Associate Director, Media Planning

Associate Director, Media Planning

Location: New York, NY — Hybrid

Employment Type: Freelance / Contract

Duration: Through approximately end of year

Schedule: Full-time

Pay Rate : $53 - $59

Position Overview

A leading global media and advertising organization is seeking an Associate Director, Media Planning to support a large, integrated consumer account. This individual will join a collaborative planning team responsible for developing omnichannel media strategies, managing client relationships, and coordinating across investment, social, analytics, measurement, and other specialty teams.

The ideal candidate brings strong agency-side media planning experience, particularly across digital and integrated channels, and is comfortable stepping into a fast-moving account where priorities can shift quickly. This role requires someone who can operate strategically while remaining close to the day-to-day work, provide guidance to junior team members, and translate client needs into clear, actionable media direction.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and support the development of integrated, omnichannel media plans across digital, paid social, TV, audio, and content/partnership channels.
• Serve as a key client-facing planning partner, helping translate business objectives and client requests into actionable media strategies.
• Partner across Investment, Social, Analytics, Measurement, and other specialty teams to coordinate planning and execution.
• Review media plans, recommendations, competitive insights, and presentations for strategic alignment and quality.
• Translate media data and competitive intelligence into clear, client-friendly insights and recommendations.
• Manage changing priorities, timelines, and deliverables across a fast-paced account environment.
• Provide guidance and day-to-day support to Managers and junior planning team members.
• Participate in client meetings and confidently communicate media strategy, recommendations, and next steps.
• Identify potential challenges or gaps and proactively work with internal partners to resolve them.
• Quickly integrate into an established team and provide hands-on support across active projects and deliverables.

Required Qualifications:

• Strong professional experience in media planning within an agency environment.
• Demonstrated experience developing digital and omnichannel media strategies.
• Strong understanding of the media planning process from strategy through execution.
• Experience working directly with clients and presenting media recommendations.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and changing priorities simultaneously.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional media disciplines and specialty teams.
• Strong communication, presentation, organization, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to interpret media performance and competitive insights and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Experience providing direction or mentorship to Managers, Associates, or other junior team members.
• Comfortable joining an established account and becoming productive with minimal ramp-up.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting CPG or consumer-focused brands.
• Experience with TV/video planning in addition to digital media.
• Familiarity with competitive media intelligence and planning tools such as Nielsen Media Impact or similar platforms.
• Previous experience successfully completing freelance or contract assignments within an agency environment.

Medical, dental, and vision insurance are available to qualified candidates who meet eligibility requirements