Director, Media Planning

Hill Holliday • New York, NY

6h • $125,000 - $135,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Salar Labs is a next-generation media agency that integrates strategy, media, data, technology, AI, and creative to help brands build consumer connections and accelerate growth. It is part of Attivo Group.

The Director, Media Planning leads the development and stewardship of integrated media strategies for clients in the travel and healthcare verticals. The role spearheads brand and campaign strategic planning, builds trusted client relationships, and leads media professionals in delivering innovative, data-driven campaigns that support client business objectives. This is a hybrid role based in either New York City or Boston. The salary range is $125,000–$135,000, commensurate with experience.

Requirements

• 7–10+ years of experience in strategic media planning and client management, preferably within an advertising or media agency.
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Advertising, Communications, Business, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience managing and developing teams.
• Solid understanding of integrated media planning concepts and their application across traditional and digital channels.
• Demonstrated experience leading media strategy for major brands and managing multiple client deliverables and deadlines in a fast-paced agency environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to interpret research, campaign performance, and audience insights.
• Experience managing media budgets and developing strategic media recommendations.
• Familiarity with media planning, research, and measurement platforms such as Nielsen Media Impact, MRI-Simmons, MediaRadar, TelmarHelixa/Clear Decisions, and other industry tools.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and client relationship management capabilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced agency environment.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving; integrated media planning and audience insights; client relationship management; team leadership and mentorship; campaign development and optimization; data analysis and performance optimization; cross-functional collaboration; budget management and financial accountability; strong communication and presentation; organization and attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

• Comfort with and interest in the purposeful use of AI/LLMs across day-to-day workflows is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of integrated media strategies aligned with client objectives and business goals.
• Develop clear, strategic media recommendation narratives and lead planning across digital, social, programmatic, search, television, streaming, audio, out-of-home, and other relevant channels.
• Translate consumer insights, audience research, campaign performance data, and market trends into actionable recommendations.
• Identify ways to improve campaign performance, maximize media investments, and drive measurable business results.
• Coordinate with internal, creative, and integrated agency partner teams to align media with broader brand and marketing initiatives and ensure connection between message and media.
• Keep informed about emerging media trends, technologies, platforms, and industry best practices.
• Serve as a senior strategic media contact for assigned clients and lead client presentations, recommendations, and planning discussions.
• Understand client business challenges and identify opportunities for growth and innovation; lead responses to client media requests and emergencies.
• Participate in new business pitches and develop media strategies for prospective clients.
• Oversee media plans, budgets, timelines, and campaign deliverables, partnering with investment and activation teams on execution.
• Monitor campaign performance and work with analytics teams to identify optimizations and actionable insights.
• Ensure recommendations are supported by research, data, and performance metrics, and maintain accountability for planning accuracy, budget management, and deliverable quality.
• Manage, mentor, and develop media planners and managers through strategic guidance, coaching, and performance feedback.
• Oversee workloads, resource allocation, and project priorities; foster a collaborative, inclusive, results-oriented team environment.
• Support employee development, performance evaluations, and career growth.
• Maintain and calibrate consistent planning processes, standards, and best practices.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director