Associate Media Director

Who We Are

VML, part of WPP, is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. The agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave™ Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement & Optimization. In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com .

What We Are Looking For

VML is seeking an Associate Media Director to join our Connections department. We are looking for a leader who can embody and support our vision and strategic direction, effectively develop and present materials for new business pitches, and be an integral part of our office and U.S. connections department leadership teams. This role requires someone who can manage client media-related issues, foster strong client relationships, and lead media planning efforts that drive innovative and effective ideas. We are looking for a professional who can continually reinforce consumer behaviors in integrated idea development, empower innovative ideas with new media technologies, and supervise the implementation of integrated offerings and tools.

What You'll Do

Leadership & Management

• Manage the flow of client media-related issues, creating solutions and resolving problems.
• Develop and maintain excellent relationships with clients.
• Establish timetables for the development of plans.
• Support the growth and development of junior team members

Media Planning:

• Embody VML's integrated connections planning approach, working closely with the creative team to drive innovative, effective ideas that meet the audience where they live.
• Develop media plans that support the client's marketing objectives.
• Continually reinforce consumer behaviors in the integrated idea development process.
• Empower innovative ideas by bringing appropriate new media technologies and capabilities to the ideation conversation.
• Supervise implementation of integrating offerings and tools.
• Identify opportunities for content partnerships and multi-platform media partnerships.
• Create media plan recommendations and alternatives.
• Select media channels and determine scheduling.
• Analyze competitive activity in the marketplace.
• Present media plans to clients.
• Work with the analytics team to develop a measurement framework for campaigns.
• Work with the analytics team to measure media performance, make recommendations for optimization.
• Develop recap reporting to understand and document final campaign performance against goals and critical learnings.
• Ensure media plans are executed as planned and approved, on schedule and within budget.
• Regularly meet with media and industry reps to develop and maintain expertise on available technologies and capabilities.

Who You Are

• An individual with outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Adept at using media research and planning tools to determine audience size and determine audience attributes.
• Someone with demonstrated success in client relationships, team management, and media planning.
• Possesses the fortitude to stay calm under pressure.

What You'll Need

• 6-8 years of experience with media planning and performance media. Agency experience required.
• Team management experience
• Client facing experience
• A professional with demonstrated ability to manage and lead across multi-office internal agency environments and multi-agency external client engagements.
• Someone with strong experience and integration with research/planning and analytics/measurement/optimization.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.

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$75,000—$180,000 USD

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

VML is a WPP agency (NYSE: WPP). For more information, please visit and follow along on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

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