Lead, Brand Media

Scout Motors • Charlotte, NC

17h • $140,000 - $170,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Scout Motors is seeking a strategic, data-driven Lead, Brand Media to lead planning, execution, and optimization of paid media investments while shaping the development and tactical extensions of owned and emerging channels. As steward and subject-matter expert for Scout’s audience investment strategy, this role translates brand and business objectives into audience-first media strategies that build awareness, accelerate consideration, and strengthen long-term brand equity. The role works with substantial independence across internal stakeholders and agency partners, directing media planning, channel strategy, audience targeting, investment allocation, measurement, and optimization, and exercising independent judgment on significant media opportunities, tradeoffs, and risks that may affect the broader Brand function.

The ideal candidate combines brand-building instincts with analytical rigor, understands the evolving media landscape, and balances long-term brand growth with measurable performance outcomes. The position is based at Scout Motors’ corporate headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, and requires 4–5 days per week in the office, approximately 10–20% domestic travel, occasional travel to other company locations and event sites, and a valid driver’s license.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, advertising, communications, business management, or a related field preferred, or equivalent professional experience.
• 12–15 years of experience in media planning, media strategy, integrated marketing, brand marketing, or related disciplines, including experience working with or within media agencies.
• Recognized subject-matter expertise in brand media strategy, including directing media agencies and external partners, setting strategic direction, and driving accountability without relying on formal people-management authority.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing full-funnel marketing strategies that connect brand-building initiatives to measurable business outcomes.
• Ability to independently evaluate significant brand, audience, channel, and investment tradeoffs while balancing long-term brand-building and near-term performance objectives.
• Experience coordinating across Analytics, CRM, Brand, Creative, Communications, Commercial, and other business stakeholders to connect media investment to consumer and commercial outcomes.
• Strong understanding of brand and performance marketing principles and experience balancing long-term brand investment with near-term business objectives.
• Experience with audience planning, segmentation, targeting, and channel strategy.
• Strong understanding of media measurement, attribution, brand health tracking, and reporting.
• Strong analytical, communication, and executive presentation skills, including the ability to convey advanced information and make decision-ready recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to persuade diverse stakeholders, work independently, and lead cross-functional work in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Integrity, curiosity, resourcefulness, a positive attitude, a growth mindset, flexibility in a fast-paced, high-growth environment, and a collaborative approach.

Nice To Haves

• Automotive, lifestyle, outdoor, premium consumer goods, or challenger-brand experience.
• Experience launching new products, brands, or categories.
• Experience managing multimillion-dollar media budgets.
• Understanding of first-party data and evolving privacy frameworks.
• Experience with marketing mix modeling (MMM), attribution, incrementality testing, or advanced media measurement approaches.
• Familiarity with media and marketing platforms and tools such as Nielsen, Kantar, Meta Ads Manager, Google Ads, The Trade Desk, and Salesforce Marketing Cloud.

Responsibilities

• Develop annual and campaign-specific media strategies aligned with Brand and company objectives, including recommendations on priorities, investment choices, and success measures.
• Define target audience, channel, and investment strategies across the consumer journey, considering market dynamics, audience behavior, brand considerations, and other intangible factors.
• Lead media planning, budget allocation, optimization, and performance reviews across paid media channels; independently resolve significant investment and performance issues.
• Coordinate with Brand, Creative, Communications, Commercial, Digital Marketing, CRM, and Analytics teams to drive integrated planning, communicate advanced media information, and align stakeholders.
• Direct agency partners in translating business and brand objectives into actionable media plans, setting strategic direction and ensuring execution and accountability.
• Establish measurement frameworks, KPIs, and decision principles with Analytics and agency teams to evaluate media effectiveness and guide future investments.
• Translate campaign, audience, competitive, and market insights into decision-ready recommendations, and present and influence senior stakeholders on complex media tradeoffs.
• Evaluate emerging channels, partner capabilities, and audience opportunities; recommend where Scout should test, scale, or redirect investment.
• Champion testing and optimization across audiences, channels, creative, and media investments, applying learnings to future brand-media strategy.

Benefits

• Competitive insurance, including medical, dental, vision, and income protection plans.
• 401(k) program with employer match and immediate vesting.
• 20 days of planned PTO, as accrued.
• 40 hours of unplanned PTO and 14 company or floating holidays annually.
• Up to 16 weeks of paid parental leave for biological and adoptive parents of all genders.
• Paid leave for bereavement, jury duty, voting time, or military leave.
• Annual performance bonus program.
• Competitive compensation and benefits supporting physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.

What This Job Offers

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