Sr. Planner, Integrated Media

Merge • Kansas City, KS

1d • $60,000 - $72,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

At MERGE, we are Built Different . We are a marketing and technology agency purpose-built for the intersection of health and wellness—where human impact matters most. By weaving storytelling through technology, we move beyond traditional engagement to Whole Human Marketing. This approach recognizes that humans are multidimensional and complex, and uses AI to ensure every brand interaction feels natural, contextual, and relevant. This commitment to human-first innovation is what brings us together and propels us forward. We are united by our North Star: to unite people and brands to empower healthier, happier lives. Emerge to the Top of Your Career At MERGE, we strive to create a superior work experience where talented and ambitious people grow. An experience that encourages people to think higher and feel deeper. An experience where people engage their minds and hearts to do the best work of their careers. As our Sr. Planner, Integrated Media, you will… Bridge the gap between high-level strategy and technical execution. You will be the mastermind behind our CM360 ecosystem, ensuring every media plan is flawlessly trafficked, tracked, and optimized for maximum impact. If you thrive on turning complex data into actionable client insights and managing multi-platform campaigns with surgical precision, we want you on our team.

Requirements

• 4-5 years of experience in media operations, advertising, or related roles
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, or related field and/or equivalent work experience
• Strong understanding of media planning, reporting, and optimization techniques
• Proficiency in ad server platforms and media analytics tools such as CM360
• Excellent communication and coordination skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to analyze data, draw insights, and make data-driven recommendations
• Experience in working with media partners and coordinating campaign executions
• Familiarity with creative production processes and digital advertising best practices
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment while maintaining a high level of accuracy and quality in work deliverables

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency in Nielsen, Catalyst, Pathmatics, SpyFu, or Kantar is a plus

Responsibilities

• Lead and drive efforts for reporting updates within client teams, ensuring timely and accurate communication of media performance metrics to support strategic decision-making
• Maintain and evolve a comprehensive paid media plan flowchart, proactively updating it to reflect changes, optimizations, and emerging trends in the media landscape
• Monitor competitive activity, conduct in-depth analysis, and provide actionable insights and implications to enhance campaign performance and market positioning
• Apply advanced knowledge of syndicated media, research methodologies, and data resources to inform and optimize media strategies and executions
• Effectively communicate media objectives, strategies, and execution guidelines to internal teams, clients, and external stakeholders, fostering alignment and collaboration
• Strategically coordinate with media partners, lead negotiations, schedule high-level meetings, gather detailed ad specifications, and oversee production sheet updates for flawless campaign execution
• Demonstrate advanced expertise with ad servers, orchestrating complex campaign setups, overseeing creative trafficking processes, and conducting comprehensive report downloads and analyses
• Utilize advanced media platforms for budget pacing, performance tracking, and delivery reporting, ensuring campaigns meet and exceed performance goals and client expectations
• Exhibit advanced proficiency in trafficking ads across multiple platforms, pulling and synthesizing data from CM360, media partner platforms, and various analytics tools to derive actionable insights
• Manage and traffic complex media plans with precision, ensuring seamless coordination of all elements, including assets, tags, and creative components, to meet project timelines and objectives
• Provide strategic insights and recommendations on client agendas, collaborating closely with account leads to develop and execute impactful media strategies aligned with business goals
• Independently oversee asset and tag delivery with partners, ensuring alignment with campaign objectives, technical specifications, and timelines
• Facilitate effective communication with clients regarding creative needs and campaign performance, leveraging both email and weekly calls to ensure client satisfaction and alignment with project deliverables

Benefits

• meaningful Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401K, Lifestyle Spending Account, Employer Paid Life & Disability Insurance, Flexible Time off & Holidays plus many other benefits and rewards

What This Job Offers

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