Senior Trade & Publication Media Planner, Life Sciences

HDMZ • Chicago, IL

8d • $70,000 - $90,000

About The Position

HDMZ is a leading life science communications and growth accelerator, partnering with innovative biotech, biopharma, medical device, and digital health companies to help them enter new markets, establish new categories, and challenge the status quo. Guided by our mission to "Create the Future Faster," we combine evidence, insights, and imagination to solve our clients' most complex communications challenges and fuel their growth. Our team is united by a shared passion for the power of science, a commitment to putting people first, and a curiosity that drives us to keep learning and improving. Recognized as a Great Place to Work, HDMZ offers an inspiring, inclusive environment where employees build meaningful careers while helping shape the future of life sciences.

Requirements

• 5+ years in trade, print, or publication media planning and buying, with direct experience negotiating with publisher sales representatives (not primarily programmatic or paid-social platforms).
• Working knowledge of the life sciences/healthcare trade publication landscape — journals, associations, and trade portals — strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated relationship-management and negotiation skills with publishers and association partners.
• Comfort interpreting media kits, circulation/readership data, and syndicated audience research.
• Experience planning and executing conference/event sponsorships and on-site promotional materials.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace; familiarity with Google Data Studio/Looker Studio for reporting.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple concurrent insertion schedules and hard deadlines.

Nice To Haves

• Existing relationships with key life-science publishers or associations.
• Background in health/science journalism, publishing, or association sales — useful “seller-side” perspective.
• Experience with a Digital Media Planner counterpart on integrated campaigns (this role partners with, but does not own, paid social/programmatic/search).

Responsibilities

• Design and present integrated trade media plans spanning print, direct-buy online display, eNewsletter/e-TOC sponsorships, podcast sponsorships, and event promotion for life-sciences clients.
• Own and grow direct relationships with publisher sales reps, editors, and association staff across journals, trade portals, and membership organizations.
• Negotiate insertion orders, rates, and added-value opportunities directly with publishers — no programmatic or self-serve platform buying involved.
• Plan and manage non-digital event promotion: conference sponsorship packages, exhibit signage, registration bag inserts, meeting-guide ads, and on-site materials.
• Evaluate publisher media kits and syndicated readership/circulation research to build accurate audience profiles for client recommendations.
• Lead client media discussions, contribute to meeting agendas, and justify recommendations with reach, circulation, and share-of-voice data.
• Track budgets, insertion schedules, and materials deadlines across multiple concurrent trade campaigns.
• Build client-facing reporting (e.g., Google Data Studio/Looker Studio) summarizing trade campaign delivery and spend.
• Independently resolve client and publisher issues; mentor junior planners on relationship-management and negotiation practices.

What This Job Offers

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