Senior Media Planner/Buyer (Fixed-Term Maternity Cover)

Different Technologies Pty Ltd.; Chesterfield; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EOT bonus

Flexible working

Gym membership

Team building events

Well-being programme

Job summary

CNS Media Ltd in Chesterfield is seeking a Senior Media Planner/Buyer to lead a live portfolio during a fixed-term maternity cover. The role combines strategic channel planning with hands-on buying, across TV, radio, print, digital and OOH, with responsibility for budgets and supplier negotiation.

This hybrid role (3 days in office, 2 remote) offers a 12-month contract, a salary of £30k-£35k dependent on experience, and opportunities for development within a supportive, award-winning agency.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in media planning and buying across TV, Radio, OOH, Press and digital.
• TV planning experience (desirable).
• Strong negotiation skills with media owners across channels.
• Comfortable using media planning tools and audience data sources.
• Confident presenting strategy and performance to clients.
• Strong analytical and numeracy skills; narrate data clearly.
• Collaborative approach; able to guide junior planners.
• Capable of managing workload and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop multi-channel media strategies aligned to client budgets and objectives (TV, Radio, Press, OOH, digital).
• Plan and book campaigns across channels; negotiate with media owners for competitive rates and added value.
• Oversee campaign delivery end-to-end; ensure plans are booked, trafficked and optimised; manage client accounts.
• Provide senior planning support to Account Managers with presentations and planning information.
• Analyze campaign performance and deliver post-campaign insights for clients.
• Present media insight and market research to inform strategy and track trends.
• Build relationships with media owners, agencies and internal stakeholders.
• Support the planning team with setup, QA and reporting; assist with process improvements.

Skills

Media planning

Media buying

TV planning

Negotiation

Data analysis

Client presentation

Stakeholder management

Job description

Senior Media Planner/Buyer (Fixed-Term Maternity Cover)

Step into a senior planning and buying role with real ownership, covering maternity leave on a live, established portfolio.

Location: Chesterfield
Job Type: Full Time, Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover), 35 hours per week
Contract Length: 12 month (exact dates TBC)
Salary: £30k - £35k dependent on experience
Working Model: Hybrid (3 days in office, 2 remote)
Benefits: Employment Ownership Trust (EOT) tax-free company bonus scheme; flexible working; gym membership; regular team building events and socials.
Career & Personal Development: Learning and development programme, continuous professional development opportunities, well-being programme.

Life at CNS Media

Join the award-winning team at CNS Media Ltd, where creativity, collaboration and results drive everything we do. As we continue to grow across our Chesterfield, Manchester and Birmingham offices, we're looking for a Senior Media Planner/Buyer to step into a live portfolio of client accounts, covering maternity leave with real ownership of channel strategy and buying decisions.

We work with national and regional brands across multiple sectors and are proud to be recognised as a Campaign Best Places to Work 2024 winner, as well as award-winners at The Drum Awards, UK Agency Awards and Global Agency Awards.

If you want to be part of a friendly, ambitious and supportive agency, we'd love to hear from you.

The Role

You’ll work closely with our Sales, Client Success and Creative teams, with real ownership over channel strategy, budget allocation and supplier negotiation for the duration of the contract. This is a role for someone who combines strategic thinking with hands‑on buying experience, and who can pick up an established portfolio quickly with minimal disruption to clients.

This maternity cover role offers the opportunity to lead a live, fast-paced media planning and buying portfolio, ensuring smooth and efficient strategy delivery over a 12 month period.

What You'll Be Doing

• Develop multi-channel media strategies (TV, Radio, Press, OOH, digital, broadcast) aligned to client budgets and objectives
• Plan and book campaigns across these channels, negotiating with media owners and suppliers to secure competitive rates and added value
• Oversee campaign delivery end to end, ensuring plans are booked, trafficked and optimised on time, and manage the day-to-day of assigned client accounts
• Provide senior planning support to Account Managers, including presentations, planning information and campaign insight
• Analyse campaign performance and prepare post‑campaign analysis, translating data into clear, actionable client reporting
• Gather and present media insight and market research to inform client strategy, keeping the agency's media knowledge current on emerging channels and rate trends
• Build strong relationships with media owners, agencies and internal stakeholders
• Support the wider planning team with tasks including campaign setup, QA and reporting against deadlines.
• Oversee contract billing administration for the team, and lead or contribute to process improvement initiatives

What We're Looking For

• Proven experience in media planning and buying, ideally agency side, across TV, Radio, OOH, Press and digital
• TV planning experience (highly desirable)
• Strong track record of negotiating with media owners across multiple channels
• Confident using media planning and buying tools and audience data sources
• Comfortable presenting strategy and performance directly to clients
• Strong analytical and numeracy skills, able to turn campaign data into a clear narrative
• A collaborative approach, with the ability to guide and support less experienced planners
• Able to maintain workload and deliver to deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• A genuine interest in where media is heading and how that changes client advice
• Experience in content creation would be beneficial

CNS Media is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and encourage you to apply even if you don't tick every box above.