Manager, Media Planning

Bully-Pulpit-International; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 68,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Bully Pulpit International is seeking an Associate Director, Media Planning to lead media strategy and execution for diverse campaigns in a fast-paced agency environment.

You will conduct research, build data-driven plans, and manage vendor relationships while collaborating across teams to optimize performance and client outcomes. This role emphasizes mentorship and scalable processes for a growing team.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years in digital media strategy and campaign management.
• Experience with corporate reputation, public affairs, or political clients.
• Strong Excel/Sheets budgeting and reporting skills.
• Ability to learn new digital systems quickly.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day of standard media campaigns independently and support mid- and large-scale campaigns by owning specific channels or workstreams.
• Develop data-driven media plans that align with client and campaign objectives, collaborating with Client/Account Leads to ensure plans deliver on strategies.
• Manage external vendor communications, issue Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and negotiate terms, rates, conditions, and added value.
• Lead campaign management and execution, overseeing how campaigns are implemented, optimized, and analyzed across platforms.
• Analyze and gauge media performance against KPIs to determine the extent to which original objectives and strategies were met.
• Foster strong, collaborative working relationships across all client and internal specialty teams to facilitate flawless execution of plans.
• Organize project briefs, timelines, and updates within internal project management tools to ensure seamless cross-team communication.
• Directly manage Fellows through task management, active mentorship and structured training.
• Serve as a role model for junior team members, guiding quality of work and supporting team development.

Skills

Digital media strategy

Media planning

Campaign management

Vendor management

Excel / Sheets

Tools

Excel

Google Sheets

Job description

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 conduct media, industry, or company research to enable the agency to construct highly accurate, strategic advertising and marketing plans. You will also leverage internal data sources and past performance analytics to derive key insights and shape future strategy.

• Starting Salary Range: $68,000 - $75,000 (+ annual bonus)
• Expectation to work from one of our offices (Chicago, DC, NYC, SF, LA) at least 3 days a week

What the Day-to-Day Looks Like

Media Strategy & Execution

• Manage the day-to-day of standard media campaigns independently and support mid- and large-scale campaigns by owning specific channels or workstreams.
• Develop data-driven media plans that align with client and campaign objectives, collaborating closely with Client/Account Leads to ensure plans deliver on agreed strategies.
• Manage external vendor communications, issue Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and negotiate key terms, rates, conditions, and added value.
• Lead campaign management and execution, overseeing how campaigns are implemented, optimized, and analyzed across platforms.
• Analyze and gauge media performance against established KPIs to determine the extent to which original objectives and strategies were met.

Collaboration & Workflow Management

• Foster strong, collaborative working relationships across all client and internal specialty teams (Buying, Analytics, Research) to facilitate flawless execution of plans.
• Organize project briefs, timelines, and updates within internal project management tools to ensure seamless cross-team communication.

Team Management & Mentorship

• Directly manage Fellows through task management, active mentorship and structured training.
• Serve as a role model for junior team members, guiding quality of work and supporting team development.

What You Bring

• 3-5 years of professional experience in digital media strategy, media planning, and campaign management (agency experience strongly preferred).
• Experience managing campaigns for corporate reputation, public affairs, and/or political clients.
• Enthusiasm for Democratic/progressive politics and excitement to work alongside non-profit, advocacy, and corporate public affairs clients.
• Demonstrated capability in creating media plans, conducting vendor RFP processes, negotiating rates/added value, and analyzing campaign performance against KPIs.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets for budget tracking, performance data manipulation, and reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and navigate new digital systems, emerging media tech, and specialized proprietary tools with minimal downtime.
• Ability to indirectly manage junior staff through task management and skill development.
• Strong organizational, written, and verbal communication skills, with experience synthesizing campaign data into actionable client insights.

BPI offers a wide range of benefits to U.S.-based employees, including100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) program with employer match up to 4%, generous time off for vacation, $50 monthly phone reimbursement, unlimited sick time, and 16 weeks of paid leave for new parents. BPI's benefits prioritize employee wellness and progressive support to our diverse workforce.

We're looking for all kinds of people.

BPI Group is an integrated public affairs agency that delivers outcomes for the top organizations and leaders around the world. With expertise in strategic communications, digital marketing, creative, research, and measurement, we offer a cohesive approach across corporate, policy, and public affairs strategy in today's interconnected world. By combining incisive strategy and deep tactical expertise, we make change possible. Our transatlantic presence includes offices across thirteen markets in the US and Europe.

We are an equal opportunity employer and make employment decisions based on individual commitment to excellence. We want to have the best qualified people in every job. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, status as a protected veteran, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member) or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state or local laws. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. BPI is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging - so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, . We consider applications holistically and you may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings!