Media Director

wundermanthompson; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

401k match

Paid time off

Job summary

VML in New York is seeking a Media Director to lead planning for a key travel/tourism client, shaping strategy and presenting to new business pitches. You will manage client media issues, foster strong relationships, and oversee integrated media plans across channels with a data-driven focus.

The role requires 8+ years in media planning, agency background, and proven leadership across cross-functional teams. This position is based in New York and offers competitive benefits.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience with media planning and performance media
• Agency experience required
• Team management experience
• Client facing experience
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and partnering with vendors and clients
• Strong integration with research, planning, analytics and optimization

Responsibilities

• Develop media plans that support the client's marketing objectives.
• Present media plans to clients and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with analytics to measure and optimize campaigns.
• Develop recap reporting to document campaign performance and learnings.
• Ensure media plans are executed on schedule and within budget.

Skills

Media planning

Client relations

Team management

Analytics

Job description

Who We Are

VML is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and award‑winning human‑first work for clients including AstraZeneca, Colgate‑Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca‑Cola Company, and Wendy's. In 2026, VML was named Campaign's Global Network of the Year and ranked #2 Creative Network of the Year at Cannes Lions. VML's global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore. VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting‑edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel. For more information, please visit www.vml.com and follow along on LinkedIn #WeAreVML.

What We Are Looking For

VML is seeking a Media Director to support a key travel/tourism client. We are looking for a leader who can embody and support our vision and strategic direction, effectively develop and present materials for new business pitches, and be an integral part of our team. This role requires someone who can manage client media-related issues, foster strong client relationships, and lead media planning efforts that drive innovative and effective ideas. We are looking for a professional who can continually reinforce consumer behaviors in integrated idea development, empower innovative ideas with new media technologies, and supervise the implementation of integrated offerings and tools.

What You’ll Do

Leadership & Management

Manage the flow of client media-related issues, creating solutions and resolving problems.

Develop and maintain excellent relationships with clients.

Establish timetables for the development of plans.

Support the growth and development of junior team members

Media Planning

• Develop media plans that support the client's marketing objectives.
• Continually reinforce consumer behaviors in the integrated idea development process.
• Empower innovative ideas by bringing appropriate new media technologies and capabilities to the ideation conversation.
• Identify opportunities for content partnerships and multi-platform media partnerships.
• Create media plan recommendations and alternatives.
• Select media channels and determine scheduling.
• Analyze competitive activity in the marketplace.
• Present media plans to clients.
• Work with the analytics team to develop a measurement framework for campaigns.
• Work with the analytics team to measure media performance, make recommendations for optimization.
• Develop recap reporting to understand and document final campaign performance against goals and critical learnings.
• Ensure media plans are executed as planned and approved, on schedule and within budget.
• Regularly meet with media and industry reps to develop and maintain expertise on available technologies and capabilities.

Who You Are

An individual with outstanding verbal and written communication skills.

Adept at using media research and planning tools to determine audience size and determine audience attributes.

Someone with demonstrated success in client relationships, team management, and media planning.

Possesses the fortitude to stay calm under pressure.

What You’ll Need

8+ years of experience with media planning and performance media. Agency experience required.

Team management experience

Client facing experience

A professional with demonstrated ability to manage and lead across cross functional internal teams and lead with external clients, partners and vendors

Someone with strong experience and integration with research/planning and analytics/measurement/optimization.

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 inclusive community 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.

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 respon