Associate Director, Media

Spindrift • Newton, MA

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

Spindrift is seeking an Associate Director of Media to lead the development, execution, and optimization of their paid media strategy. This role will report to the VP of Brand Management and will be responsible for managing the media agency relationship, overseeing campaign-level media planning, driving performance reporting and optimization, and cultivating strategic media partnerships. The position is hybrid, requiring four days per week in the Newton, MA headquarters with one remote workday per week. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical rigor, strategic thinking, and experience managing integrated media programs across digital, social, video, and audio. They should be comfortable with hands-on analysis and diving into performance metrics, as well as developing strategy recommendations and exploring new media opportunities.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in media planning or media strategy (either client or agency side)
• Expertise across media channels including paid social, online video, programmatic, search, audio and connected TV.
• Fluency in paid media analytics, with the ability to conduct hands-on, in-platform analysis and translate findings into concise, executive-level performance reporting.
• Ability to synthesize complex datasets into clear, concise insights and recommendations.
• Ability to create executive-ready summaries and presentations that communicate performance, learnings, and future recommendations.
• Experience managing external media agencies and holding partners accountable to reporting and optimization, as well as business outcomes.
• Track record of identifying and executing successful media partnerships and sponsorship opportunities.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-management skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience within consumer-packaged goods, food & beverage, retail, or consumer brands preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of campaign-specific media strategies aligned to brand and business objectives.
• Partner closely with Creative, Insights, Influencer & Partnerships teams to translate business priorities into effective media plans.
• Evaluate media channel investments and recommend budget allocations to drive awareness and trial of Spindrift beverages.
• Ensure media plans balance short-term performance objectives with long-term brand growth.
• Own performance measurement and analytics across all paid media channels (e.g., social, digital, CTV, audio), including development of actionable insights and recommendations for optimizations.
• Maintain reporting frameworks, dashboards, and scorecards to track campaign performance against business objectives, KPIs, and media investment goals.
• Partner with media agencies, platform representatives, and internal stakeholders to ensure accurate campaign tracking, tagging, and data integrity.
• Partner with analytics and insights teams to strengthen measurement frameworks and attribution approaches, including frameworks such as Marketing Mix Models, Brand Lift studies and Incrementality testing.
• Serve as the primary day-to-day lead for the media agency relationship.
• Establish clear goals, deliverables, timelines, and performance expectations for agency partners.
• Review media plans, optimizations, reporting, and recommendations to ensure strategic rigor and accountability.
• Foster a collaborative partnership that drives innovation, efficiency, and continuous improvement.
• Identify, evaluate, and negotiate strategic media partnerships that support brand objectives.
• Build relationships with publishers, platforms, and media partners.
• Assess sponsorship, experiential, content, and custom media opportunities, in conjunction with the Influencer & Partnerships team.
• Stay current on emerging platforms, consumer behaviors, and media trends to identify new growth opportunities.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Equity
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, with an employer contribution rate of 80% towards monthly premiums, regardless of plan type selected
• Company-paid life insurance
• 401k retirement savings plan with a company match
• Monthly cell phone allowance
• Annual allowances for personal use of Spindrift product, health and wellness, professional development, and social justice education
• Voluntary additional life insurance, short-term disability and long-term disability insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Vacation time
• Sick time
• Personal time
• Bereavement time
• Community service time
• Holiday time
• Short-term incentive programs specific to level and department
• Long term incentives

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed