Senior Media Strategist

Chicago, IL, United States

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences.Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

Who we are looking for:

As the performance marketing center of excellence within VML, our goal is create and execute media strategies that are accountable to a defined outcome. We are different than other agencies that take a channel-first approach. Instead, we develop strategies with an objective-first mindset – becoming true partners with our clients in understanding the business, competitive landscape and ultimately, their goals and objectives. We also define audiences based on these objectives, which are then activated in channels across the paid, owned and earned landscape.

Our team holds three key principles at our core:

Media plans built to flex

Boldly accountable to results

To help us succeed, VML is seeking a Senior Media Strategist to assist and deliver media campaigns for our clients. This capability is responsible for critically thinking how in platform structures and setups can play a role in meeting the objective of our clients. Senior Media Strategists draws insight from the market and target audience to successfully create Media strategies that can deliver on client goals. Creating and overseeing campaigns across selected channels (Search, Social, Display, Video, Native & More). This role is dedicated to identified client accounts to fulfil strategic media setups and operations within VML's standards of digital media.

What you’ll do:

Work with campaign managers to ensure budgets are paced correctly

Deep understanding client industry, business offering and related products/services/brands

Create and own Media Plans with an Objective first approach

Work with Associate media director to define Media KPIs and Objectives for each band/product/service

Work with analytics to ensure tagging is in place to track identified objectives, KPIs and Goals

Deep understanding of how to activate in specific media channel(s)

Define channel segmentation within platforms in order to achieve the objectives that is set out by the media plan

Development of Trafficking briefs from an existing media plan /strategy

Identify in platform optimization needs and implement/guide changes to level set performance

Identify efficiencies within client channels to be more effective with Media Operations

Define channel segmentation within platforms in order to achieve the objectives set out in the media plan

Development of Trafficking briefs from an existing media plan /strategy

Define channel segmentation within platforms in order to achieve the objectives that is set out by the media plan

Development of Trafficking briefs from an existing media plan /strategy

Industry, market and channel research to find opportunity for a client account

Identify new vendors and channels for an account to reach performance goals

Identify, understand and define scalability to ensure spend can increase effectively within a channel(s)

Ensure best practices within channels are in place.

Understand integration between Paid Media and other departments - Analytics, SEO/Content, Strategy, Accounts, Tech and Project Managements

Explore operations in additional channels and continue development of digital media knowledge

Provide Insight to operational changes in platform

Navigate through all channels required to service a client

Follow instructions from the Meda Account lead to deliver on a campaign

Implement best practices within digital media channel operations

Understand integration between Paid Media and other departments - Analytics, SEO/Content, Strategy, Accounts, Tech and Project Managements

Explore operations in additional channels and continue development of digital media knowledge

Provide Insight to operational changes in platform

Navigate through all channels required to service a client

Follow instructions from the Meda Account lead to deliver on a campaign

Implement best practices within digital media channel operations

Develop Platform Trafficking Sheet development from Requirements Brief

Upload/edit digital campaigns within Digital Media Platforms (Facebook Business Manager, DV360, Google Ads, SA360, Bing ads, LinkedIn & More)

Campaign check ins and ensure that all required campaigns are live/paused/ended

Digital platform spend and performance pacing management

Keep log of changes through optimization entries

Who you are:

A builder | Entrepreneurial attitude couple with a strong business acumen. Ability and appetite to bring people together. Innate ability to marshal people and create gravity around ideas.

Open and collaborative | Our team is close-knit and supportive and we’re working with a lot of unknowns – you must champion of team environments that are comfortable and encouraging.

Optimistic and resilient | Dig in and figure out how to work around problems. Yes and why not posture. Takes care of self and team. Balance needed to maintain stamina and positivity.

Ego-less | We all wear the hats that need wearing, it’s a mentality that makes the team successful.

What you’ll need:

Minimum 5 to 8 years of related media experience

Minimum 2 to 4 years of management experience

Expert in media operations across Search, Paid Social and Display with an understanding of how offline media functions and can drive results

Experience in develop paid media plans that align to an overarching strategy

Ability to utilize data to inform audience segmentation

Understanding of how paid media is measured for success

Fluent in mathematical concepts with an ability to translate data into well-articulated ideas

Ability to conceptualize big-picture and long-term, be results-focused and think creatively for clients

Experience interacting with all levels of clients on behalf of an agency

Proven experience producing strong digital innovation and business results

Strong grasp of tools and platforms, including: SA360, DV360, Google Ads, Bing Ads, The TradeDesk (and various DSPs), Facebook Business Manager, Google Merchant Center, various analytics suites, etc.

What we offer:

Passionate, driven people |We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.

Consciously cultivated culture |We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusivecommunity that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery.

Competitive benefits | What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness.

Growth-minded opportunities | We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, growth-oriented mindset and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.

VML is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or other protected group status. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion and strives to recruit a diverse slate of candidates to help us achieve that goal.

At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Our people are the heartbeat of our organization—creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers—who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction.

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through ourRecruitment Privacy Policy . California residents should read ourCalifornia Recruitment Privacy Notice . This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy . California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice . This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.

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