Media Director, Planning

Critical Mass; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading digital marketing agency in Calgary seeks a Media Director to lead strategic media planning and oversee campaign execution. You will manage client relationships, mentor a team, and utilize data insights to optimize performance. Candidates should have over 6 years in media planning and at least 3 years in management. The role offers competitive benefits, a collaborative culture, and the opportunity to work from the office a minimum of 3 days a week.

Benefits

Global maternity and parental leave

Competitive benefits packages

Vacation and flex days

Internal learning programs

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in media planning and investment across multiple campaigns.
• At least 3 years of management experience.
• Experience with multi-million-dollar media budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead the media planning and investment efforts for national campaigns.
• Collaborate with teams to establish media objectives and drive strategic alignment.
• Oversee media execution and ensure timely delivery against key milestones.

Skills

Media planning

Client relationship management

Data-driven optimization

Team mentorship

Negotiation skills

Analytical thinking

Job description

As the Media Director, you’ll lead strategic media planning and execution to drive business performance. Collaborating with cross‑functional teams, you’ll set media objectives, manage client relationships, and oversee campaign execution across key platforms. You’ll guide and mentor your team, using data insights to optimize performance, deliver innovative solutions, and ensure campaign accuracy and efficiency.

Our new hires & employees are the future of our organization, and we want to set you up for long‑term success. In an effort to do so, we expect our team to work from an office a minimum of 3 days a week.

You will:

• Lead the media planning and investment efforts for national campaigns, focusing on performance‑driven strategies.
• Collaborate with planning leads, marketing science teams, and creative counterparts to establish clear media objectives and drive strategic alignment.
• Demonstrate initiative by exploring new media solutions, utilizing strategic thinking and creativity to develop innovative alternatives.
• Manage client relationships and day‑to‑day queries, providing strategic direction and guidance to media teams.
• Oversee media execution, ensuring timely delivery against key milestones, including buy negotiations, live dates, and performance reporting.
• Develop and implement media strategies across platforms.
• Manage and mentor the development of Associates and Supervisor teams, fostering their skills and supporting career growth.
• Lead the process of compiling and interpreting media research to inform media plan development and recommendations.
• Maintain strong working relationships with internal media planners, creative teams, and clients, acting as a key strategic media partner.
• Stay ahead of industry trends, exploring new opportunities and meeting with media/vendor representatives to inform strategic decisions.
• Oversee partner relationships and media buy delivery, ensuring high levels of accuracy and alignment with client objectives.
• Present media plans and performance insights internally and to clients, providing actionable recommendations.
• Contribute to the development of competitive analysis to deepen knowledge of the competitive landscape and inform media strategies.

You have:

• 6+ years’ experience in media planning and investment, focusing on performance, display and video, social, and programmatic across multiple campaigns.
• At least 3 years of management experience.
• Experience negotiating partner‑direct sponsorships, content creation and 360‑degree activations.
• Proven ability to integrate media, creative, and brand objectives, collaborating with cross‑functional teams.
• Experience managing client relationships, ensuring alignment and timely execution of media plans.
• Hands‑on campaign execution, using data and insights to optimize performance.
• Agency experience, particularly with integrated media campaigns.
• Strategic partner mindset, offering insights and recommendations to optimize results.
• Experience managing multi‑million‑dollar media budgets, ensuring efficient allocation and ROI.
• Up to date with industry trends, fostering innovation through continuous learning.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and communication skills.
• Proven media buying and negotiation expertise.
• Clear understanding of the media planning, buying, and reporting process.
• Digital and unwired experience is a plus.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficiency in proprietary analytics and syndicated research tools.

What We Offer:

• Global maternity and parental leave
• Competitive benefits packages
• Vacation, compassionate leave, personal/sick days, and flex days
• Access to online services for families and new parents
• Early Dismissal Friday’s (off at 3:00 PM local time every Friday)
• 13 affinity groups
• Internal learning and development programsEnterprise-wide employee discounts

Critical Mass is an equal opportunity employer.

As set forth in Critical Mass’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Aboriginal Peoples Definition:

Aboriginal Peoples means persons who are defined as: Indians (more commonly referred to as First Nations), Inuit, or Métis.

Members of Visible Minorities Definition:

Members of Visible Minorities means persons, other than Aboriginal people, who are non‑Caucasian in race or non‑white in color.

Examples:

• Black (e.g. African, Caribbean, Other)
• Arab (e.g. Middle Eastern, North African, etc.)
• Asian and Southeast Asian (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Thais, etc.)
• West Asian (e.g. Armenian, Iranian, Persian, Egyptian, Turkish, etc.)
• Other (e.g. Latin American, Pacific Islander, etc.)

Persons with Disabilities Definition:

Persons with Disabilities means persons who have a physical or mental impairment or medical condition that substantially limits a major life activity, or if you have a history or record of such an impairment or medical condition.