Director, Paid Media Planning (All U.S. Offices)

Global Prairie•Kansas City, MO

5d•$110,000 - $145,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking paid media professional to join Global Prairie as Director, Paid Media Planning. In this role, you will develop strategic, integrated paid media plans that connect client business objectives, audience insights, creative ideas and measurable outcomes. The ideal candidate brings strong paid media planning experience across digital channels as well as endemic and trade media partners. You will translate client goals and audience insights into thoughtful channel strategies, investment recommendations and measurement approaches, while partnering closely with colleagues across Creative, Insight & Strategy, Client Partnership and Analytics. This role is well suited for someone who is both strategic and hands-on: comfortable independently developing media recommendations, presenting a clear point of view to clients and collaborating with internal and external partners to bring plans to life. You will also help Global Prairie continue to evolve its paid media capabilities by identifying emerging opportunities, improving how we work and exploring how technologies such as AI can enhance media planning and performance.

Requirements

7–10 years of media planning experience, preferably within an agency or another fast-paced, client-focused environment.
Demonstrated experience developing multi-channel paid media strategies and translation them into actionable plans.
Experience working directly within digital platforms and endemic, trade or industry-specific media partners
Proven experience managing meaningful media investments and making informed budget allocation recommendations.
Demonstrates curiosity and ideation around innovation in paid media, including practical applications of how AI can support the strategy and planning workflows
Strong experience developing strategic paid media plans across digital and traditional channels, including paid social, paid search, programmatic, and endemic media
Experience planning media with endemic, industry-specific and trade media partners.
A strong strategic point of view, with the ability to translate client business objectives and audience insights into clear channel, audience and investment recommendations
A practical understanding of how paid media platforms operate and how planning decisions influence execution and performance.
Confidence and credibility presenting media strategies and recommendations to both internal teams and client stakeholders
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to work seamlessly with Creative, Insight & Strategy, Client Partnership and analytics partners
The ability to move fluidly between multiple accounts and priorities while maintaining strategic clarity, attention to detail and high-quality output
Success overseeing teams, elevating strategic thinking and bringing clarity to complex challenges.
Curiosity, sound judgment and a willingness to test new approaches, learn from performance and continually improve the work.
Strong written, verbal and presentation skills, including the ability to make complex media considerations understandable to clients and colleagues

Nice To Haves

Experience working in healthcare or other regulated industries is a plus

Responsibilities

Develops integrated, multi-channel paid media strategies and plans aligned to client business, marketing and communications objectives
Recommends appropriate channels, audiences, investment levels, flighting and media partners based on client goals, research and available data and owns those recommendations with the client.
Plans across a mix of digital media platforms, traditional channels and endemic or trade media environments.
Provides clear strategic rationale for media recommendations and guide clients through planning decisions with confidence, serving as the main point of client contact when it comes to paid media strategy and execution.
Presents media strategies, plans, performance insights, and optimization recommendations to internal teams and client stakeholders
Partners closely with internal colleagues and external media partners to support accurate, effective implementation of approved plans
Supports and helps guide the evolution of media planning processes, tools, and best practices within the agency, contributing ideas, templates and practices that strength Global Prairie’s paid media planning and execution capabilities.
Uses campaign results, audience data and market developments to refine recommendations and inform future planning
Stays current on changes in paid media platforms, capabilities, privacy considerations, audience behaviors and industry practices
Explores practical applications of AI and automation within media research, planning analysis and workflow development.
Provides coaching, feedback and subject-matter guidance to colleagues as appropriate
Adapts plans and priorities as client needs evolve, maintaining agility without sacrificing strategic rigor