Associate Media Manager (Retail Media Planning)

VML South Africa; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 35,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in digital and emerging media seeks a motivated Associate Media Manager for their Omnichannel Retail Media Team in Chicago. This entry-level role involves supporting retail media planning and execution for major clients, requiring keen attention to detail and a passion for consumer behavior. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment and has a collaborative spirit. Ideal for recent graduates or interns eager to grow in media planning.

Benefits

Competitive benefits package

401k match

Growth-oriented culture

Paid time off

Qualifications

• 0-1 years of experience preferred, especially in media planning.
• Familiarity with digital media is a plus.
• Interest in consumer behavior and retail media.

Responsibilities

• Support media planning and buying activities.
• Assist in analyzing target demographics.
• Compile reports and analyze campaign performance data.

Skills

Detail-oriented

Communication

Analytical skills

Team collaboration

Education

Internships in media planning or advertising

Exposure to marketing coursework

Tools

Familiarity with ad serving tools

Nielsen

Google AdWords

Job description

VML

Department: Connections

Location: Chicago, IL , United States

Last Updated: 6/20/2025

Requisition ID: 10425

Who We Are:

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.

What We Are Looking For:

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Associate Media Manager to join our Omnichannel Retail Media Team. In this role, you will be instrumental in supporting a large CPG client's retail media planning efforts, contributing to the planning and execution of media strategies across key retailers. You will work within Retail Media Networks (RMNs) to plan and buy media, analyze target demographics, and collaborate with cross-functional teammates across account management, project management, strategy, and creative to support end-to-end campaign work. This is an excellent opportunity for an entry-level candidate with a passion for consumer behavior, retail media, and a desire to learn and grow in a fast-paced environment.

What You'll Do:

• Support the Media team with general activities related to retail media planning, buying, executing, and evaluating the performance of media campaigns.
• Assist in planning and strategizing media efforts across key retailers, leveraging Retail Media Networks (RMNs).
• Contribute to the development of media plans/flowcharts and presentations.
• Compile research and analyze target demographics to inform media planning decisions.
• Work with cross-functional teams (account management, project management, strategy, creative) to ensure seamless campaign execution.
• Assist in negotiating proposals with vendors.
• Compile reports and analyze campaign performance data.
• Learn new skills and tools quickly to stay up-to-date with the evolving retail media landscape.

Who You Are:

• You have a strong interest in consumer behaviors and understanding what drives purchasing decisions.
• You are curious about the world of retail media and shopper marketing.
• You are collaborative and enjoy working as part of a team.
• You are detail-oriented and organized, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• You are proactive and eager to learn.
• You possess strong communication skills.
• You have the ability to work well under pressure with attention to detail.
• You have a passion for and interest in digital and emerging media.

What You'll Need:

• 0-1 years of experience, internships highly preferred, ideally with exposure to media planning, advertising, and marketing from coursework or internships
• Familiarity with ad serving and digital media reporting.
• Familiarity with media tools such as Nielsen, comScore, MRI, SQAD, SRDS, DoubleClick and Google AdWords (a plus).

Ability to maintain good relationships with outside vendors and clients as well as within the agency

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.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.

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$35,000 — $75,000 USD

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