Associate Media Director, Paid Media

Gainor Staffing; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Gainor Staffing is seeking an Associate Media Director to lead paid media programs for consumer brands from strategy through activation and analysis. You will balance hands-on execution with high-level client leadership, shaping channel strategy across paid social, paid search and programmatic DSP.

The role requires senior agency experience, strong analytical execution, and the ability to mentor junior staff while partnering with cross-functional teams and external vendors.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of agency-side paid media experience
• Hands-on mastery of paid social, paid search and at least 1 programmatic DSP
• Experience owning paid media strategy, planning, activation, optimization, forecasting, analytics, reporting and QA
• Strong client-facing experience presenting technical media strategy and defending recommendations
• Experience reviewing and mentoring junior paid media staff

Responsibilities

• Own paid media accounts end to end from strategy to reporting
• Manage budgets, pacing, channel mix, forecasts, tracking and QA
• Balance ~40% hands-on execution/analysis with 60% client leadership and work review
• Lead campaigns across paid social, paid search and at least 1 programmatic DSP
• Translate data into clear recommendations and defend media strategy to clients
• Partner with strategy, creative and project management on integrated work and forecasts
• Review deliverables and develop junior team members; coordinate with external vendors

Skills

Paid social

Paid search

Programmatic DSP

Client leadership

Mentoring

Data analytics

Strategic planning

Job description

Take a leadership role within an integrated digital agency where media, creative, technology and data work together to drive brand and performance outcomes. The agency partners with consumer brands and gives senior talent close access to senior leadership. This Associate Media Director will own paid media accounts end to end, balancing client leadership with hands-on campaign execution and analysis. You’ll shape channel strategy, optimize across paid social, paid search and programmatic platforms, and develop junior team members.

Who You Are

• 7–10 years of agency-side paid media experience; exceptional faster-track candidates will be considered
• Current hands‑on mastery of paid social, paid search and at least 1 programmatic DSP
• Experience owning paid media strategy, planning, activation, optimization, forecasting, analytics, reporting and quality assurance
• Strong client‑facing experience presenting technical media strategy and proactively defending recommendations
• Experience reviewing and mentoring junior paid media staff
• Self‑directed, analytical and precise, with a disciplined approach to platform execution
• Experience with CPG, beauty or premium DTC brands is preferred

What You’ll Do

• Own paid media accounts end to end, from strategy and planning through activation, optimization, analysis and reporting
• Manage budgets, pacing, channel mix, forecasts, tracking, attribution and quality assurance
• Balance approximately 40% hands‑on execution and analysis with 60% client leadership and work review
• Lead campaigns across paid social, paid search and at least 1 programmatic Demand‑Side Platform (DSP)
• Translate performance data into clear recommendations and present and defend media strategy to sophisticated clients
• Partner with strategy, creative and project management teams on integrated work, points of view, RFPs and pitch forecasts
• Review deliverables, develop junior team members and manage 2–3 people while coordinating with additional junior contributors and external vendors

Salary Range: $130,000-$150,000 (annually based on experience)

Location: Remote, required hours 9a-6p ET

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Gainor is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Gainor are based on business needs, job requirement and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and expression), age, national origin, immigration status, marital or familial status, citizenship status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, reproductive health decision making, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic or status protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.