTM parameters, conversion events, and attribution models
• Review vendor proposals, rate cards, and media kits with a critical eye; provide buy/no-buy recommendations and negotiate with confidence
• Contribute to agency infrastructure — planning templates, buying workflows, vendor evaluation frameworks, and reporting standards
• Collaborate with vertical-specific marketing managers and external agency partners to ensure media and creative are working together.

What We're Looking For

• 7–12 years of media strategy and buying experience with a track record across both traditional and digital channels
• Hands-on DSP platform experience — you have planned, executed, and optimized within at least one major DSP (The Trade Desk, DV360, Simpli.fi, StackAdapt, Basis, or equivalent)
• Strong command of Google Ads Manager and Meta Business Manager; certification in either is a plus
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate traditional media buys and manage the full buy lifecycle from insertion order to invoice reconciliation
• Experience managing multi-client or multi-vertical campaigns simultaneously without losing detail or accountability
• Proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets for budget modeling, scenario planning, and reconciliation
• Familiarity with third-party data tools — SRDS, Comscore, Nielsen, MRI-Simmons, or Scarborough
• Experience with automotive OEM co-op advertising structures is a meaningful differentiator
• Excellent communication skills — able to present strategy and performance to senior stakeholders without drowning them in jargon

What Sets You Apart

• You have worked in a multi-client or multi-brand environment and know how to shift context without losing precision
• You are as comfortable in a spreadsheet modeling a budget as you are on a call negotiating with a TV rep or inside a DSP building an audience segment
• You bring genuine respect to collaborating with a traditional media veteran — you bridge, not replace
• You understand that direct mail is not a relic — it is the right tool in the right vertical, and you know when to reach for it
• You want to build something — not a seat at a fully-formed table, but a role in designing the table and running it
• You are comfortable with AI-assisted research, data interpretation, and workflow support as part of a modern media operation

Why Delavan Holdings

• Ground-floor opportunity to build and eventually lead an in-house media function across a high-spend, multi-vertical portfolio
• Direct collaboration with senior marketing leadership — your strategy decisions will have immediate organizational impact
• Portfolio spanning automotive retail, RV, hospitality, and lifestyle brands — diverse channels, audiences, and creative challenges
• A seat at the table as the agency scales — this role is expected to grow in scope and team leadership
• Based in the Lake Geneva region of Wisconsin with a collaborative, entrepreneurial culture
• Competitive compensation and benefits package including health, dental, vision, PTO, and 401(k)