Sr. Planner, Integrated Media

MERGE•Kansas City, MO

3d•$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