Paid Media Manager

Red Carrot; Washington (District of Columbia); Remote; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition reimbursement

Healthcare coverage

401(k) with company match

Profit sharing

Paid time off & 11 federal holidays

Job summary

Red Carrot is seeking a Senior Paid Media Manager to lead cross‑channel media planning, buying, and vendor management for federal programs. The role focuses on traditional and streaming media, including out‑of‑home, video, and audio, with collaboration across the digital media team and under the Director’s guidance.

The position emphasizes hands‑on execution, strategic planning, and strong vendor management, while enabling AI‑assisted optimization where applicable.

Qualifications

• 8–10 years of paid media experience across traditional and digital channels.
• Federal government procurement familiarity is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop cross-channel media plans aligned to audience, budget, and goals.
• Plan and buy out-of-home media including billboards and transit.
• Plan and buy video and audio across linear and streaming channels.
• Write and manage vendor RFPs; evaluate proposals and recommend buys.
• Negotiate rates, added value, and contract terms with media vendors.
• Manage vendor relationships, insertion orders, trafficking, and invoicing.
• Monitor pacing and delivery; provide actionable performance reporting.
• Present media recommendations to clients and prime contractors.
• Collaborate with digital media leads to ensure integrated execution across channels.
• Support proposals with media strategy and past performance content.
• Leverage AI-enabled tools for planning and insights.

Skills

Paid media planning

Cross-channel buying

Vendor management

RFPs & proposals

Budget management

Media analytics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications/marketing

Tools

Nielsen

Comscore

Geopath

MRI-Simmons

Job description

Paid Media Manager
Level: Senior | Work Location: Remote

ABOUT THE ROLE

Red Carrot is seeking a Paid Media Manager to lead cross-channel media planning, buying, and vendor management for federal programs. This role brings deep hands-on experience with traditional and streaming media, including out-of-home, video, and audio. The Paid Media Manager works closely with our digital media lead and contributes to overall media strategy under the guidance of the Director.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and execute cross-channel media plans that connect audience, budget, and channel choices to campaign goals


• Plan and buy out-of-home media, including billboards, transit, place-based, and digital out-of-home


• Plan and buy video and audio across linear and streaming channels, including broadcast and cable TV, connected TV, terrestrial radio, streaming audio, and podcasts


• Write and manage vendor RFPs, evaluate proposals, and recommend buys based on reach, cost, and fit


• Negotiate rates, added value, makegoods, and contract terms with media vendors


• Manage vendor relationships and day-to-day execution, including insertion orders, creative specs and deadlines, trafficking, proof of performance, and invoice reconciliation


• Monitor pacing and delivery, resolve under-delivery, and deliver clear, actionable performance reporting


• Present and defend media recommendations to clients and prime contractors


• Partner with the digital media lead, strategists, and creatives to ensure integrated execution across channels


• Support proposal development with media strategy, sample plans, and past performance content


• Leverage AI-enabled platforms and features for planning, audience insights, and efficiency where appropriate


• May be responsible for other duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 8–10 years of paid media experience, including hands-on planning and buying across multiple channels


• Demonstrated experience buying across traditional and digital media channels


• Proven experience running vendor RFPs and negotiating media buys


• Strong vendor management skills and attention to detail with contracts, orders, and billing


• Experience managing budgets and multiple campaigns at once


• Familiarity with media planning and research tools such as Nielsen, Comscore, Geopath, or MRI-Simmons


• Federal government experience strongly preferred, including familiarity with government procurement, invoicing, and approval processes

Benefits at Red Carrot:

• Training and Development – Tuition reimbursement and professional trainings for eligible employees.


• Healthcare – Top-tier medical, dental, vision, life insurance and long-term disability coverage.


• 401(k) Plan – 401(k)-retirement and Roth plan with company matching and no vesting period.


• Profit Sharing – Discretionary profit-sharing plan to all eligible employees after one year of employment.


• Paid Time Off – Provides flexible work hours, paid time off, and 11 federal holidays.

About Us:

Red Carrot is an award-winning, woman-owned small business built for the complexity of federal government work. We partner with clients to advance their goals — powered by a team fueled by passion, backed by intelligence, and grounded in expertise.

From day one, we've applied industrial engineering principles and data analytics to solve complex problems with precision. Our approach is research-centric, data-informed, and audience-oriented — and it's how we deliver work that actually moves the needle.

We exist to strengthen the organizations and communities we serve through trusted, purposeful communication. That's not a tagline — it's the standard we hold ourselves to on every engagement.

Headquartered in Miami, Florida, with a strong and growing presence in Washington, D.C., our team works with clients across the country. Distance doesn't dilute our service. We build capacity where our clients need it, delivering Strategic Communications, Customer Experience, Management Consulting, and Human Capital Solutions that fit their mission — and their moment.

We're the partner organizations turn to when communication challenges are real, the stakes are high, and the work has to matter.