Associate Director, Media Planning

Bully Pulpit International; Washington; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Vacation time

Phone reimbursement

Unlimited sick time

Parental leave

Job summary

Bully Pulpit International is seeking an Associate Director, Media Planning to lead mid-spend campaigns from ideation to completion. You will present media strategies and insights directly to clients, and develop data-backed plans that align with client goals, collaborating with planning directors to ensure execution matches strategic aims.

The role demands advanced analytics, Excel/Sheets mastery, and a proven ability to manage multiple high-stakes projects while mentoring junior staff in a

Qualifications

• 6–9 years of experience in digital media strategy, planning and direct-IO buying.
• Proven track record of independently running campaigns for corporate, public affairs or political clients.
• Enthusiasm for Democratic/progressive politics and working with nonprofit and advocacy clients.
• Advanced analytical thinking with hands-on experience using media tools and BI/dashboard software.
• Quick learner of new digital systems and proprietary tools with minimal downtime.
• Expert-level proficiency in Excel and Google Sheets for budget tracking and analysis.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple high-stakes projects.
• Able to work independently, think big, and scale leadership quickly.

Responsibilities

• Independently run mid-spend campaigns from inception to completion.
• Regularly present sophisticated media strategies, insights, and campaign reporting to clients.
• Develop data-backed media plans aligned with client objectives and leadership input.
• Lead end-to-end campaign implementation across digital and traditional platforms.
• Negotiate partnerships and contracting to ensure flawless execution.
• Identify and improve cross-team processes for scalable media operations.
• Foster collaborative relationships across client and internal teams.
• Mentor and elevate talent across the paid media team.
• Serve as a role model for junior planners and provide guidance on analysis and communication.

Skills

Digital media strategy

Campaign management

Budget tracking

Excel proficiency

Google Sheets

Data-driven decision making

Client communication

Leadership & mentorship

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Google Sheets

BI dashboards

Job description

Overview

Bully Pulpit International is an outcomes agency made up of strategists, data scientists, and artists. We come from politics, brands, and government and we communicate without barriers and measure what matters. We have more than 400 team members in six countries and thirteen offices — Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, D.C., London, Los Angeles, New York, Oslo, San Francisco, and Zürich. We apply our unique expertise across strategic communications, public affairs, research, and digital marketing to create sophisticated and customized strategies that make change possible for both American and European clients.

The Impact You Will Make

In this position as an Associate Director, Media Planning, you will act as a core contributor to team priorities, effectively communicating the strategic value and the "why" behind specific departmental goals to the broader media team. You will also help develop, articulate, and evangelize the agency-wide departmental view on media strategy, emerging tactics, and technical execution, in addition to conducting deep-dive media, industry, or company research to allow the agency to develop highly accurate, innovative, and strategic advertising and marketing plans.

What the Day-to-Day Looks Like

Media Strategy & Execution

• Independently run mid-spend campaigns from inception to completion.
• Regularly present sophisticated media strategies, performance insights, and campaign reporting directly to clients.
• Develop comprehensive, data-backed media plans that align with client and campaign objectives, collaborating with Client/Account Leads to ensure deliverables map back to high-level strategic approaches.
• Lead end-to-end campaign implementation and management, overseeing how campaigns are executed, optimized, and analyzed across various digital and traditional platforms, including partner negotiation and contracting.
• Proactively identify, improve upon, and develop new processes to streamline cross-team communication and ensure flawless execution of media plans.

Collaboration & Workflow Management

• Foster strong, collaborative working relationships across all client and internal specialty teams to facilitate seamless execution.
• Identify distinct areas for team-wide workflow and operational process improvements, partnering with Planning Directors to implement scalable solutions.

Team Management & Mentorship

• Attract, retain, and elevate talent across the paid media team through active, empathetic management, regular mentorship, and structured training.
• Serve as a role model for junior and mid-level planners, providing guidance on campaign management, analytical thinking, and client communication muscle.

What You Bring

• 6–9 years of relevant work experience in digital media strategy, planning, and direct-IO buying (agency experience preferred).
• Proven track record of independently running campaigns for corporate reputation, public affairs, and/or political clients.
• Enthusiasm for Democratic/progressive politics and excitement to work alongside our nonprofit, advocacy, and corporate social impact clients in addition to larger, corporate reputation accounts.
• Advanced analytical thinking capabilities, with strong hands-on experience utilizing media consumption tools and business intelligence/dashboard software.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and navigate new digital systems, emerging media tech, and specialized proprietary tools with minimal downtime.
• Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets for budget tracking, performance analysis, and data manipulation.
• Exceptional organizational skills, rigorous attention to detail, and a demonstrated ability to manage multiple high-stakes projects simultaneously.
• A readiness to work independently, think big, solve complex problems creatively, and scale leadership capabilities rapidly within a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

BPI offers benefits to U.S.-based employees, including company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) program with employer match up to 4%; generous time off for vacation; monthly phone reimbursement; unlimited sick time; and paid parental leave. Benefits prioritize employee wellness and progressive support for a diverse workforce.

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on commitment to excellence without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, or other protected characteristics. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories as permitted by law.

Let’s keep in touch. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter at bpigroup.com.